Case ID: mass_91/html/0573-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Dewey, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Hiram Church vs. George F. Choate.
    
      J the wife of an insolvent debtor is duly charged with having fraudulently concealed prop, erty which belonged to her husband previous to his insolvency, it is the duty of the judge of insolvency, under Gen. Sts. c. 118, § 107, to examine her on oath touching the same.
    Petition setting forth that Alfred S. Merritt was an insolvent debtor; that the petitioner duly presented to the defendant, who was judge of insolvency, his complaint setting forth that he was a creditor of said Merritt, and had proved his claim, and that he suspected and had reason to believe that Margaret A. Merritt, wife of said debtor, had fraudulently received, concealed. embezzled and conveyed away certain personal property which be* longed to the debtor previous to his insolvency, and now belongs to the assignee, and praying that she might be cited and examined on oath upon the same; and that she was accordingly cited, and appeared, whereupon the defendant refused to examine her. The prayer was that she might be cited before this court for examination, or that a mandamus might issue to the defendant.
    By consent of the defendant, the bill was taken pro confessa.
    
    
      C. Sewall, for the petitioner,
    cited St. 21 Jac. I. c. 19, §§ 5, 6; 6 Geo. IV. c. 16, § 37 ; Ex parte James, 1 P. W. 610 ; Griffin v. Brown, 2 Pick. 308 ; Fitch v. Hill, 11 Mass. 286 ; Richardson v. Learned, 10 Pick. 261; Rex v. Bathwick, 2 B. & Ad. 639, 647; 1 Greenl. Ev. §§ 341, 342.
    
      J. C. Perkins, for the respondent.
    At common law a wife could not be examined touching the bankruptcy of her husband. No statute in this state authorizes such examination. There can be no fraudulent acts between them ; no conspiracy or embezzlement. Her act is his, in law. An examination of him is the only way to get at her. 1 Greenl. Ev. §§ 254, 334, 335.
   Dewey, J.

The wife of an insolvent debtor may be examined upon a complaint under Gen. Sts. c. 118, § 107, alleging that she has fraudulently received, concealed or embezzled the money, goods and estate belonging to the debtor, previous to the institution of proceedings in insolvency. She may clearly be required to answer as to her own acts in reference to the same. The object of such examination embraces any inquiries tending to discover property concealed or withdrawn from the custody and possession of the assignees. She may have taken transfers of property from third persons to her sole and separate use, made at the instigation of the husband and upon consideration paid by him, and under such circumstances as would in law subject the property to be applied for the benefit of his creditors. She may have actively or tacitly aided in the concealment of articles of personal property of the debtor, and as to this she is bound to answer.

Without any inquiry of her as to any criminal acts of her husband, if that were a ground of legal objection where the inquiry is in a collateral proceeding by which he is not bound, as to which it is not necessary to express any opinion at this time, there is a wide field open for examination of the wife upon the matters alleged in this complaint. Such an examination is expressly authorized in England. St. 6 Geo. IV. c. 16, § 37. Under our system, and considering the nature and purposes of the examination, the court are of opinion that the judge in insolvency should have ordered the examination of Margaret A. Merritt. Mandamus to issue.