Beasts in Cassocks: The Crimes of the Heads of the Russian Greek Catholic Orthodox Church in America/Appendix 2
SUPPLEMENT
A BRIEF SKETCH OF MY COURT TRIALS
AND FURTHER SUFFERINGS
My lawsuit against those persons who were implicated in plundering me and guilty in all of my sufferings, to wit: charging me with Bolshevism, etc., which had been tried before the Supreme Court of Bayonne, N. J., all of a sudden had been discontinued without my knowledge. And when I have made an official inquiry, the court official told me that the trial took place in June, 1923, and that the case was left without results and refused to give any further explanations. Meanwhile, a short time thereafter, to wit: in the fall, during my absence when I went to Los Angeles about the business of my film, somebody availed himslef of my material, stolen from me during the same plundering by the Ku-Klinski of Bayonne, and turned it over to the press. Several articles from this material were published in the newspaper "Novy Mir" (The "New World"). Who turned them over to the editorial office I can only guess, for I did not as yet succeed to get an official information from the editorial office of that newspaper regarding this matter. In answer to my inquiry the editorial office has referred to the German newspaper "Folkszeitung." However, when I requested to show me a copy of that newspaper they could not give it to me but tried by all means to evade the issue with all kinds of excuses, that I could get more detailed explanation from editor Borisoff, who just happened not to be in but would be to-morrow, and finally,—never. In the same time, to wit: in August, not being able to endure it any longer, I made up my mind to look for justice by publsihing a book, however, not for sale, but for the purpose of familiarizing with this matter those whom it may concern, among the American, as well as Russian public men, and also by producing a film.
For this purpose I went to the Department of Justice at Washington, accompanied by my lawyer, Mr. Beder, of 15 Park Row, New York, where at a personal interview with Mr. Nathan, who has introduced himself as Assistant to the Attoreny General, I had been given a promise that my case would be examined within a very short time, namely about two weeks, and I gave them a brief summary which was intended for the publication of my book; whereupon I have been advised by words of mouth, that there is no objection to the publication, and that concerning the production on the screen, I have to apply to the Chief Director of Films, Mr. Hayes, and which advice I have followed. Upon my reutrn to New York I have commenced preparing the work for my book. But merciless Fate constantly persecuted me and my book with all material, almost in final form, had been seized by gaents of the Metropolitan Paton at the printing shop and destroyed. In this obnoxious crime took actvie part: the attorneys and counsellors of the Metropolitan, Messrs. Graves and Mahony, the priest and former German spy Krizhanowsky and many others—in all about 40 people. Whereupon, this violence was accompanied by beating me up. Principally threatened with revolvers: the priest Krizhanowsky, and one Muralow, a former Che-kist at the Kieff Extra-Ordinary Commission, Malaya Sadowaya No. 5.
During this pogrom they caused me damages amounting in total to some $50,000.00, taking into consideration that at the same time I lost a number of very valuable affidavits.
After all this I again went with my attorney, Mr. Maximilian Beder to Washington. The same Mr. Nathan, after hearing my story for the second time requested from me a brief summary, allgeing that he cannot find the first one I gave him during my first visit at the Department of Justice, and again having promised that the entire affair would be investigated very shortly. Whereupon he said:
"Regardless of all this, there is no objection against the filming of your picture—apply to the same Mr. Hayes."
Having returned to New York, I went to the office of Mr. Hayes and his assistant told me that from their part there is no objection either, and that the concern which buys from me the picture will take care itself about the further development of the film; whereupon he forwarded to me a list containing names and addresses of various film companies.
Thereafter, within a short time, I commenced negotiations with a film company at Los Angeles regarding the sale of my film and went there. But here again I had met with misfortune. The Metropolitan Platon, with the assistance of his agent, the priest Razumow, gathered a group of some 200 people, including Baptists, denounced me, arrested me and prosecuted me.
The charges against me were different, without aversion to anything: accusing me of Bolshevism, atheism, etc. . . .
The Judge, after hearing the case and being convinced in the absurdity of the charges, dismissed the complaint and released me, finally, and besides, he initiated prosecutions against some of the false witnesses, as criminals. After my release they did not leave me in peace yet and summoned me to the Federal Department, where Inspector Dick, after an inquest and thorough examination of my documents, he certified the legality of my being there, advising me, however, to go back to New York. Besides, I had been persecuted by some Federal agent, E. Kosterlitsky, who, simply being engaged in extortion, threatened me with deportation and other horrors.
Being sick and tired of all this troubles I made up my mind to depart and went to New York, where I hope to bring this case to an end. Upon my arrival in New York, I met the pseudo-Metropolitan, a former priest Kedrowsky, who informed me that my position is very bad, as he told me that he turned over by mistake one of my affidavits, revealing the activity of the Soviet inquisition in Russia, to the "Narkomust" (the National Commissariat of Justice) and that I may be shot upon my return to that country.
I would very much like that the authorities of the United States investigate this case. In the first place, where did he get my affidavit, and, secondly, what right did he have to turn it over to the Soviet authorities? This means, that he is an agent of the Soviets and is employed by the Third International.
Translation of an article published in No. 39 of the Russian weekly "Swit" (The Light) in the issue of October 25, 1923, at Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
TO THE POINT AND VERY IMPORTANT.
As a representative of the superior monarchial council, I repudiate with extreme indignation the alleged participation of the monarchists in the assault and battery of the unfortunate priest Dudikoff, according to the report printed in the "Novy Mir" (the New World) and other newspapers. This matter in the communication as well as in the conclusion has absolutely no connection whatsoever with the monarchists. Such criminal departures are incompatible with the dignity of people of this denomination, who strive to a firm upbuilding of Russia and respect the laws of this country.
The described September the 17th debauch had been performed by violators who dared to raise their hand against a clargyman and even threatening to use a ready weapon.
It is impossible to destroy the compromising book and thus corrode the persons described therein: a multitude of thousands of workingmen and other witnesses demand justice and a public trial, while the Jews also demand a clearing up of the grave threats of massacres against their race at this criminal attack and debauch.
It is a tremendous scandal. Of course, for what had occurred will, first of all, be held responsible a part of the guilty ones, insofar as this vanguard of the tireless, fumigating riot proceeded along the lines of action at the described moment; and thereafter, when the trial will disclose the main cause which had provoked this ugly brawl, then will by itself be revealed the grounds which compelled to make the experiment in writing this sorrowful book. It is positively known that once upon a time Dudikoff even took an oath in a church that he would be discreet and careful in publishing things he had seen with his own eyes and, in this respect, he would have to treat actual, concrete matters as non-existing ones. For this, confidence has been shown to him and he had been promised an enviable career.
But all this, nevertheless, was a terrible scoffiing at sacred things, which is so characteristic of persons who badly need an insurance-cover for their very non-transparent possibilities in applying in advance their methods of scaring and extracting extorting obligations. It is therefore sheer short-sightedness and unwise to destroy by pogrom-methods a book, which chiefly concerns those who are indignant against it. It is no use. The law of moral compensation is still in existence; its rays illuminate far and penetrate into human affairs. It is a thousand times not the matter with the book, nor with its modest author, with his confirming name, but rather with those people who furnished hte exclusive material for its contents, treating (one word illegible—translator) shameful for all moral fundamentals and the people enumerated therein without any zealous veal.
In the first place, it is positively known to me that a reproduction of Dudikoff's book may now easily be found in the Synod of Berlin, Paris, London, Rome and everywhere in the entire wide zone of the Russian settling. Apparenlty, "Habeat libelli sua fata."
Upon the examination of the affairs of the Diocese of the United States, this book, in manuscript, was lying on my desk. I have read it with pain, based upon thousands of preliminary facts, documents and communications. Upon consideration and comparison with the latter ones I have formed a conviction that the story is entirely verisimilar, the frame true to the environment, the style is matter-of-fact, episodical, simply photographical, and the whirlwind of participants actual although of a shockingly negative character.
Hell, I should say, did not kindle a more effectual fire-work. Having remained under such a shocking impression after having read this book, I did not make a separate anlysis being oppressed by the official material alone, of which there was plenty with an overwhelming superfluity for the concluding and final totals of the revision of the touched in it manipulating sharps of the most shameful ilk.
And so, there is no use of winkling or shifting at politics or at our monarchists. Concerning this matter our dissident friends informed about the heroes of the book ardently implored to save Faith, Christ's name and the law.
Dudikoff's book is non-political. Therefore, the various informers in the newspapers are trying in vain to impart false and evasive light that all this had been done by the Platon's Susceptible censorship against Rasputin, Illiodor, etc. Nothing at all. In this book it is merely being narrated about the one who is conducting the entire train, M. Platon Rozhdestvensky, and his friend Alexander Nemolovsky, with those affilliated with this two-in-one block of assistants, quakes comedians, etc., placed by the conductors of the train in the rank of supernumeraries. . . .
It is difficult to reply to this for there is a reserve of subsequent inconvenient revelations and disclosures. There was plently of time to conscienciously reflect on, that no matter how horrible the darkness of Egypt might have been, even at the time of Moses, yet it has to disperse and give way to light. My profound conviction is, that Dudikoff's book will have its fate: through the princely Oleg's horse, upon which will deadly stumble the marked in it embodied, inculcated, ready for all insane scoffings—evil.
CITY OF NEW YORK SS:
I, the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for the State of New York, duly commissioned and sworn, do hereby certify that I have rendered into English the above translation from Russian, published in the Russian weekly "The Light", in issue No. 39, of October 25th, 1923; that I am an editor of foreign language publications and have an extensive experience in translating from Russian into English and vice versa; that said translation and each and every part and parcel thereof is correct and, to the best of my ability and understanding, represents a true and exact copy of said Russian article.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of my office this 20th day of March, 1924.
AARON GOLDBERG,
Notary Pubic Kings County, No. 47.
Cert. filed in New York Co., No. 164.
My commission expires March 30, 1926.