PRIEST AND £250,000

Hokitika Guardian, 24 May 1932, Page 3

PRIEST AND £250,000

TURKISH LAW DISPUTE

LONDON, May .22

When Francois Lobry. a "French priest, died in September last, it: was found that 187 buildings of a value of over two .million Turkish liras (£250,000) were inscribed in liis name The property actually belonged to the French Lazarists, who in Turkey rank first among the teaching congregations and was registered in Francois Lnbrv’j name because of a general practice which dates from the time when Turkish legislation ignored the status, of legal personality

Estates were usually registered in the name of “Monsieur l’Abbe” or “Monsieur I’Evequcv.’ and in case of the titular head dying .there was nr difficulty in the new abbot or bishop asserting his right-to the property.' The Turkish Administration has now strictly applied the lew. and ar<riibs that these 187 buildings arc Lobry’,s personal property. It lias obtained a court decision to seize them and already forty buildings have beer taken over and the tenants summoned to pay their rents to the Tribunal. The case raises very imoertant. issues. but it is still possible that the State may come to some arrangement witli the French Lazarists.