New-York tribune., 1920-11-02
Charges Priest
Took $369,762
OF Church Fund
Referee Says Archdiocese
Has Proved Claim Against
FIR. Strcze'ecki's Estate
and Alleges Fraud Plot
Salary Was 5000 a Year
Padding of Expenses Dis
covered; Brother Had Es-
timated Estate at sos, 900

John +. Brennan, as referee, reported
to Surrogate Foley yesterday his find
ing that the Roman Catholic Archdio-
cesc of New York, represented by
Archbishop Hayes, had proved It's
claim for $369,762 against the estate
Of the Rev. John II. Strezelecki At
the time of his death in December,
1918, Father Strezelecki was rector
of the Polish Catholic Church of st.
Stanislaus, at lot East Seventh
Street.
After the death Of Father Streze-
lecki, who had been for twenty-five
years assistant rector and rector of
the Polish church. his brother, Julian
f. Strczelecil, who WAS clerk Of the
church. tool, out letters Of administra-
ton. placing the value Of the estate at
S20,S00, and later amended his estimate
to sos 900. An investigation resulted
from 4 report made to the archdi ocese
by the rector who succeeded to the
pulpit Of the dead priest. The dis
covery was made it is alleged that the
brother had removed to a state deposit
vault q large amount of money, jewelry
and securities left by Father Streze
lecki. This property, treated by the
priest as his own, was claimed by the
church. The priest was receiving an al
lowance of 5000 a year at the time of
his death.
Expense Padding Charged
Referee Brennan reported that
Father Strezeieck mingled his own
funds with those of the church and
padded his expense accounts. This
commingiing Of funds, said the referee
was in violation of a strict rule Of the
chancellor of the diocese which reads:
"a pastor when assigned to parish
not only is vested with spiritual
authority, but becomes by reason Of
his Office custodian Of temporal
trust, which if he fails to administer
conscientiously and wisely, incurs for
himself, the guilt of a grave breach Of
confidence and justice"
In violat. ng this rule, said Referee
Brennan, the priest made false entries
in his books charging against the
church many of his personal obiga-
tons under the heading of "church re-
pairs" and "church improvements.
Father Strezelecki, said the referee,
also charged for extra services rem
dered by the organist at funerals and
weddings, although these services were
Paid for by the parties ordering them
Referee Tells of Loans
The priest. according to the referee,
was also liberal IN the matter of lend
ng money to friends. One of his
friends who obttined loans was law
Yer and editor OF a Polish newspaper,
to whom Father Strezelecki is said to
have lett $4,000 At another time the
priest contributed $4,000 to the Polish
patriotic cause.
Mr.. Bremen said in his report that
the alleged manipulation by Father
Stree lecki of the church funds is in
iicated by the fact that the largest col
ior year was S4.l00, while his sue
eesaor reported collection Of $4,000
i. six months.
Julian Strezeleck, brother of the
Clergyman, who,c removal as admins
traitor has been asked, paid $500 for a
ZONE IN Brooklyn after taking posses
.ion Of the estlte. The brother testi-
ned before the referee that Father Sire
2elecki drew checks to his' order aggre-
eating $4,000 and that lie handed the
money over to the priest. H e did not
know, Julian Strezelecki testified, what
he rector did with the fumes.
The rector's only income besides the
alary paid to him were fees for offici-
ting at bantisns, weddings ard funer-
us. Referee Brennan's finding was
lhat Father Strezelecki had wrong
tully and fraudulentlv" diverted the
funds OF his church.