Case ID: cow_3/html/0059-02.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "\n      Curia.\n    ", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

In the matter of Underwood, an insolvent debtor, against The Hon. J. T. Irving, First Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of the city of New-York.
    Ok the 6 th day of March, f824, the insolvent presented-his petition to the Hon. J. T. Irving, First Judge of the Court of 1 . Commoa Pleas of the city of NewYor/c, for a discharge under tbe “ act to abolish imprisonment for debt in certain cases,” passed April 1th, 1819. His honour made the usual order for the creditors to appear on the 24th of May following, and directed by this order that the same should be published for v 1 10 weeks. On the 24Ih May, affidavits of publication wéré' produced, and no person appearing to oppose, the usual order for an assignment was made, the assignment executed,- and on the next day a certificate was produced from'the assignees appointed by the Judge, that the insolvent had executed the assignment. But, on application for a discharge,the Judge stated, that since, making the order for assignment, he had discovered that two of the affidavits of publication' stated the same to have been made six weeks instead of ten. The attorney of the insolvent was ignorant, till then, that the affidavits were defective ; and he insisted, that the Judge was bound to sign the discharge, it being too late'after making the order and executing the assignment, there being no objection on the score of want of good faith in the insolvent,to inquire into the regularity of notice.- But the Judge was of a different opinion, and refused to sign the discharge. The omission to advertise the ten weeks was through inadvertence.
    
      On an applica,I°n for a *s-charge, under the act to abolment^wdebt in certain ca-SOS (SGSS rJu lbi) and orae„r, fo!- 10 weeks’ advertisement to creditors, and a publication of only 6 weeks, and then an order, by mistake, for assignment, which is made, the second order is a nullity, being made without jurisdiction, and the Commissioner may refuse to sign the discharge.
    
      A motion was' now made for a mandamus,- commanding Judge Irving to proceed and grant the discharge, and
    
      R. Sedgwick, for the motion,
    cited 5 L. N. Y. 116; (sess. 42, ch. 101, s. 2) and insisted that it was intended by the law that the whole investigation to be made by the Judge, the whole trial, &c. should be made before the order for assignment. When that order is made, all prior questions are" res judicata. It is certain that there can be but one trial by jury ; and it is well understood that all questions of fraud are' to be settled, if heard by the J udge, before granting the order. A fortiori, questions of form, notice, &c. ought to be adjudged before that time.
    The :3d section of the act is imperative, that upon the insolvent’s producing a certificate, &e. the Judge shall declare under his hand and seal, &c.
    He cited the case of Bradstreet, (13 John. 385) as in point. The ground on which the Court neld, in that case, that the Recorder could vacate the order, was collusion to prevent the creditors from opposing. Besides, the whole matter was there in fieri, when the Recorder was applied So, to vacate the order. The assignment had not been made ■ and certified. How can the assigned property in this case be got back ? The assignees hold it in trust for the creditors. The Judge had executed bis powers, and the assignment vested the property in the assignee.
   Curia.

We do not view the matter in this light. The first order made pursuant to the statute had been disregarded: The 10 weeks advertisement was necessary to give the commissioner jurisdiction. Till this was done, he had no authority. and the second order was a nullity. The assignment must probably share the same fate, though it is not necessary to pass upon the effect of this ; and we must not be understood as doing so. We are not to be guided by a consideration of the embarrassment which may arise from that act.

Motion denied.