Beasts in Cassocks: The Crimes of the Heads of the Russian Greek Catholic Orthodox Church in America/Chapter 36

by John Feoktist Dudikoff

CHAPTER XXXVI.

"You Have Walked Into Our Trap"

The subsequent promises affected me more than all the former threats. He related how Alexander had tormented him, how he had forbidden him to officiate at services, how he had prosecuted him in the courts, etc., etc. "Don't be afraid of me," Father Richlov continued, "I will not deliver you into the hands of these enemies of the human race. You don't believe me? Here, see what I wrote in the Russian papers about their autocracy. Not only their hands, but also their souls, if they have any, are drenched with blood. Everybody knows that Alexander Nemolovsky was the chief instigator of the murder of Father A. Kedrovsky and is responsible for the untimely death of Father Filipovsky. Platon told me how you had been tortured in the Ukraine and when I heard him bragging about it, I could hardly refrain from throttling him. Don't be afraid, sign the paper. Go now, and may God be with you. To-morrow, we will together call on these two 'hermits.'"

I took the rough draft, went home, and began to copy it. I paid no attention to the protests of my wife and Priest Vassily Ptashchuk. My "confession" was finally copied. Together with Ptashchuk I went to Joseph Podlensny, a notary public, who verified my signature. The next day, Father Richlov and I went to see the Bishops. I asked Priest Ptashchuk to follow us, which he did, unobserved by Father Richlov. H witnessed quite a number of things. I have his written testimony to that effect. Richlov asked me to wait for him on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 97th Street, and went to Platon and Alexander himself. A few minutes later, he emerged from the Consistory with a radiant face and approached me, carrying a small book in his hands. Coming close, he said: "Metropolitan Platon can by no means receive you at present. He is busy with Ambassador Bakhmetyev and General Semionov. They are discussing very important affairs, requiring immediate attention. I spoke to Platon and to Bishop Alexander. They send you their blessing and this holy Evangel." Richlov put the book into my hands. I took it, opened it, and not finding any money in it, asked Father Richlov whether he was making fun of me. "Where is my money?" I asked. I insisted that Richlov obtain my money for me, as he promised under oath. He went back to the Consistory, and re-appeared in about fifteen minutes. He took me to an ice-cream parlor on the corner of 96th Street. There, deducting $20.00 "for his trouble" he gave me $180.00, reassuring me at the same time that h had not succeeded in obtaining all the money, because "Alexander and the Metropolitan were very busy with the Ambassador and Semionov. They promisd to repay the remaining $7,600.00 in full." Of course, I asked Father Richlov whether he had given them my written confession. He assured me that it was still in his possession. "To-morrow Platon will receive the Church Fund from the Ambassador," he said. “Before sailing for France, Bakhmetyev leaves his affairs with Uguet and he is also going to give Platon more than $1,000,000. This means that you will get all of your $7,600. We will also try to get costs for you, and only then," Father Richloy added, "I will let him have your confession."

It was on the evening of the next day that I met Father Richlov on Chambers Street. Father Ptashchuk was with me. To my question: "When are we going for the money?" Father Richlov answered in Priest Ptashchuk's hearing: "Why are you so uneasy? What else do you want? You received the New Testament and $200.00 and the the balance, $2,600.00, deposited in the bank and $5,000.00 for the shares you will receive to a cent from Metropolitan Platon. You will be assured of a position at $50.00 a week. If you are stubborn,

The summons for the arrest of Nemolovsky.

you will not get anything, and I will say that I know nothing of the matter. Remember now that you have signed the confession and thus walked into our trap."

A suit was begun and I had to serve with summonses the Archpriest, the Prelates and sub-Prelates. The Bishops hid in order to avoid being served, and thus to delay the trial. Once I came with witnesses to the Consistory at 15 East 97th Street and asked to see Metropolitan Platon. "He is not in," I was told. "Announce me to Alexander." I was told that he, too, had left. At that instant Archbishop Alexander walked into the room. As soon as he espied me, he attacked me, beat me, and called me the most profane names imaginable. He shoved me out of the Consistory, tearing my Clothes. I went back to my attorney and related what had taken place. He decided to sue Alexander and Platon for battery and assault. The

The false Archbishop T. Paskovsky. (Second from the right)

court issued a summons to be served on Alexander Nemolovsky and Metropolitan Platon, but the former had already escaped from the United States as a thief, murderer, and seducer of trusting women and innocent young girls. Into the bargain, he had robbed his devotees of the sum of $500,000. He escaped to Paris whence he will soon be brought in irons and put in the same place where his friend, General Semionov, nicknamed Ludlow, had spent a few weeks.

I immediately applied to the American judicial authorities, retaining Ralph Frinck, the well-known lawyer. I hope and believe that American justice will decide the case fairly anr promptly.

In September, 1922, soon after the suit was begun, I was summoned to a Referee's chambers, at 1475 Broadway, where Metropolitan Platon with his tricky clique of anarchists, monarchists, adventurers, and thieves, was present. To the offer to settle the case peacefully, made me by th Referee, and to Platon's plea that he was a mundane god, I gave this final, brief reply: "There can be no reconciliation," and I asked the Referee to bring the entire case to the New York Supreme Court as a criminal case, in open court, with a jury.

The Referee paid no attention to my request and continued subpoening me to many other places, so that nobody could learn about my case against the "Holy" Platon. Platon told wild tales, as plausible as his announcement of a recent appointment as Chinese Emperor.

Both my witnesses and I herd Platon's ludicrous bragging. In his stories he referred to an American semi-millionaire Carlton and to one F. Pashkovsky. Platon had ordained this Pashkovsky to the rank of Archbishop. He had him appointed to Chicago to take charge of the Illinois Diocese. Two or three weeks later the people drove Pashkovsky out of the Diocese, pelting him with rotten eggs. Pashkovsky then ran away to Canada, leaving his mitre with a woman whom he owed $200. In Canada he began to preach to the people, promising them good positions if the Monarchy were restored in Russia. He was finally found out and suffered the same fate as in Chicago.

 

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