Case ID: mich_41/html/0224-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Per- Curiam.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

People ex rel. Attorney General v. Police Justice of Detroit.
    
      Removal of property in fraud of creditors — Attorney General not a proper relator in private matters.
    
    Comp. L., § 7190, making it a misdemeanor to remove, convey or dispose oí one’s property for the purpose of defeating a levy on it, makes the receiver of the property as guilty as tlio person transferring it, and applies only to property that can be removed and concealed, and not to real estate.
    The Attorney General is not a proper relator in proceedings before a justice for the examination of a person accused of a crime that does not affect the public interests.
    Mandamus.
    Motion submitted June 17.
    Denied June 18.
    
      Charles E. Miller for the writ.
   Per- Curiam.

The police justice having refused to entertain a complaint made by one Darling, purporting to be made under section 17 of chapter 230 (§ 7190) of the Compiled Laws, against one Hurst for a fraudulent disposal of real estate, a motion is now made for a mandamus to compel him to act upon it.

That section, in our opinion, only applies to a disposal of such property as is capable of removal and concealment. It makes the receiver equally guilty with the person making the transfer, and only applies to such property as may be thus received. Real estate can never be placed beyond the power of levy, and any question of fraud can be easily determined. But personal property may be placed where it cannot be found or levied on, and in such a case creditor may have no adequate remedy. The statute must be construed so as to give force to all its conditions. It cannot be extended to any case not clearly within it, so as to subject parties to criminal prosecution.

In a proceeding before a justice to have a person examined for an alleged crime not affecting the public interests, the Attorney General has no duties to perform, and we do not think him a proper relator. His official duties do not reach such preliminary examinations in cases where the crime charged is an offense against individual interests, and not concerning the state or the general security.

Mandamus denied.