The New York herald., 1922-04-20
NO SOFIA DIVORCE
FOR SENATOR HOLLIS
Bulgarian Foreign Office Re-
pudiates the Action of
Pastor Toplisky.
TO PROSECUTE MINISTER
'Damnable,' Says New Hamp-
shire Man When Ques-
toned in Paris.
TO PROSECUTE MINISTER

Spscinl Gable to THE NEW YORK HERALD.
Copyright, 1929, by THE New YoRK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Paris. April 10.
Henry f. Hollis. former United States
Senator from New Hampshire. hid be-
bind a mask of rage to-day when THE
NEW YORK HERALD correspondent sought
an answer from him to declarations that
the Bulgarian Government did not
recognize his divorce from Grace Bruer-
ton Fisher-Hollis.
I'll not talk about the divorce or
anything connected with it, roared ex-
Senator Hollis. Its damnable----"
and here the ex-senator slammed his
Office door In the reporters face.
To his friends here ex-senator Hollis
offers no explanation of the Bulgarian
system beyond the assurance that all
Is right and that such a lawyer as
former Senator James Hamilton Lewis
of Illinois knows that the requirements
were fulfilled. At present. however, no
one here seems to have obtained a
glimpse of the Bulgarian decree.
SOFIA, April 19 (Associated Press).- -
The Depar -ment of Religion and Educa-
tion of the Foreign Office has advised
the Bulgarion Legation in Washington
chat the divorce issued to former Sena-
tor Hollis by the pastor Of the Unitarian
Church at Dubnitza is not officially
recognized by the Bulgarian State and
possesses no legal force.
The religion department denies having
given official approval TO the divorce
papers. and the Government is institut-
Ing proceedings against Pastor Toplisky,
who granted the divorce.
Or. Dobtshef. professor of canonical
law at Sofia University. declares the
divorce invalid by virtue of the Bulga-
rian laws. fIe points out that Bulgarian
religious authorities have not the power
TO annul marriage concluded civilly
either at home or abroad. and says that
only the civil authority which executed
such marriage can annu it.
The Bulgarian newspapers are print
ing long articles commenting upon the
strangeness of the case. Mr. Hollis is
well known here. as he had represented
a large American corporation endeavor-
ing TO sell the Government excess Amer
lean war stocks of freight cars.
WASHINGTON April 19 ASSOCIATED
Press). - No detailed information rc-
garding the divorce proceedings OF for
mer Senator Hollis in Bulgaria nas
reached the Bulgarian Legation here, out
legation officials are taking steps IN in
form themselves more fully on the sub
feet. n
\ message received to-day n the
legation merely announced the G 'ern
m4nt's decision not to recognize tie
divorce as legal, and added nothing 10
Associated Press dispatches from Sofia.
The presumption here Is that the 'esa-
tion's cablegram was intended to be
merely Informative since there has been
no move here looking to any action by
the American Government. sgE.
To be in position to answer any
questions that may be addressed TO
them. however,. the legation officials
are understood to have written to Bull
paria asking for details. One of the
letters of inquiry is said to have gone
TO Pastor Toplisky who granted the
djvorce and who is known personally to
some OF the le-atian s'aff