Page:John Feoktist Dudikoff - Beasts in Cassocks (1924).djvu/45

 out, the money was never sent. On the way back to New York, Father Slunin, who sat in front of me, paid Daniel Gilevitch for having played the part of "Consul."

At the railroad station in Wilkes-Barre, Gilevitch in my presence borrowed money of Piatetsky promising to send it back to him by special delivery as soon as he returned to New York. I did not realize then that a daylight robbery was taking place before my very eyes. On our arrival in New York, Archbishop Platon thanked both Slunin and myself very heartily for having amicably settled so serious a matter. Having accepted of Slunin the money he brought from German, Pa., the Bishop told us to rest and then leave for an inquest at Quatasaqua, Pa. Once more Gilevitch and Father Piatetsky went to Wilkes-Barre on church matters escorting Bishop Alexander to the inquest to be held in the case of Anton Repelo, brother of Vassili. Anton had also raped a woman. We put up in the same hotel and were assigned the same suite as before. The next day Bishop Alexander and I went to the local bank where we drew $35,000. What money it was and where it came from I do not know. This sum, together with other money, was put into a portfolio which was usually kept in a valise I had in my care.

On returning to the hotel we found Archbishop Platon who had just arrived together with the wife of Priest Kokhannik and Father and Madam Snegirev. A sumptuous dinner with abundant drinks followed, and lasted until evening. I went to my room and do not know how our clergy spent the night. I do know, however, that, unknown to the others, the husband of Mrs. Kokhannik spent the night in the same hotel.

At eight o'clock the next morning the Bishops called me in and asked me for the portfolio in which, besides the money, there were also many important papers. I opened the bureau into which I had put the valise with the portfolio, and handed it Alexander who, on