#### Harrigan and others, Respondents, vs. Gilchrist and others, Appellants. [Eight appeals.]

*December 11, 1903*

June *10, 1904.*

Atpeal. (1, 2) *Service of notice: “Adverse party:” Insolvent corporation.*(3, 4) *Several appeals in one notice: Undertakings.*(5, 7) *Security for costs: Validity of statutes: Constitutional laxo.*(6, 8) *Jurisdiction of appellate court: Defective appeal: Allowing omissions to be supplied.*(9, 10) *Denying motion to dismiss after defect cured: Terms.*(66) *Findings of fact, when disturbed: Evidence: Fraud.*(117) *Taxation of costs: Several appeals: Who are prevailing parties.*

Jubisdiction': Equity. (6) *Of appellate court: Defective appeal.*(11) *Of subject matter: When may be challenged.*(12, 14-16) *Want of power, or abuse thereof: Results.*(13) *Circuit courts: Constitutional jurisdiction: Extent.*(17) *Action, at laxo or in eqxiity? Question not jurisdictional, but one of practice.*(18, 69) *Error, when jurisdictional.*(19-21, 67, 58) *Equity jurisdiction: Extent: Principles not precedents: Complicated subject matter.*(25) Same: *Enforcement of trusts.*

Constitutional Law. (5, 7) *Statutes requiring security for costs: Validity.*(52, 53) *Trial by jury: Extent of right: Statutory actions.*

Coepobations: Insolvency: Receivers: Winding-up Action: Trusts and Trustees. (22-24) *Property as trust fund for creditors: Parties defendant in winding-up action: Receiver as trustee: Constructive trustees of property obtained by fraud.*(25) *Exclusive jux'isdiction of equity.*(26, 27) *Sequestration: Statutory remedy: Policy of courts.*(28) *Creditors’ action not dependent on statute.*(29) *Relations between creditors and receiver; Respective spheres of action.*(30-33) *Destroying identity of subject of trust: Accounting by trustee: Liability at law or in equity? Tort.*(34-38) *Receivers, when and by whom compelled to account: Procedure: Contempt proceeding not exclusive: When not to be made defendants as trustees.*(39, 40) *Fraxidulent transferee as defendant: Discovery.*(41) *Dissolution of corpox-ation: Power of courts: Administering property.*(42-44) *Remedies of creditors as to trust fund: Legal title: Receiver not essential.*(45) *Code substitute for creditors’ bill.*(46, 47) *Amended or supplemental complaint: New matters: Broadening the action: Parties.*(50) *Form of judgment.*(51) *Joint liability of constructive trustees.*(54, 55, 60) *Receiver collusively appointed, when treated as mere agent for co-wrong**128*doers: Parties defendant: Accounting.*(56-59) *Pleading in winding-up suit: Matters included.*(61) *Condition precedent: Return of execution unsatisfied.*(62) *Parties: Rearrangement after suit commenced.*(63) *Supplemental complaint: Delay in ashing leave to file.*(64, 65) *Consolidation of actions.*(67-69) *Receiver conserving equities at Ms own expense: Lien: Speculating with subject of trust.*(70, 71) *Judicial advice: Oral evidence: Misstatements to court.*(72, 112) *Relief granted although fraud not proven.*(665) *Degree of proof necessary.*(73) *Survival of action: Accounting.*(74-78) *Conserving hy-pothecated assets, etc.: Rights of secured creditors: Sharing in distribution: Exhausting security.*(79-81) *Completing unfinished contracts: Directions by court.*(82, 83) *Imperfect mortgages: Intention to pledge: Equity: Priority.*(84-86) *Purchase of trust property by trustee voidable: Recovery of damages by*cestui que trust. (91, 99) *Advisory orders may be*ex parte. (92) *Creditor’s expenses in prosecuting suit, when allowed.*(93, 94) *Interests of secured creditors when not adverse to receiver: Attorneys acting for both.*(95, 97, 98) *Attorneys for receivers: Allowances: Itemized accounts.*(96) Al*lowance for receiver’s services.*(100) *Receiver’s responsibility for mistakes of judgment.*(1017103, 106) *Receiver’s accounts: Time and manner of examination: Reference not governed by statute or rules: May be closed summarily:*Ex parte *settlement an indiscretion.*(113, 114) *Attorneys when bound by allowance: Reducing, allowance: Recovery of excess paid: Interest.*(115, 116) *Expense of settling accounts: Allowance: Judgment for costs against creditors, when payable from trust fund.*

Pleading and Ibactice. (5, 7) *Security for costs: Yalidity of requirement.*(48) *Scope of the Code.*(49, 56) *Misjoinder of causes of action: Waiver.*(50) *Judgment: Form.*(52, 53) *Trial by jury: Extent of right: Statutory actions.*(61) *Demurrer*ore -terras. (63) *Supplemental complaint: Delay in asking leave to file.*(64, 65) *Consolidation of actions.*(73) *Survival of actions.*(89) *Reliance on judge’s announced opinion: Subsequent contrary decision: Re-opening case.*(104) *Recitals of fact in order presumed true.*(105) *Preparation of findings by attorneys.*(107, 108) *Judges: Reviewing decisions of predecessors: Setting aside orders improvidently granted.*(109, 110, 113, 114) *Recovery of moneys paid on orders after-wards set aside: Interest.*(Ill, 112) *Suit on one cause of action, recovery on another: Equity.*

Evidence. (665) *Fraud: Degree of proof necessary.*(87) *Statements of agent as against principal.*(90) *Undisputed testimony of interested party.*

*129Moetgages. (82, 83) *Imperfect attempt: Intention to pledge: Equity: Rights of other creditors: Priority.*

Saees. (88) *Of electric lighting plant: Contracts and supplies impliedly included.*

I.

A creditors’ action was commenced as to an insolvent corporation, a receiver appointed, and the usual sequestration proceedings had. Subsequently, the complaint being deemed defective, a supplementary action was commenced, and like proceedings were had therein as before, the receiver’s acts under the first appointment being affirmed. Thereafter all proceedings were had as in the two actions till after the passing of the receiver’s final account and the distribution of the assets. Then, upon a showing made by creditors that such actions, though commenced ostensibly in their interests, were, in fact, commenced and carried on throughout pursuant to a conspiracy between the officers of the corporation and others to misappropriate the corporate assets, their agent being imposed upon the court as receiver and judicial approval of his acts obtained by fraud, and that it was desired to have the causes so combined and reorganized as to call upon the wrongdoers to account therein for their misdeeds, — no judgment having been rendered interfering with the proposed course, — a formal order was made consolidating the actions and vacating so far as necessary the administrative orders, particularly those passing the receiver’s account and distributing the assets. The moving creditors and all similarly situated and wishing to join with them were made plaintiffs, and those theretofore in such position defendants, joining with them the alleged wrongdoers. The order permitted the filing of a supplemental complaint tendering such issues as might he deemed necessary to the administration of the trust. Such a complaint was filed and served and issues joined- thereon by all defendants as to all the material allegations thereof, and a trial was had resulting in a judgment for plaintiffs, relief being granted according to the liabilities respectively adjudged against the defendants. Thereupon eight notices of appeal were served, each notice being by two or more defendants to the effect that the persons named therein “severally and separately” appealed, one undertaking for $250 being given with each notice. No notice of appeal was served upon the insolvent. The clerk of the trial court certified the record to this court, and for two years thereafter respondents’ counsel treated the appeals as regular, stipulations being made with appellants’ counsel providing for continuances, among other *130things, with terms in some cases imposed upon appellants', which were submitted to. At the fourth term of the court after such filing of the record, and when the appeals were about to be heard upon the merits, respondents’ counsel moved for a dismissal thereof because, while each appellant appealed separately from others, he did not give a separate undertaking. Appellants’ counsel seasonably thereafter made due applications to the trial court under sec. 3052, Stats. 1898, for leave to perfect the appeals, which were granted and an undertaking filed accordingly for $250 as to each appellant. A supplemental return having been made showing such facts and bringing up such undertakings, and the motions to dismiss them having been *heard,*— Held:

1. The term “adverse party” in sec. 3049, Stats. 1898, relating to the service of notice of appeal to this court, does not mean merely the opposite party on the record. It does not extend beyond parties having some substantial interest in sustaining the decision challenged by the appeal, p. 2Ó7.

*2.*In an action to reach the property applicable to the payment of the indebtedness of an insolvent corporation, a judgment having been rendered against parties charged with wrongfully appropriating such property or some part thereof, it being conceded that the corporate indebtedness greatly exceeds the corporate assets, and the corporation having for all business purposes ceased to exist, though yet having a legal entity, it is not an adverse party within the meaning of the appeal statutes, in a controversy upon appeal between the creditors and the judgment debtors, p. 210.

■3. If several parties join in. one notice of appeal, stating that they severally and separately appeal, the effect is the same as if there were as many notices of appeal as appellants; and to make the notice effective as to any appellant an undertaking in the sum of $250 under the statute is requisite to each. p. 210.

4. An undertaking in form to answer in the sum of $250 for the defaults of several defendants constitutes one obligation. p. 211.

■6. Reasonable regulations imposing costs and requiring security for costs as incidents of judicial proceedings to redress wrongs or protect rights, do not violate the bill of rights entitling every person to “obtain justice freely and without being obliged to purchase it.” p. 214.

6. The giving in good faith of a proper notice of appeal, and the recognition thereof by the proper officer by returning the record to this court, confers jurisdiction here, to,allow any defect in the appeal to be cured within the time limited by statute for *131taking the same; and if the only defect is in failing to serve the statutory undertaking for $250, it being filed for the use of the respondent, it confers jurisdiction upon this court to hear the appeal without the error being cured, counsel for respondent not seasonably objecting, p. 212.

7. Statutory regulations of the right to a review upon appeal or otherwise, as regards costs and security for costs, cannot be condemned as class legislation merely because it is more burdensome for some persons than for others to comply therewith. p. 220.

•8. If the omission to give a proper undertaking to perfect an appeal happens through mistake or accident, it is proper for the trial court to allow such omission to he cured; and if the omission is not attributable to either mistake or accident, so called, hut is excusable in any view of the matter, it is competent for this court to allow the defect to be cured if application he seasonably made therefor, p. 221.

D. The new undertaking here being a full compliance with the statutory requirements as to each appeal, and having been filed before the motions to dismiss were heard, it is proper to deny such motions with or without costs to the moving parties, as justice requires, p. 222.

10. Respondents’ counsel having treated the appeals as properly taken, with knowledge or full means of knowledge of the facts up to a time when a change of position on their part would be prejudicial to appellants, and having given no reason for not calling the court’s attention to the defects at an earlier date, and such defects having been promptly cured as soon as called to the attention of appellants’ counsel, no terms should be imposed as a condition of denying respondents’ motions and allowing the appeals to stand, except that appellants be required to submit the same upon the merits when reached in their order. p. 222.

II.

The court, preliminary to deciding 'the appeals upon the merits, having caused a reargument upon this proposition:

“The property of an insolvent corporation having been placed under the control of a receiver appointed by the court in a winding-up suit, and it being claimed that such receiver, in the •course of his administration, has wrongfully lost such property or some portion thereof, his attorneys and others participating in the wrong; is it competent for the court to make the alleged guilty parties defendants in the pending suit with some creditor, or creditors, standing for all persons so cir*132cumstanced, as plaintiff or plaintiffs, broaden out the complaint so as to coyer the new matters by a supplemental bill, litigate the same, and include in the general decree in such suit recoveries against all of such alleged guilty parties according to the nature or extent of their liabilities?”

*Held,*in respect thereto as to points raised by counsel, and others suggested:

11. A challenge to the'jurisdiction of the court of the subject matter of the litigation in any action is proper at any time in the progress thereof. Whether counsel raise the question or waive it, or expressly consent to the jurisdiction, does not change the situation, p. 224.

12. If the defect of jurisdiction springs from want of power the result is void; if from inexcusable departure from established principles governing the exercise of judicial power, it is erroneous and may and ought to be set aside upon appeal regardless of the attitude of counsel in respect thereto upon either side, pp. 227, 228.

13. The constitutional jurisdiction of the circuit courts of this state is substantially coextensive with that of the English courts of King’s Bench, Common Pleas, and Chancery combined, p. 227.

14. A court may be without judicial power as to a particular subject matter, or have such power, but by* settled principle ought not to exercise it at all or in the particular way. In either case, within the broad meaning of the term, the court is without jurisdiction of the subject matter, p. 227.

15. Want of judicial power as to a particular subject of action renders relief granted to the plaintiff open to challenge, directly or indirectly, as void. Abuse of power in the sense of inexcusable departure from established principles in the exercise of judicial authority, leaves the result binding upon the. parties interested till set aside in some appropriate judicial proceeding. p. 228.

16. Judicial aetion*beyond the limits of judicial power is usurpation. Judicial action within the limits of such power, but regardless of settled principles regulating the exercise of such power, is regarded as error of judgment, but may be jurisdictional error, nevertheless, though remediable only as before stated, p. -228.

17. Under the Code, whether a plaintiff plants his cause of action at law or in equity from the aspect of common-law procedure, does not, if improperly planted, raise a jurisdictional question in the strict sense of the term; only a question of practice, p. 231.

18. Whenever there is such a violation of established practice or principles in regard to the exercise of judicial authority as to *133seriously interfere with the efficiency of judicial instrumen-talities to administer justice, the error is jurisdictional, p. 231.

19. The jurisdiction of courts of equity is defined by principles, not by precedents; the former govern, the latter illustrate, p. 234.

20. New principles of equity are not to be added by judicial policy, but old ones are subject to development to meet new conditions. p. 235.

21. The relief within the power of equity jurisdiction to afford where legal remedies are inadequate or do not exist at all, is limited only by the wrongs to be redressed or the rights to be protected; this not extending, however, to mere violations of moral obligations, p. 235.

22. In an action to administer the property of an insolvent corporation and enforce liabilities germane thereto as a trust fund for the payment of its debts, all persons possessing any part of such fund in a trust capacity, in any legitimate sense, and all persons contingently liable or liable only upon principles of equity, for the benefit of creditors as a class, are proper defendants. pp. 237-240, 249.

23. A receiver of an insolvent corporation in a creditors’ action to administer its affairs for their benefit, is a trustee of corporate assets in the right of'the corporation for such creditors, and for the latter in their right as to all liabilities to which they may properly resort as a class, not enforcible by the corporation. p. 237.

24. The last foregoing rule includes persons who may have obtained property of the corporation in fraud of its creditors. They are constructive trustees for creditors, and their liabilities as such may properly be directly established in the creditors’ suit. pp. 237-240.

25. The whole subject of enforcing trusts and administering the same is within the exclusive jurisdiction of equity in the absence of any statutory regulation on the subject, p. 241.

26. The statutory remedy by sequestration is not a right of action, new or old. It is at most a mere remedy of a provisional character, for use in an action which exists, except as regards mere form, independently of the statute, such remedy being merely in aid thereof. It is a substitute for the common-law writ of sequestration, p. 243.

27. Generally speaking, courts of equity will not, without legislative policy favorable thereto, manifested in some way, render a corporation incapable of performing its corporate duties and practically terminate its existence by sequestering its property and taking charge of its affairs, though it is within judicial power to do so if necessary to the ends of justice, p. 243.

*13428. The practice of administering the affairs of an insolvent corporation for the benefit of creditors by proceedings in a general creditors’ suit, does not depend upon the statute. So far as the statutes go they are confirmatory or in aid, of the law as it was formerly understood, pp. 244-246.

29. The fact that in a winding-up action creditors cannot act in the right of the receiver, does not militate against liabilities being, enforced against parties as defendants in the creditors’ action,, the legal title to which is in the receiver. The creditors and the receiver have their respective spheres of action. That of the former appertains to the establishment of the trust to its fullest extent, and the enforcement thereof and of the liabilities created by law enforcible upon equitable principles so far-as necessary to satisfy the claims of creditors, the effects in money to be covered into the trust fund in the possession of the receiver, — whose sphere of action is wholly administrative in character, pp. 247, 248.

30. A trust as to property having been established, the trustee cannot end his relations to the *cestui que trust*by destroying the identity of the subject of the trust. Such identity being lost, the trustee is yet liable to account in equity to the beneficiary for the loss. p. 251.

31. The doctrine, that when property once impressed with a trust entirely loses that character it cannot be followed and recovered *in specie,*has no application to the subject of whether a trustee may end his personal relations as such by a destruction of the trust fund. p. 250.

32. The doctrine that when the subject of a trust has been destroyed the liability of the trustee is at law, recognized; but the better and common doctrine *held*to be that the trustee is liable in a suit for án accounting as before indicated, and especially where-his liability is incidental to a proper subject matter of an action in equity, p. 252.

33. A cause of action to compel an unfaithful trustee and those colluding with him in wasting a trust fund, to account therefor, is not one sounding in tort, though the facts may be such that an action for damages for the wrong might lie. p. 252.

34. The beneficiaries of a trust fund under the control of a re ceiver may, by permission of the court to whom the latter is accountable, maintain an action against him to compel him to perform his duty. p. 252.

35. A receiver is the agent of the court, and, as such, trustee for creditors, and is liable to account at such times and to such person, and in all respects in such manner, as the court, within the broad field of judicial discretion, may determine, pp. 253, 254.

*13536. While the usual method of compelling a receiver to account is hy summary proceedings in the action in which he was appointed, and the usual way to enforce restitution hy him of ■ any sum he may he found upon accounting to have misappropriated or wasted, is hy contempt proceedings, — the court, whose agent he is, is not limited to any particular method in that regard. It may adopt any procedure which is reasonable in any view thereof, under the circumstances of the particular case, including that of malting the receiver a defendant in a creditors’ action, like any wrongful holder of the trust fund or some part thereof, the action still being open so as to admit of that course, and may require issues to he formed hy complaint and answer covering the subject, and the same to he tried in the usual way and closed as a part of the general judgment, pp. 253, 301.

37. *Boyd, v. Mutual Fire Asso.*116 Wis. 155, so far as it holds that in case a receiver trustee for creditors wastes the trust fund wrongfully hy appropriating the same to his own use or otherwise the creditors have no cause of action which by permission of the court to whom the receiver is accountable they may enforce hy action in equity, overruled, p. 262.

38. A receiver or other officer of the court is not a trustee and proper to he made defendant as such, within the meaning of that term as used in sec. 3237, State. 1898. p. 266.

39. *Clarice v. Banner & V. P. Co.*50 Wis. 416, so far as it holds that a person to whom it is claimed property of an insolvent has been transferred in fraud of creditors can he made a defendant in an administrative suit as to such insolvent only for purposes of *discovery,*— held to have been overruled shortly after it was made and never to have been followed, p. 267.

40. Sec. 3228, Stats. 1898, which led to the decision before mentioned, provides a rule of evidence to the end that a party, guilty of participating in the commission of fraud upon creditors of insolvent corporations or fraud for which they may properly call him to account, may he a defendant in a winding-up action, and when called to testify as to his conduct, he incapable of shielding himself from making full disclosure hy pleading the ordinary privilege of a witness as to self-incriminating matters. p. 267.

41. Authorities to the effect that a court has no inherent power to dissolve a corporation, have no application to the question of whether it has power to lay hold of and administer the property of an insolvent corporation for the benefit of creditors. The two matters are distinct. The statute provides a right of *136action for the former, hut only regulations and aids as regards the latter, p. 268.

42. The doctrine that no creditor can institute a proceeding to obtain any part of the trust fund in the hands of a receiver until it has been awarded him, does not signify that he has no right of action to enforce the trust so that an order of distribution may be made. p. 269.

43. The fact that the legal title to the trust fund in an administration suit is not in the creditors prosecuting the winding-up action, does not affect their right to an equitable remedy by action against the constructive trustee holders of the funds to be recovered and gathered into the hands of the agent of the court as their regular trustee, p. 269.

44. It is not an absolute essential to a creditors’ action that there shall be a receiver. If only an accounting is sought and there is no need of a provisional remedy because there is no property to be previously conserved, no receiver need be appointed. In any event the creditors’ action proceeds from the commencement under their control and the direction of the court, regardless of whether there is a receiver or not. p. 270.

45. A creditors’ action is commenced by a complaint in the nature of a bill in equity. Such complaint is the substitute for, and in all respects performs the office of, the creditors’ bill of the old practice. The Code system substitutes the civil action and its appropriate procedure for the former suit in equity or action at law. It only provides a new form of action, leaving the general characteristics of the remedy otherwise the same as before. It is the forms of action, not the substance thereof, as regards the essential of the remedy, that were abolished by the Code. p. 273.

46. New matters which, had they been known or had they existed at the commencement of an action, might properly have been incorporated in the complaint, may be brought in by amended or supplemental complaint. Such was the old practice, and it is preserved by sec. 2687 of the Code. p. 274.

47. It is proper in a winding-up action to commence the same in a simple form, according as the necessities of the particular situation may require, and thereafter, with or without leave of the court, according to circumstances, broaden the same out by amended or supplemental complaint so as to bring before the court all parties and all matters proper or necessary to be so circumstanced in order that the entire subject matter, using the term in its broad sense, may be fully dealt with. p. 274.

48. The doctrine that the Code furnishes a new and complete system of procedure as regards forms of action, and a substitute *137as regards names and general characteristics for common-law pleadings, and a system of procedure as regards the same, does not mean that such system, includes a form for pleadings and judgment, or for all mere details of practice, p. 277.

49. A misjoinder of causes of action is waived hy the defendant if complaint he not seasonably made in the manner prescribed hy statute, p. 278.

■50. The statute furnishes no form, strictly so called, for a judgment in an action to administer the property of an insolvent corporation for the benefit of creditors, nor for any other. Sec. 3217, Stats. 1898,'relates merely to a form of an order of distribution proper to he made in an action or special proceeding. The form of the judgment in all actions of an equitable nature, is governed hy established principles of equity jurisprudence, and as indicated in sec. 2883, Stats. 1898. The judgment provided for in sec. 3245, Id., is for the closing up of an action to dissolve a corporation, not one merely to administer its assets for the benefit of creditors, p. 278.

51. Where several persons, in collusion with each other, misappropriate or so waste or misapply property as to become chargeable for the wrong as trustees thereof, they are jointly liable for the entire loss, regardless of the extent to which they may severally have been enriched, p. 280.

52. The constitutional guaranty of the right of trial hy jury refers only to such right as it was enjoyed before the constitution. It did not extend then, so it does not now, to actions of an equitable nature, p. 281.

■S3. A statutory action is not necessarily to he tried hy jury. Whether it is or is not so triable is to he determined, in the absence of a statutory declaration on the subject, with reference to whether its general characteristics are those of an action at law or one in equity from the aspect of the old remedies. p. 281.

■54. If a receiver, appointed in an action in form to administer the property of an insolvent corporation for the benefit of its creditors, -is imposed upon the court hy keeping therefrom knowledge of the real purpose of those who nominate him, in the interest of the corporation or its ofiicers, or both, he is to he deemed, as to creditors, the agent of their adversaries, pp. 284, 290, 302.

55. A receiver collusively appointed as above indicated, and enabled to use his office for the benefit of those -who are in an adversary capacity to creditors, is not entitled to the usual protection afforded receivers; hut may be dealt with, if the court so orders or permits, as a mere agent for such adversaries, and as such made a defendant in the main or an independent action, as *138the court may order or permit, and his conduct judicially investigated in that way and his liabilities enforced by the in-strumentalities afforded thereby. In that situation the receiver and his co-wrongdoers may properly be made defendants independently of the statutes, and under secs. 3237 and 3239' thereof as well. pp. 282-293.

56. All of a series of acts having in view the consummation of a single fraudulent purpose, regardless of the number of per- ' sons concerned therein, are parts of one subject matter; and where that is a primary subject of action or is an incidental part of a subject of controversy including it and other matters, however numerous, the entire subject matter may be-brought into a single action for adjudication, pp. 288, 289.

57. The complications of an action to enforce all liabilities to-which creditors of an insolvent corporation may, as a class, properly resort for the satisfaction of their claims, furnishes no justification for so limiting the character thereof as to eliminate therefrom any feature belonging thereto according to the broad principles that have been judicially determined-to 'govern the subject. Those principles, not the difficulties in applying them, mark the boundaries of the subject matter that may be brought into an administration suit. pp. 295-300.

68. One of the most valuable features of equity jurisprudence is the opportunity thereby afforded to judicially lay hold of a subject matter, however large, and however complicated by numerous matters that might under some circumstances constitute each by itself a separate ground of action, bring in all parties directly interested or who should be before the court for their-due protection, however numerólas, and foreyer settle the entire controversy, with all its incidental disputes, its major and minor equities, p. 299.

69. Within the broad principles last above stated, no jurisdictional error can be committed so long as there is no unjustifiable prejr udicial departure from established practice, pp. 300, 301.

60. If, pending an administration suit, before final judgment, even after the property has been distributed by order of the court, it is claimed upon reasonable ground that the receiver was, by a fraud, introduced into the action to aid the officers of the insolvent to carry out a preconceived design to defraud its creditors while pretending to act as the agent of the court,— it is permissible to make such receiver and his alleged guilty associates defendants in such suit as a method of requiring the receiver to account; and regarding him and his co-wrongdoers as standing for matters germane to the subject of the action, as may properly be done, such practice is fully approved., p. 302.

*139III.

61. In a creditors’ action tlie rendition of a judgment at law, the issuance of an execution thereon, and the return thereof unsatisfied, should he alleged in the complaint, and a defect in that regard may he taken advantage of by demurrer *ore terms.*p. 306.

62. In a creditors’ suit, a sufficient cause of action having been stated in the complaint, a change of parties thereafter, so that ho one under the rule last stated, competent at the start to invoke the jurisdiction of the court, appears as plaintiff, or a party to the action, the facts still appearing essential to the cause of action in the beginning, is immaterial, p. 307.

63. Mere delay in moving for leave to bring in a supplemental complaint does not preclude the court from granting a motion to that end. p. 308.

64. A consolidation of several equitable actions, that might have been brought as one, is proper under the statutes and independently thereof, pp. 308, 309.

65. A consolidation of actions means uniting several into one, not consolidation of trials, p. 309.

66. In considering whether findings of fact made by a trial court should be disturbed on appeal, these rules apply:

a. Such findings should stand unless so against the weight of evidence as to indicate, clearly, want of proper consideration of the evidence, mistake by overlooking material evidence, or prejudice, or some other improper cause.

b. It is incumbent on the party alleging fraud to establish it by clear and satisfactory evidence.

c. The first rule does not apply where the result is reached by the trial court through a misapprehension of the law.

d. The first rule applies with more or less significance according to the presence and importance of the elements upon which it is based.

e. The admission of improper evidence is to be deemed immaterial upon appeal unless it clearly appears that but for such evidence the finding would probably have been different.

f. Unless the contrary clearly appears, improper evidence taken under objection will be presumed to have been given no-weight. pp. 312-314.

67. A receiver may properly, acting in good faith, at his own expense conserve an equity belonging to the trust if the court, with knowledge of the situation, decides that it were better such equity should be lost than to burden the trust fund to save it. p. 328.

*14068. A receiver, acting under the circumstances above indicated, may be deemed to have an equitable lien upon- the property conserved for the amount of his reasonable expenditures, any profit obtained to inure to the trust fund. p. 328.

69. Under no circumstances can a receiver rightly speculate with the subject of his trust for his private gain. pp. 325, 326.

70. Oral evidence as to judicial advice in the administration of a receivership matter is not necessarily to be rejected or condemned as false, p. 329.

71. A misstatement of facts by fraud, negligence, or mistake, in a petition for judicial advice in a receivership matter, reasonably calculated to influence action to the prejudice of creditors and which has that effect, is a sufficient ground in the same jurisdiction to support an application by such creditors, seasonably made while the court there has control of the matter, for relief, pp. 337-339.

72. In an administrative action for the benefit of creditors, if a defendant is charged as trustee of property belonging to the trust fund on the ground of fraud, and the fraud falls yet the proof shows that such person has property which belongs to the trust, _ the appropriate relief in that regard may be granted, p. 339.

73. An injury to personal estate survives by statute, and where, if a person were living, an action in equity could be maintained against him for an accounting as to property in his possession, or its equivalent, a judicial remedy survives against his per- ' sonal representatives, p. 340.

74. A receiver is not guilty of wrongdoing, necessarily, because he incurs expense in the collection or conservation of a liability validly hypothecated by the insolvent as security for a debt owing by him, because he has no reason to expect such hypothe-cation to yield a surplus for the trust fund. p. 343. 75. A creditor of an insolvent whose estate is in process of administration under judicial supervision, having a secured claim against such insolvent, may prove it to the full amount, and in such case he is entitled to share wdth general creditors upon that basis in every general distribution of trust funds till the dividends, together with the receipts, if any, from the security, are sufficient to fully pay such claim, the residue of the security remaining to belong to the trust fund or to the owner of the equity, p. 344.

76. The foregoing is the chancery rule. The rule limiting the claimant, in the circumstances stated, to share wdth general creditors only on the basis of his claim less the value of his security, unless he surrenders the latter, is wholly statutory and *141generally confined to administrations under bankruptcy laws, pp. 344, 345.

77. The rule that where there are two funds, one person having security on both and another on one of them, equity will compel the former to first exhaust the security in which his interest is exclusive, is not to be applied to his prejudice, pp. 345, 346.

78. In view of the foregoing, a receiver may properly burden his trust fund, subject to the approval of the court, with expenses of converting into money choses in action or other property in which he has> only an equitable title, creditors of the in- . solvent having the property as collateral, though no surplus is obtainable therefrom, if, under the circumstances, that seems for the best interests of general creditors, pp. 343-347.

79. A receiver may properly be allowed to finish uncompleted contracts of the insolvent, when that, at the time of action in regard thereto, seems for the best interests of general ‘creditors, p. 352.

80. The court will not as of course order its receiver to compíete unfinished contracts of the insolvent unless necessary to save investments already made, or otherwise save encumbered property, and such completion is clearly required in the interests of general creditors. In other cases the court and its receiver are to act according to their judgment of the probabilities as to general interests, p. 353.

81. A going manufacturing business, — with its manufacturer’s stock, partly constructed machinery, and partly performed contracts, having large investments therein the safety of which depends on completing such contracts, — having been placed in the hands of a receiver to be wound up for the benefit, primarily, of creditors, many of such contract liabilities being validly hypothe-cated to creditors of the insolvent, and at the outset an order having been made for the temporary continuance of the business in aid of a conservation of the property for general creditors, with power to borrow money upon the credit of the trust fund *therefor,*— held, that such order, by implication, authorized the receiver to complete such contracts if in his judgment, the interests of the trust fund would be best subserved thereby, obtaining special advice of the court in doubtful cases, pp. 352-354.

82. An imperfect attempt to give a mortgage, or any act clearly showing an intention to pledge property as security for an indebtedness, or “any transaction, whatever he its form or whatever name the parties may choose to give it,” sufficient being done to enable a court of equity to deal with the matter, is in equity a mortgage; and, there being no superior equities, *142is as forceful to hold the property for the interest of the mortgagee as any mortgage, pp. 359, 360.

•83. A mortgage of the kind above indicated takes precedence of subsequently acquired rights of creditors in a judicial administration of property of the mortgagor for the benefit of his creditors, and forms a good consideration and justification for the giving of a formal mortgage when, if the equitable right did not exist, a valid security could not be given because of the rights of creditors, p. 362.

84. If a trustee, whether from good or bad motives, or whether the result be detrimental or beneficial to his *cestui que trust,*becomes a purchaser of the trust property, either directly or by concurrence with another as his agent or associate, the transaction is voidable at the election of such *cestui que trust*if he acts seasonably, p. 363.

86. In the circumstances last mentioned the *cestui que trust,*by his own act or by the court acting judicially to redress the wrong, cannot, surrendering the property to the wrongful holder, recover more than the damages sustained, p. 363.

86. Creditors having elected to surrender the property as above indicated, and by untenable claims and misapplication of the law obtained an erroneous judgment requiring much time and expense to obtain a correction of the error, rendering it likely that changes may probably have occurred in the meantime, and there being no real benefits recoverable, it is proper to regard their rights as foreclosed, p. 364.

87. The unsworn statements of an agent outside the scope of his agency are not proof of the matters indicated therein as regards his principal, pp. 366-374.

•88. In the sale of an electric lighting plant, doing public and private lighting under a public franchise, during the monthly period for which bills to customers are customarily rendered, there being some coal and other supplies on hand for immediate use in that regard, the intention being obvious that the sale was intended to carry, as incident to the property, the going business, nothing appearing to the contrary, such sale impliedly includes such unfinished monthly contracts and the supplies on hand, they being deemed mere incidents of the plant, p. 370.

'89. In the trial of an action, if the trial judge at the close of the evidence, as to a matter brought in by amendment on the trial entitling the adverse party to a continuance, announces an opinion as to the effect of such evidence respecting such new matter, having good ground to believe that such announcement will be relied upon by such adverse party, and such party does so rely, and thereafter a decision is rendered materially at *143variance with such opinion, — the case should he reopened as to such new matter upon seasonable application being made therefor with reasonable probability that upon a new hearing • such adverse party can successfully meet such new matter and is guilty of no inexcusable laches, pp. 374, 375.

90. The undisputed reasonable evidence of one witness, though a party interested, should control as to a question of fact. p. 383.

'91. In administering a receivership trust, ordinary advisory orders may properly be granted *ex parte,*and the fact that they are so granted is not evidence tending to show infidelity on the part of the receiver, p. 384.

'92. A creditor’s expenses,' incurred by instituting and prosecuting, prudently and to effect, a suit on behalf of himself and all other creditors of an insolvent corporation, to have its property sequestered and judicially administered for their benefit, may properly be allowed as expenses of such administration, p. 390.

'S3. The interests of creditors of an insolvent corporation having hypothecations consisting of bills receivable or other choses in action, made by it to secure them, — in property in the hands of a court receiver for the benefit of creditors generally, are not adverse to those of the receiver or such general creditors, there being no question as to the validity of such hypotheca-tions. p. 393.

94. In the circumstances above suggested, legal services rendered the secured creditors as regards enforcing their collateral against the collateral debtors or mating formal proof of the principal creditor’s claim for filing with the court in the receivership. matter, are not inconsistent with the performance of legal services at the same time for the receiver, p. 393.

95. It is not essential nor expected that the general attorney for a receiver whose administration is of such a character as to warrant him in burdening the trust with the expenses of legal services of a general and continuous character, will keep an itemized account of services performed by him. The custom is for the court to allow such sum for expenses of that character as in its judgment the nature of the case reasonably demanded and which were performed, pp. 397, 402, 454.

'96. The amount allowable for the personal services of a receiver is to be governed by the subject matter of the administration, the care exercised, the degree of success attained, the manner of the accounting, and all other considerations bearing on the actual value thereof, the rate to be that characterizing somewhat similar services in official life. p. 435.

*14497. The expenses allowed a receiver for legal assistance are to he governed hy the reasonable necessities in that regard, assuming that the receiver has properly discharged the duties which belong to him personally to perform, the time necessarily spent in the administration, the grade of service required, the efficiency of that rendered, the benefit to the trust, the fidelity displayed, and all other circumstances throwing light on the question, the rate to be that ordinarily paid for somewhat similar services in official life. p. 438.

98. The better way to determine the proper amount to be allowed a receiver for legal assistance is to view the whole situation from the standpoint of the results accomplished in the end, without much or any regard to any itemized account. That does not militate against awarding on account reasonable amounts for expenses of that character during the progress of the administration, pp. 394-402.

99. Advisory orders may properly be entered *ex parte*in a receivership matter, and are expected to be so entered as a general rule. p. 384.

100. A receiver is expected to apply to the execution of his trust the discretion of an ordinarily careful business man in business pursuits of a somewhat similar nature, acting in ordinary matters, and as to mere details in others, upon his own judgment without responsibility for losses happening through mere mistakes of judgment, pp. 384, 385.

101. A court, within the boundaries of judicial discretion, may make its own rules as regards the time and manner in which its receiver’s account shall be examined and passed upon, p. 414.

102. If a court refers its receiver’s account for the taking of testimony and reporting the same with conclusions, such proceeding is not governed by the statute or rules of court regarding references of actions for trial, p. 414.

103. In case of such a reference of a receiver’s account, the court may close the same at any time, discharging the referee and causing the whole subject to be brought before him for settlement in the light of such proceedings as shall have been had before the referee, and such other aids as he may call to his assistance, not transcending sound judicial discretion, p. 414.

104. Recitals of fact in a judicial order, the truth of which must be presumed, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, to have been known to, or established to the satisfaction of, the judge making such order, should not be held to be untrue or fraudulent if they may be reasonably viewed in a light which will avoid such result, p. 424.

*145105. Tested by custom, it is not improper for a referee or a court to delegate to an interested attorney tbe labor of preparing findings of fact and conclusions of law for tbe approval and sanction of sucb referee or court, tbougb tbe practice itself, aside from sucb custom, is of doubtful propriety and its discontinuance is advised, tbis, however, being expressed in tbe opinion as a personal view of tbe writer thereof, pp. 396, 419.

106. Tbe mere *pro forma, ex parte*settlement of an important receiver’s account, where creditors are dissatisfied therewith, *held*to be an indiscretion, pp. 433, 434.

107. A judge should not sit to review tbe mere exercise of judgment by bis predecessor, but should leave tbe parties aggrieved tó their remedy by appeal, p. 428.

108. Notwithstanding tbe foregoing general rule, if a judge is clearly satisfied that an order in an action still pending in his court was granted by bis predecessor without tbe exercise of judgment, through mistake or some fraud perpetrated upon tbe court, or some indiscretion so manifest that tbe judge granting tbe same, if in a position to do so, would in all reasonable probability give relief therefrom, or if satisfied that bad the adverse parties been beard tbe result would have been different, and that failure in that regard is attributable to excusable mistake or neglect, — he may set such order aside, p. 429.

109. Money paid on a judicial order or judgment subsequently set aside, may be recovered back in an action for money bad and received, payment being presumed to have been made upon tbe implied understanding that restoration would take place under sucb circumstances, p. 441.

110. That rule does not apply to a person receiving money from another in tbe extinguishment of an indebtedness *inter partes,*which money shall have been previously adjudged to sucb other against a third person, upon tbe adjudication being vacated, so as to enable sucb third person to recover tbe same of tbe one receiving it. He can recover only of sucb other, p. 440.

111. A person cannot sue upon one cause of action and recover upon another; but that does not apply where tbe cause of action is not proved as alleged, yet a liability is established within tbe scope of tbe subject stated, and everything in respect thereto is fully litigated so that an amendment might properly be granted conforming tbe pleadings thereto; nor militate against the rule that, a court of equity having taken jurisdiction of a subject matter for one purpose, which is not fully established on the trial, a liability notwithstanding being established upon a full hearing, within the scope of such subject, the court will *146retain the case and grant such relief as is within its jurisdiction to afford, p. 442.

112. A person having property alleged to belong to a trust fund which he ought to restore thereto, being prosecuted for- an accounting and charged with having obtained possession thereof by fraud, fraud failing, yet wrongful possession of the trust fund being fully established, the proper judgment enforcing restoration may be rendered, p. 442.

113. If an attorney accepts employment from a receiver, and, joining with his employer, submits to the court the question of the amount to be allowed him out of the trust fund for his services, the result is binding on him till set aside in some appropriate way, though the liability to him is personal as regards the receiver; and if thereafter the receiver pays the sum allowed and subsequently the adjudication in respect to such allowance is properly changed, the allowable sum being reduced, a cause of action thereby accrues to the receiver to recover the excess, p. 444.

114. An implied promise having been raised as indicated in the foregoing, and become enforcible, interest runs from the date of the payment, p. 444.

115. Expense of a receiver in the settlement of his account, caused by creditors contesting matters in respect thereto, which he reasonably incurs, may properly be allowed to him as legitimate charges against the trust fund. p. 446.

116. If in the settlement of the receiver’s account only creditors are interested adversely to the receiver, and they all in good faith litigate with the receiver matters respecting his final account, resulting in a judgment for costs being rendered against them, the court may properly provide that such judgment shall be paid out of the trust fund, or, if paid by the creditors, that they shall be reimbursed therefor out of such fund. p. 450.

117. When several defendants severally appeal from a judgment rendered against them, and succeed, there is not necessarily as many prevailing parties as there are individual appellants for the purpose of the taxation of costs in this court, under sec. 2949, Stats. 1898. Such of the appellants as are united in interest are to be deemed as constituting but one prevailing party, though they may have separate appeals, p. 449.

[Syllabus by Makshaix, ,T.]

Appeals from a judgment of tbe circuit court for Eau Claire county: A. J. Viitje, Judge.

*Reversed in part.*

Winding-up action. *James T. Barber*and tbe McDonough *147Manufacturing Company, a corporation, as creditors of the National Electric Manufacturing Company — neither having obtained a judgment against it, and none having been otherwise obtained — commenced an action in the circuit court for Eau Claire county, ostensibly under sec. 3216, Stats. 1898, and its associate sections, against the electric company to sequestrate its property for the benefit of its creditors. The ■complaint contained numerous allegations showing urgent necessity for removing such property beyond danger of attack by individual creditors, and those usual in such actions, except as to the existence of a creditor’s judgment and the exhaustion of all legal remedies to collect the same without ■success. The action, though in form adversary, was in fact friendly in that the officers of the corporation deemed it advisable that such proceedings should be taken to place the property of the corporation beyond the reach of individual hostile action by creditors, and promoted the same. The person who had been general counsel for the corporation from the time of its organization severed his relations in that regard to take charge of the sequestration proceedings. He prepared the complaint and was the attorney for the plaintiffs. He also prepared the defendant’s answer, a brother attorney signing the same and appearing as the defendant’s attorney. Such answer admitted the allegations of the complaint.

Upon the pleadings so prepared R. E. Rust, a director and the secretary of the corporation, was in due form appointed receiver of its property. Seasonably thereafter he ■qualified pursuant to such appointment, and possessed himself of the corporate property. The order of appointment ■contained the usual injunction as to the commencement of other actions against the corporation and as to the disturbance of its assets in the hands of the receiver or otherwise. •Such proceedings were thereafter taken in the action that ■on June 10, 1893, an order was entered for all creditors of *148the insolvent to exhibit their claims against it and come into the action within a time therein specified under penalty of being barred from participating in the distribution of the corporate property. Notice to creditors was given as required therein. September 15th, thereafter, it being supposed that there was a defect in the complaint in such action in that statutory requisites prescribed in sec. 3216, Stats. 1898,— viz., the rendition of a judgment against the corporation, the issuance of an execution thereon, and the return thereof unsatisfied in whole or in part,- — were not alleged and that the facts in that regard did not exist, the attorney in such action, himself a creditor of the corporation, obtained a judgment against it, caused an execution to be issued thereon, which was returned unsatisfied, and then commenced a second creditors’ action against it in his own name, setting forth substantially the same facts as before, and, in addition, the statutory requisites mentioned. In the commencement of such action he caused E. M. Miner to appear for him as attorney, and the attorney who interposed the first answer to do likewise in the second action. Such second action was treated, as the fact was, as supplementary to the first action. Like such action, while adversary in form, it was in fact in accordance with the desire of the corporate officers and promoted by them. Upon the complaint and answer R. E. Rust was reappointed as receiver by the court, the order recognizing the pendency of the first action, his connection therewith, and the character of the second action as in aid thereof, all his acts under his first appointment being expressly ratified and confirmed. Under the second appointment Rust requalified in due form, and thereafter assumed to be lawfully in possession of the corporate property under the later appointment as Well as the earlier one. After the second appointment till the two actions were formally consolidated, as hereinafter stated, they were treated as one, all orders and papers being entitled as ■in both.'

*149E. E. Eust, under such appointments, administered the duties of his office till he disposed of all the property of the insolvent and disbursed the proceeds of the same pursuant to the orders of the circuit court and ivas discharged. The proceedings immediately leading to such discharge consisted of a petition setting forth the history of the administration and praying for a final discharge and to have' the compensation of the receiver and his attorney fixed by the court; an order upon such petition for hearing and for-notice of such hearing to be given to all parties interested; the giving of such notice; the filing of objections by certain creditors; an order of reference to take evidence and report the same -with findings; a report by the referee; subsequent proceedings in respect thereto that will hereafter appear in detail; the decision by the court thereon; and three orders pursuant to such decision, allowing the receiver’s account and fixing his compensation and that of his attorney and counsel, and fully discharging him and exonerating his bondsmen.

After the occurrences above detailed *T. A. Harrigan*and others, creditors of the corporation, filed a petition setting forth reasons for a formal consolidation of the two actions, for the vacation of the orders allowing the receiver’s account -and discharging him, and the orders respecting his compensation and that of his attorney and counsel, and also certain orders forming the basis for disbursements made by him, and for a reorganization of the action by maldng the plaintiffs therein defendants, and the petitioners and other creditors-who had filed claims, and such others as might choose to participate in the litigation, plaintiffs; and bringing into the action as parties defendant, H. H. Hayden, *Fitch*Gilbert, E. E. Eust, *George T. Thompson, John S. Owen,*D. E. Moon, *A. J. Bust,*the Bank of Eau Claire, the *Chippewa Valley Bank,*the Westville Lumber Company, for the purpose of enabling plaintiffs to litigate all questions as to their responsibility to the insolvent corporation for the benefit of *150its creditors growing out of their dealings with' the corporation and its property. Such proceedings were taken upon such petition that March 18, 1898, an order was duly entered as follows:

1. Consolidating the two actions into one.

2. Making *James T. Barber*and PI. PL Plavden defendants.

3. Dismissing the action as to the McDonough Manufacturing Company.

4. Making *T. A. Harrigan, Morgan Brooks, Fred Bonell, Edward P. Allis Company,*and *Eureka Tempered Copper Company*parties plaintiff, with the right of any and all other creditors of the insolvent corporation to he made such parties plaintiff at any time upon due application to the court and notice to' those specially made plaintiffs, or their attorneys, and to the attorneys of the defendants, and upon their sharing equally the expenses and costs of the litigation with those already parties plaintiff.

5. Making T. E. PVawley, *Fitch Gilbert,*R. E. Rust,. *George T. Thompson, John 8. Owen,*D. R. Moon, *A. J. Bust,*the Bank of Eau Claire, the *Chippewa Valley Bank,*and the Westville Lumber Company parties defendant.

6. Authorizing the plaintiffs in the action as reorganized to serve upon the defendants an amended summons and complaint, tendering such issues to the defendants as they might deem proper, within twenty days .from the date of the order.

7. Permitting any defendant so' served to answer the complaint within twenty days from the date thereof.

8. Vacating the three orders entered by the circuit court December 30, 1897.

The facts alleged tendering new issues to be litigated, affecting the persons, firms, and corporations brought into the litigation as defendants, were, in the main, these: 480 shares of the capital stock of the corporation were issued, without being previously or thereafter paid for, to persons named as *151defendants. The distribution was to existing stockholders ostensibly as a dividend out of surplus assets legitimately applicable therefor. The corporation was then hopelessly insolvent to the knowledge of the recipients of such stock. January 1, 1893, the board of directors of the corporation consisted of *Fitch Gilbert, George T. Thompson,*Peter Truax, *James T. Barber, John 8. Owen, Morgan Broolcs,*and Ealph E. Eust. *Gilbert*was the president, Eust the secretary, and *Thompson*the treasurer. Eust, Truax, and *Barber*were directors of the insolvent from its organization till its suspension. *Gilbert*and *Thompson*were directors from about 1889, *Broolcs*from February, 1891, and *Owen*from October, 1892, till such suspension. During the last year the insolvent was a going concern H. O. and E. B. Putnam were stockholders, and said *Thompson*was a director and the treasurer thereof, and the three were also sole stockholders and directors of the defendant *Ghippewa Talley Banlc, Thompson*being the cashier thereof. W. A. Eust and H. PL Hayden, two of the stockholders of the insolvent, were largely interested in the defendant Bank of Eau Olaire, Eust being the president and Hayden the vice president thereof. The three Eusts were close relatives of each other and of *John 8. Owen,*and the four were largely the proprietors of the Eust-Owen Lumber Company and the Westville Lumber Company. D. E. Moon and *James T. Barber*were respectively president and vice president of the Northwestern Lumber Company. The individuals specifically named were intimately associated as officers and directors of the insolvent and otherwise, throughout the period of its existence as a going concern. Hayden was at different times its president, and during the whole of its business existence he was general counsel and manager of its legal business. He was at the same time largely the adviser and legal counsel of all the defendant corporations named, and of the stockholders of the insolvent, and of all the defendants. For several months prior to January 1, 1893, said individuals *152were fully informed that the electric company was hopelessly insolvent. About January 1, 1893, *to*fraudulently secure payment of various sums of money due them in severally or otherwise, or to the corporations named in which they were interested (the particular items of indebtedness referred to being specified), they formed a fraudulent scheme to divert the assets of the insolvent to the special benefit of themselves and that of the corporations in which they were interested by securing payment to themselves of the indebtedness so specified. Such conspiracy was subsequently fully consummated. In furtherance of such-scheme, prior to the appointment of the receiver such individuals caused substantially all the available notes, bonds, bills, and accounts receivable, owned by the insolvent, and contracts in which it had a pecuniary interest, to be secretly transferred to themselves according to their creditor relations to the insolvent, and to the corporations in which they were interested. To further consummate such scheme the participants therein caused the insolvent to make excessive purchases of supplies shortly before its suspension. The two winding-up actions consolidated into' this were in fact friendly suits, though in form adversary. Attorney Hayden, who was a director of the insolvent and interested with his associates as aforesaid, in fact directed both sides of both suits and secured the appointment of one of the conspirators as receiver. The proceedings resulted in the appointment of the receiver without notice to the general creditors, the purpose thereof being to forestall any effort on the part of such creditors to obtain an equitable distribution of the assets of the insolvent corporation in a legitimate winding-up proceeding. Further to consummate such scheme they caused the receiver to employ T. F. Frawley, an attorney conversant with the facts, the understanding being that he and said Hayden, though ostensibly acting for the receiver, should in fact cause the latter’s administration to be conducted in the private interests of the members of the com*153bine; that they sbonld be in fact attorneys for such members, bnt assume such, an attitude as to enable them to obtain their compensation out of the assets of the insolvent. That part of the fraudulent conspiracy was consummated, $5,000 being paid said Hayden and $11,252 said Erawley, said payments being ostensibly for services rendered to the receiver, whereas the labor performed was largely in aid of the said fraudulent scheme. Further in pursuit of such scheme the receiver, while ostensibly administering his trust, performed much service for the private gain of the members of the combine as holders of hypothecations from the insolvent, taking credit for all such services as receiver, and received the sum of $7,500 which was largely therefor. After taking possession of the property of the insolvent the receiver continued to operate the manufacturing plant for several months, paying the expenses out of the general assets of the insolvent, during which time large amounts of money were expended in completing contracts in which the pecuniary interest of the insolvent had been assigned to members of the combine, as aforesaid, and in order that they might realize thereon. He also expended large sums of money in repairing machinery sold under contracts assigned as aforesaid in order that the assignees might realize thereon. The nominal assets of the insolvent aggregated $490,000. The amount realized by the receiver, as claimed by him, was $81,000, subject to the expenses of administering the trust, which expenses, as claimed by him, exceeded the entire amount so realized. Such expenses were, as indicated, largely in aid of the members of the combine to enable them to realize upon the assets of the insolvent assigned to them before the receivership. The plaintiffs had no knowledge of the alleged wrongful scheme, or the facts alleged to have occurred in the consummation thereof, till about July, 1897. That then obtained was not definite. Additional information came to them in such a way that it was not till long thereafter that *154they became possessed of the alleged facts in detail as to- the consummation of such a scheme.

The prayer for relief was in part as follows: (1) That every defendant stockholder who received stock not paid for in full be adjudged to be liable for the deficiency tO' the creditors participating in the action. (2) That an accounting be had between the receiver’s representatives and the insolvent, of the administration of his office in respect to> all mat-, ters set forth in the complaint, and such representatives be required to refund all moneys retained by the receiver for services and all lost or wasted by him through his wrongful conduct. (8) That all defendants who received any benefit from assets assigned to them prior to the receivership as alleged in the complaint be required to refund the same by payment thereof into court or to the successor of the receiver. (4) That defendant Hayden be required to refund all moneys received by him from the receiver for services, and that defendant Erawley be required to do likewise.

The defendants thus charged with liability upon the ground of fraud joined issue with the plaintiffs, and D. R. Moon’s representatives also pleaded in abatement his death, and the statute of limitations. When the cause was brought up for trial they interposed a demurrer *ore*ienus, which was overruled. A trial was had, with a result which can best be understood, as to the matters to be reviewed here, by giving the substance of the findings in respect thereto. We will pro* ceed to do> that.

The allegations of the complaint as to the commencement of the first action being a friendly suit, the second of the same character and in aid of the first, the insolvency of the corporation and the existence of grounds for the winding-up suit when the Hayden action was commenced, were sustained. The indebtedness existing and established in the action by the participants therein at the time of the commencement of the . *155action, less payments made thereon, obtained from sources-other than property in possession of the receiver, such payments, however, having been reported and noted by him, was-found to be $226,453.02. It was further found that there-were some unreported payments received by some of the creditors from hypothecations, which should go in reduction of' their claims. The amount due each creditor on the face of' the proceedings was specified. The stockholders of the corporation were exonerated from the charge of having received dividend stock and rendered no consideration therefor, or being liable in respect thereto. As to such stock it was held that there was a *bona fide*surplus of corporate assets over liabilities according to inventories and records made in good faith, and that when the dividend stock was authorized and received the persons immediately concerned in the transaction in good faith believed that such surplus in fact existed and was a proper subject for distribution among stockholders and used by them in payment for the so-called dividend stock. The stockholders, directors, and officers of the corporation were also fully exonerated from having entered into any conspiracy in fraud of the general creditors of the corporation prior to March 15, 1893, and of having, pursuant to any wrongful agreement entered into prior to that time, diverted the assets of the insolvent to their own use as security for pre-existing liabilities of such insolvent to them or to corporations in which they were interested. They were also exonerated from the charge of causing the insolvent to make excessive purchases of supplies between January 1, 1893, and the commencement of the first action, in contemplation of its suspension, or for the purpose of carrying out any agreement between themselves to the prejudice of general creditors. All of the defendants brought into the action by the supplemental complaint were exonerated from all charges of wrong-doing which they were therein called upon to answer for, except as *156may otherwise appear by findings of fact, which will be now given in substance, with numbers corresponding to the originals:

72. Between May 15 and May 18, 1893,'the defendants determined to speedily close up the-business of the insolvent, being convinced that no relief from its financial difficulties could be obtained.

73. All participants-in stockholders’ and directors’ meetings subsequent to May 18, 1893, knew that proceedings would soon necessarily be taken to wind up the corporate affairs.

113. Before the commencement of the first action it was agreed between defendants *Gilbert,*R. E. Rust, Hayden, and *Thompson,*to begin the same so as to forestall any litigation by general creditors, and to thereby secure to themselves control of the corporate assets so that an equitable distribution thereof might be prevented and the defendants be able to secure an unlawful preference as to claims held by them and by corporations in which they were interested; and also to secure large sums of money out of such assets for pretended services in relation to the receivership.

114. R. E. Rust’s first appointment was secured pursuant to such agreement. He participated in the preconceived plan aforesaid, and aided in carrying it out until his discharge.

115. He retained T. E. Erawley as his attorney, who, about that time, was fully advised of such preconceived scheme. Thereafter, till the receiver was discharged, he aided in carrying out such scheme.

116. Erom September 4, 1891, until immediately before the receiver’s appointment, Hayden was general counsel for the insolvent. He resigned such position to- take service under the receiver May 23, 1893, continuing therein till the receiver was discharged, and aiding from- first to last in carrying out said scheme.

*157117. Had til© receivership matter been properly handled it would have been closed np in about eighteen months.

118. In 1894 the receiver collected $6,353.95, $2,623.24 being for the benefit of parties holding hypothecations made by the insolvent before its suspension.

119. In 1895 $1,744.91 was collected.

120. In 1896 $5,824.16 was collected, substantially all being from one creditor, and through the medium of a mercantile agency.

121. $757.36 was collected in 1897.

122. The receiver realized from the corporate property $88,000 in all, which included $11,000 collected on hypothe-cations held by certain of the defendants, the same being paid to them by order of the court.

123. The receiver, by court order, operated the manufacturing plant for a time, exceeding his authority, however, by borrowing $19,500 when his power in that regard was limited to $5,000.

124. The receiver’s inventory was-filed October 19, 1893. Soon thereafter it was removed from the court files, since which time no trace of it has been found though diligent search therefor has been made by the clerk of the circuit court

125. Soon after the receiver’s appointment the stockholders of the insolvent, the Bank of Eau Olaiye, the *Chippewa Valley Bank,*and the Westville Lumber Company, through attorneys Hayden and Erawley, filed proofs in due form of their respective claims against the insolvent, no mention being made of security turned out before the suspension of the corporation, held by the claimants.

126. Ho report was filed by the receiver till Juné 23, 1897. Until then, general creditors were ignorant of the administi’ation of affairs by him.

127. Prior to such date none of the creditors, other than *158■those named as defendants, were familiar -with any of the matters connected with the handling and disposition of the -assets of the insolvent.

128. Knowledge of the pledging of corporate assets before the suspension was confined to those immediately corn -cemed in giving and taking the security.

129. May 16, 1892, Gilbert, Thompson, and E. E. Rust, for the accommodation of the insolvent, indorsed its $8,000 note to the National Exchange Bank of Milwaukee. The note was renewed from time to time with the same indorse-ments, the last being January 18, 1893, when the indorsers received from the insolvent, as security, an assignment of an electrical plant at Brookfield, Indiana, which was invalid. May 18, 1893, the insolvent mortgaged such plant to the indorsers to secure them, no consideration, however, then passing between the parties. The mortgage was recorded in Indiana the day E. E. Eust was first appointed receiver, the expense thereof being subsequently charged against the assets of the insolvent. The mortgage was given to allow, and taken to obtain, an unlawful preference, defendant Hayden acting for the parties to, the transaction with knowledge of all the facts.

130. In aid of the original fraudulent scheme the receiver, ■Gilbert, Thompson> Erawley, and Hayden, July 12, 1893, obtained a court order to sell such plant at private sale for the amount due the National Exchange Bank of Milwaukee, if practicable, otherwise to make public sale thereof upon ten days’ notice in an Eau Claire paper.

131. Prior thereto it was agreed between Thompson, *Gil*bert, and the receiver to become owners of the plant by private purchase.

132. That was well known to Hayden and Erawley, who participated in consummating the same, securing in aid thereof the order before mentioned.

*159133. July 18,1893, such, plan was consummated, the property being conveyed in form to Thompson, the real purchasers, however, being *Thompson, Gilbert,*and the receiver. The purchase price for the property was $8,287.20, the limit mentioned in the order as to the making of a private sale. The sale was reported to the court in form and confirmed.

134. The value of the plant when sold was the amount paid therefor.

135. Upon the sale being confirmed the receiver furnished *Thompson*a copy of the order authorizing it, a copy of the report of sale and of the order confirming the same, and the receiver’s deed, taking a receipt therefor. The court, throughout, was kept in ignorance of the interest of *Thompson*and the receiver in the sale.

136. At the time of the sale, by book account, the Brook-ville plant owed Rust, receiver, $1,160.30.

137. 138. He was familiar with the facts in reference to the account.

139. Soon after the sale the parties interested formed a plan for organizing a corporation to take over the title to the property. That was consummated, the stock of the corporation being issued in equal proportions to R. E. Rust, *Gilbert,*and *Thompson.*The plant was thereafter operated for their benefit.

140, 141. The amount due from the Brookville plant to the receiver at the time of the sale was $556.50. That was wrongfully appropriated, by the parties concerned in the sale, to their own use.

142. Subsequent to the sale the parties interested conceived the idea and agreed to take the property as of the date of their mortgage thereof, May 18, 1893, instead of as of the ■date of the sale.

143. That was not known or authorized by the court.

144. Had the property been sold as of May 18, 1893, the *160amount coming to Rust, receiver, on the account against the Brookville plant, would have-been $450.32.

145. Said sum was wrongfully appropriated by the parties to the sale, to their own use in operating the plant after May 18, 1893.

146. March 15, 1897,' the receiver, under oath, informed the court that the account against the Brookville plant at the date of his appointment was $1,196.40, and was uncollectible ’ and worthless.

147. Such proceedings were had that such’ account, with others, aggregating $22,000 face value, were in form, June 27, 1897, sold for $49.50, a court order having been obtained authorizing a sale thereof, the court being informed that the ■property was worthless.

148. When such representation was made as to the Brook-ville plant account, the receiver knew that $556.50 had been collected and made available to pay the same, but had been converted by him and his associates to their own use.

.149. Prior to the receivership an account of $1,550, due the insolvent from the Consolidated Engineering Company, had been assigned to R. E. Rust, *Gilbert,*and *Thompson*as security for their endorsements on a $3,500 note to the Bank of Eau Claire.

150. After the receivership commenced that account was garnished. The assignees intervened and were successful. Litigation followed against the debtor in the name o’f the receiver, resulting in the collection of $866.66, which was paid to him. All such litigation was conducted by or through the mercantile agency of R. Gr. Dun & Co. ’

151. Subsequent to the aforesaid collection the court was informed by the receiver that the money in fact belonged to him personally, and to *Thompson*and *Gilbert.*Payment thereof was ordered accordingly

152. Prior thereto the receiver expended $145 of receivership money in making the collection.

*161153. *Thompson*and *Gilbert*knew when they participated in the matters respecting sneh account, that T. E. Erawley was acting for them in the matter at ihe expense of the receivership.

154. Erawley was paid $430 ont of the receivership assets for his services in respect to such account.

155. The receiver acted with knowledge of the facts in regard to the receivership assets bearing the burden of collecting said account.

156. June 21, 1893, Rnst, as receiver, charged to *Gilbert*and *Thompson,*$10.75 for expenses respecting an hypothecation held by them, and later obtained permission to charge the same to receivership expenses.

157. A contract between the insolvent and the Bucyrus Steam Shovel & Dredge Company was hypothecated, before the suspension, to *Thompson, Owen, Gilbert,*and Moon as security for their indorsement of a $12,000 note to the National Exchange Bank of Milwaukee.

158. The insolvent had agreed to install for said company, before December 15, 1892, certain electrical machinery, R. E. Rust, *Thompson,*and C. A. Daigh guaranteeing performance. The agreement provided for $50 per day damages for delay and the guarantee covered that feature.

159. By May 23, 1893, $5,510.09 had been expended upon the contract, or $960.09 in excess of the contract price-for installation.

160. May 23, 1893, said Bucyrus Company, independent of the aforesaid contract, owed the insolvent $1,795.34.

161. When the receiver was appointed, he, *Gilbert, Thompson, Owen,*and Moon knew the proceeds of the aforesaid contract would be required to discharge the note to the National' Exchange Bank of Milwaukee.

162. June 6, 1893, the receiver notified *Owen*that the contract was not completed and that there was a generator on hand designed to be used for that purpose, and that he could *162not go on with the contract without the assignees thereof guaranteeing payment for such machine; that upon security being given him for $2,500 for the machine, within a reasonable time, it would be used as designed.

163. July 1, 1893, the receiver informed the court in writing of the Bucyrus Company contract, the assignment thereof, and that the assignees required him to complete the same or to' deliver to them the property designed therefor. The court was further informed that the aforesaid generator was of the value of $1,500, and requested to give directions in the premises. Thereupon the receiver was ordered to ship the generator, to collect all the money payable upon the contract for the benefit of the assignees thereof in excess of $1,500, and to hold that for further advice. Prior to such proceedings the Bucyrus Company notified Bust, *Thompson,*and *Gilbert*that their liability for the stipulated damages heretofore mentioned would be enforced.

164. Between September 14 and November 16, 1893, the receiver expended in completing the Bucyrus contract, $2,646.24, without any judicial authority except as aforesaid.

165. February Y, 1894, the receiver informed the court of the facts with reference to the Bucyrus contract, that the contract had been completed, that $5,986.95 was due thereon, that payment had been refused and would have to be enforced by judicial proceedings, and that it was in the interests of the general creditors that he should do so free from any claim of *Gilbert, Thompson, Owen,*and Moon. Judicial authority to do that was asked for, the fruits of the proceedings, when obtained, to be subject to the claim of *Gilbert, Thompson, Owen,*and Moon by reason of the contract assigned to them as aforesaid. They consented thereto.

166. Before the last circumstance occurred the Bucyrus Company paid the receiver, independently of said contract, *163$000, leaving due from such company on the independent account, an undisputed balance of $1,195.34.

167. At the time of the occurrence stated in 165 the situation as to dealings with the Bucyrus Company contract stood thus: The amount expended prior to the suspension and remaining unpaid was $5,710.09; the amount due outside the contract was $1,195.34; the amount expended by the receiver in executing the contract was $2,646.24.

108. .Further, at the time of such occurrence, all parties •concerned knew that nothing could be realized from the Bucy-rus Company for general creditors.

169. As per judicial consent given, the receiver commenced judicial proceedings to' enforce a lien against the property of the Bucyrus Company to the extent of $5,996.95.

170. His attorney in such matter, T. E. Erawley, was. paid out of the assets of the insolvent for his services in the matter $446.80. Other'expenses were incurred in such matter to the extent of $187.90.

171. Nothing was realized therefrom, the result being that the sums expended in respect thereto were wholly lost.

172. *Gilbert,*Thompson, *Owen,*and Moon, in participating in the receiver’s handling of such matter, purposed having the expenses of collecting their claim paid out of receivership money.

173. When said generator was used as aforesaid, it was charged by the receiver to Gilbert, Thompson, *Owen,*and Moon. Thereafter he obtained an order of court exonerating such parties therefrom.

174. Previous to the receiver’s appointment the insolvent hypothecated a $1,500 account against the Bigelow Electric Supply Company to' *Gilbert*and *Thompson*as security for their indorsement of several of its notes. ' After such appointment the receiver paid $127.36 out of receivership money in •collecting the collateral for the holders thereof, all concerned *164knowing that it was to the prejudice of the general *creditors.*The receiver also paid out of the assets of the insolvent, to Attorney Erawley, $214.90 for services in respect to the enforcement of such collateral.

175. During the time the insolvent did business, it installed at Asheville, Rorth Carolina, an electrical plant for the contract price of $32,000, receiving as part payment bonds from the People’s Light, Heat & Power Company, of Asheville, of the face value of $14,500. The total issue of such bonds was $17,000. March 23, 1893, $6,000 thereof were held by the *Chippewat Valley Bank*as collateral; $5,000 by M. G. Shaw for the same purpose; $3,500 by the insolvent; $1,500 by J. A. Lyman of Asheville, and $1,000 by W. Barnhart of Asheville.

176. A short time before the appointment of the receiver, $1,000 of the bonds were sent to' Asheville to be used in payment for certain real estate'upon which the electric plant had been constructed, but the owner would not accept the same.

■ 177. Shortly prior to' such appointment the Asheville plant had been sold by the bondholders and bid in by H. B. Walms-ley for $5,001 for those other than the ones residing at Ashe-ville. The latter refused to become parties to the purchase-. Their part of the proceeds of the sale was $735. It was necessary to pay that, and $1,100 for land upon which the plant was constructed.

178. The receiver had no judicial direction, nor did he ask for any, in respect to protecting the interests of the general creditors in the Asheville bonds, except as herein stated.

179. Immediately after his appointment he began to deal with the Asheville bonds held by him, and the Asheville plant, as individual owner thereof. Such conduct continued until he was discharged. In that he was guilty of wrongful conduct as follows: In not disclosing to the court the ownership of the bonds sought to be used in payment of the real estate upon which the plant was situated; in disclosing to the court *165the ownership, as assets of the insolvent, of hut $2,500 of-•snch bonds when the amonnt Was in fact $3,500; in representing to the conrt by verified petition that prior to the receivership the insolvent had contracted to install the plant at Asheville and that the contract had been assigned to *Thomp-. ■son,*Shaw, and himself as security for moneys loaned the insolvent, knowing that no such assignment had been made and that the plant had been completed long prior to the receivership and sold as aforesaid; in concealing from the court that machinery had been sold by him from the Asheville plant for $1,400; in endeavoring through his attorney to obtain judicial authority to sell to himself, as property of no value, the Asheville bonds forming a part of the assets in his hands ■as receiver, representing such bonds to be $2,500.

180. June 27, 1897, said Asheville bonds, with other assets, aggregating $22,000, were in form- sold to De Alton S. 'Thomas for $49.50.

181. The receiver fraudulently converted to his own,use the $3,500 of Asheville bonds, they being then worth, reasonably, $1,000.

182. July 30, 1895, he expended, as expenses in connection with the Asheville plant, $524.26, charging the same to himself and *Thompson.*

183. Subsequent to April 8, 1897, the receivei’, represented by his attorney, petitioned the court for and obtained an order in effect making such charge of $524.26 expenses of the receivership.

184. Soon after the receivership commenced the receiver began personal suits at Asheville as part owner of the Ashe-ville bonds, which suits are still pending.

185. Defendant Hayden was and is one of the attorneys -in such litigation.

186. Such wrongful conduct of the receiver was with the knowledge of Erawley, Hayden, and *Thompson.*

187. The charge against *Thompson*respecting the Ashe-*166ville plant was properly chargeable to tbe *Chippewa, Talley Banlc*as bolder of tbe Asheville bonds as security.

188. Prior to August 6, 1896, tbe receiver expended $161.71 respecting an account against Armour & Co-, of Chicago, assigned by tbe insolvent to tbe *Chippewa Talley Banlc*prior to tbe suspension, charging tbe same to *Thompson,*its cashier, tbe parties concerned knowing that nothing could be realized in any event for general creditors. Thereafter the receiver, by order of tbe court induced by him, made such charge a part of tbe general expense of tbe receivership.

189. Tbe receiver paid out $853.80 in completing a contract with tbe St. Louis Electric Light & Power Company, hypothecated to *Gilbert,*Rust, and *Barber*prior to tbe suspension, be, and tbe parties *to he*benefited, knowing that nothing could be realized for tbe benefit of general creditors. Tbe expenditure was first charged to the parties beneficially interested, but afterwards to- tbe expense of tbe receivership-administration.

190. Prior to July 1, 1893, tbe receiver paid $51.20 in completing a contract assigned to Rust, *Gilbert,*and *Thompson*as security, all parties concerned knowing that *nothing*could be realized for general creditors.

191. He used $184.97 of receivership assets in tbe collection of an account against tbe National Electric Manufacturing *&*Construction Company of New York, knowing that it was held by tbe *Chippewa Talley Banlc*as security.

192. He and tbe officers thereof knew that nothing collected upon said account could go- to- general creditors.

193. Before tbe receivership tbe insolvent hypothecated an account due to it from Caspari, Whittaker & Co-, as follows: $1,550 to- *Thompson*and *Gilbert;*$1,150 to said *Thompson*and *Gilbert*and R. E. Rust; $2,880 to- said *Gilbert;*and subsequently to tbe appointment of tbe receiver,, with tbe knowledge and consent of said parties, be expended *167out of tiie assets of the insolvent $3.69.72 on account of such security.

194. Whem such expenditure was made the receiver and all parties concerned knew that nothing could he realized upon such security for the benefit of general creditors.

195. April 8, 1897, the receiver informed his attorney that he had an account against *John 8. Oiven*and others for $1,500 for the machine, used in executing the Bucyrus contract, one against *Gilbert,*Rust, and *Barber*of $853.88 used in executing the contract with the St. Louis Electric Light & Power Company; one against *Gilbert,*Rust, and *Thompson*of $10.75 for expenses incident to an account against the Globe Shoe & Clothing Company of St. Louis; one against Truax for $46.51, used respecting an account against Cook County Hospital; one against *Thompson*of $161.71, for expenses as to an account against Armour & Co.; one against Thompson, Shaw, and Rust of $524.26, for expenses as to an account against the Asheville plant; and that he desired the court to release the debtors because he had been unable to collect anything upon the accounts; that an account known as the Asheville bond account, for $2,500, was of no value, and he desired authority to sell it to himself.

196. Thereupon the attorney prepared a petition to be and which was verified by the receiver, setting forth the existence of such accounts; that when the expenditures were made it was supposed there was a margin in the collaterals realizable for general creditors; that none of the parties against whom the charges were máde realized any benefit therefrom; that they insisted they were not justly chargeable therewith, and that the receiver Coincided with that view.

197. The receiver and his attorney and counsel then knew that no further sum could be collected upon the hypotheca-tions involved. Their purpose was to wrongfully relieve the debtors from' their liability to pay the expenses.

*168198. No proceeds from any of the hypothecations inured to the benefit of general creditors.

199. All expenditures made by the receiver respecting them were known by him and the holders thereof to- be for the benefit of the latter.

200. From beginning to end the receivership was managed by Rust and his attorney and counsel for their sole personal benefit and that of *Thompson*and *Gilbert*and the *Chippewa Valley*Bank, pursuant to the original fraudulent scheme stated.

201. It was part of such scheme that all the assets of the insolvent should be absorbed without paying anything to general creditors.

202. Frawley charged the receiver for all services rendered for him, and all for the persons holding the hypotheca-tions as well.

203. Such charges were largely in excess of what was reasonable in any event, as for instance: $1,450 in connection with the sale of the manufacturing plant for $7,500, a reasonable charge being limited to $200; $500 for preparing a petition for confirmation of the sale of the plant and an order to that effect, whereas $50 would have been reasonable; $265 in connection with the sale of the Brookville plant, while a reasonable charge could not have exceeded $50.

204. Frawley charged the receiver large amounts, and received the same out of receivership money, for services not rendered by him at all, as, for example: $100 for collecting of the Monroe Water Works & Lighting Company, the services being rendered by *John S.. Owen;*$100 for collecting $2,550 upon certain bonds, the services being rendered by the *Chippewa Valley Bank;*$50- for collecting $1,104.09 of the Ball Electric Company, payment being in fact made directly to the receiver and the money turned over to Peter Truax who held the claim against said company as collateral; $50 for collecting $1,130 on a note, the services being in fact ren-*169<lered by *Gilbert,*who was the owner thereof; $120 for collecting $2,500 of the Pennsylvania Electric Company; $60 for collecting $1,530 of Chas. H. Baker; $20 for collecting $275.75 of the Reis Electric Specialty Company; $50 for preparing a paper in the sale of the Brookville plant, it being in fact prepared, to the attorney’s knowledge, by H. H. Hayden, who made a charge therefor.

205. His total charges were $8,218.81, though he was allowed in addition, $3,092.42.

206. On several occasions during the administration of the receivership, to the prejudice of general creditors he presented petitions to the court, signed by the receiver, containing representations known by the parties to be false, and omitting therefrom facts requisite for the court to know in order to act intelligently.

207. During Attorney Hayden’s professional career of many years prior to the receivership, his uniform custom was to charge upon his books in detail for all professional services rendered.

208. His charges against the receiver aggregated $429.74 for services and $50 for expenses.

209. That included an item of $200 for services in obtaining the first appointment of the receiver. It was originally charged to *James T. Barber,*one of the plaintiffs in the first action, but later charged to the receiver.

210. 211. In each instance where he rendered a service for the receiver he charged therefor, all such charges amount ing to 429.74, as indicated.

212. He obtained, for services rendered the receiver, '$4,952.02 and $50 for expenses, pursuant to the aforesaid ■fraudulent scheme. ■

213. While acting for the receiver he also acted as attorney for various persons holding hypothecations, his attitude being sometimes in hostility to general creditors. His services in the whole were compensated for by receivership *170moneys obtained as aforesaid, the total exceeding the actual value of his'services for the receiver by $4,047.82.

214. *Ex parte*orders were obtained by Frawley, acting as attorney for the receiver, June 11, 1894, allowing the latter. $4,000 as part payment for sendees, and himself and ITayden each $3,000.

215. Payments to- ITayden were as follows: $1,000 January 15, 1894; $2,000 June 18, 1894; $1,952.02 December 30, 1897, in addition to the $50 for expenses.

216. Payments to Frawley were as follows: $2,000 January 3, 1894; $1,000 June 11, 1894; $8,341.63 December 30, 1897.'

217. Those to Frawley included $197.61 for expenses.

218. Those to Rust, receiver, were as follows: Prior to' June 11, 1894, $4,000; December 30, 1897, $3,427.82.

219. Seasonably after the filing of the receiver’s report de*-fendant Truax, on behalf of himself and another, both being-large creditors, filed objections thereto and petitioned the court for a reference to a referee for an investigation of the disputed matters, and a report of the evidence taken in that regard to the court.

• 220. The petition was granted, the reference, however,, being to take the evidence and report the same with the referee’s conclusions as to- the facts, and particularly to take the evidence and report in respect to items charged for legal services, the same being classified under several heads.

221. The contestants, by their attorney, endeavored to-have the order not require the referee to malee'findings, while ITayden and Frawley urged that it should include such duty, and prevailed in that regard.

222. December 21, 1897, while *the*referee was engaged' in the performance of his duties, Frawley secured an ex *parte*order requiring him to conclude the same and file his report' by December 27, 1897. Later he obtained another *ex parte-**171order that the referee should file his report by December 30,. 1897.

223. The taking of testimony ended that day. On the-same day Erawley prepared the report, with findings of fact.. The next morning the referee signed it, and with the evidence, consisting of from 500 to 600 typewritten pages, and all other papers in his hands respecting the cause, filed the-same with the clerk of the circuit court, the court being in session, and Erawley, Hayden, and the receiver being present-

224. Thereupon Erawley, Hayden, and the receiver caused’ verbal notice to be given to the contestants’ attorney that the-court was ready to pass upon the report. Such attorney, treating such notice as imposing no> duty upon him, did not visit the court.

225. The report was not snbjnitted to such attorney, nor did he have any notice, other than as aforesaid, of any proceedings in respect thereto on December 30, 1897. His conduct was based on the statute and the court rules, which were-well known to Erawley and Hayden and the receiver, as to notice of proceedings upon the report of a referee after the filing thereof. The findings specially directed to be made by the referee were intentionally omitted from his report, his conduct in that regard being brought about by Hayden, Eraw-ley, and the receiver.

227. Upon Hayden and Erawley becoming advised that the attorney for the contestants would not appear and participate in the hearing on said day, they and the receiver held a consultation at the courthouse, the Revised Statutes, and the-rule of court in respect to the treatment of referees’ reports-being discussed, resulting in a determination that, so long as the report and findings as prepared remained on file, the court had no power to make or enter any order in respect to the matter before the expiration of ten days, and that the term of office of the presiding judge would expire within that time. *172Hayden, Frawley, and Rnst then agreed, in furtherance of the aforementioned fraudulent conspiracy, that if they were to secure an order on the report on that day, such report and the findings as prepared by Frawley and on file must necessarily be withdrawn and a different report substituted. Thereupon, by concert of action by all of the parties named, suck withdrawal fraudulently occurred and said parties caused to be prepared a brief certificate merely certifying, by the referee, that he had taken certain testimony and reported the same to the court. After such preparation a messenger in the employ of Mr. Frawley was sent to the referee to obtain his presence. Soon thereafter the referee arrived at the courtroom, and thereupon he, Frawley, ITayden, and Rust retired to a small room adjoining such room, for consultation, a suggestion to do so being made to the referee by the other parties named. In such room at that time, Frawley, Hayden, and Rust submitted to the referee the certificate prepared as aforesaid, requesting his signature thereto and stating that the circuit court had ordered his report and findings to be withdrawn from the files and such certificate to be substituted for the findings. The statute and circuit court rule before mentioned were considered at that time. The result of the consultation and the statements made to .the referee was that the latter complied with the request of his associates to sign said certificate. Thereafter such certificate was attached to the papers in place of the findings, and the same were then filed by the referee with the clerk.

228. Upon the filing of the new report, Hayden and Fraw-ley presented to the court and obtained judicial sanction of •orders allowing the receiver’s account and discharging him, .and exotierating his bondsmen, and fixing the compensation to be paid to him for his personal services, and the amount to be allowed to him for expenses incurred in the employment of Mr. Hayden as his counsel and Mr. Frawley as his attor-*173nev, and of their filling those positions during the term of the-receivership.

229, 230. In preparing the final order Frawley and Hayden embodied therein recitals in substance as follows:,,The attorney of the contestant procured an enlargement of the time for filing the referee’s report till December 30, 1891, to permit of his taking evidence as to the value of the services of the receiver, his attorney, and counsel. Prior to such enlargement, the court directed that such report should he filed before December 30, 1891, at which time the matter in dispute would be heard and disposed of by the court. The parties consented thereto and the referee having filed his report of the evidence, and the same being in the form required by the court, to wit, that he should report the evidence taken upon the hearing, such being the construction placed by the court upon its order of reference, being an' order of reference' to take and report the evidence.

231. The idea of such attorneys in making such false recitals was that the term of court would end December 30, 1897, precluding creditors of the insolvent from! attacking-the order except upon appeal, where such recitals would be-regarded as verities.

232. By December 15, 1897, Frawley, Hayden, *Gilbert Thompson,*and the receiver, knew an organization of general creditors existed, bent on securing an investigation of the receivership matters, and obtained the orders mentioned, supposing they would preclude such an investigation.

233. The allowances made to the receiver and attorneys' December 30, 1897, exceeded the entire available assets in the hands of the receiver, so they divided what there was between themselves *pro*raía, each bearing his proportionate share of the deficiency.

234. No effort was made in the receivership proceedings' to enforce payment of any of the insolvent’s accounts by the judgment of the court.

*174235. All court orders in the receivership proceedings were • obtained *ex parte.*

236. The services performed by the receiver and by Eraw-ley and Hayden were fraudulent and valueless to general creditors.

237. The reasonable value of the receiver’s services, honestly rendered, would not exceed $4,000.

238. That of the services of Erawley, $3,000. .

239. That of the services of ITayden, $300.

240. Except as indicated, the charges against the defond-ants, contained in the complaint, are not sustained.

The conclusions of law reached by the court upon such •findings, necessary to appear here, other than those common to winding-up actions, are these in effect: (4) Judgment for $84.50, with interest thereon from June 18, 1893, should he rendered against defendant *Gilbert,*for receivership moneys wrongfully applied by him as indicated in finding 75. (5) Judgment should he rendered against defendant *O-wen*for $129.52, with interest from July 21, 1893, on account of a wrongful depletion of receivership assets as indicated in finding 87. (7) A joint judgment should he entered against *Gilbert,*and *Thompson,*and *W.*A. and *A. J. Rust'as*executors of the last will and testament of R. E. Rust, deceased, for $8,287.20, with interest from July 17, 1S93, because of the fraudulent disposition of the Brookville plant as indicated in the findings. (8) A like judgment should be entered against such parties for $556.50, with interest from July 17, 1893, for money due R. E. Rust as receiver, from the Brookville plant, and illegally appropriated by said *Gilbert, Thompson,*and R. E. Rust personally. (9) And a like judgment should be rendered for $155.72 and interest thereon from. August 18, 1894, on account of receivership moneys •used for the benefit of *Gilbert, Thompson,*and R. E. Rust re■specting the account against the Consolidated Electrical Engineering Company of St. Tmuis, Mo. (10) Also a like judg*175ment for $51.20, and interest from July 1, 1893, on account of receivership moneys expended for tlie benefit of *Gilbert*and *Thompson*respecting tlie Cassadaga Eree Association account. (11) And a like judgment against *Gilbert, Thompson, Owen,*and said Rusts as executors as aforesaid, and *.Sumner G.*and *Frank Ii. Moon*as administrators Avith the will annexed of D. R. Moon deceased, for $2,834.14, with interest from March 18, 1896, on account of receivership moneys dissipated for the benefit of *Gilbert, Thompson, Owen,*R. E. Rust, and D. R. Moon, respecting the Bucyrus contract. (12) A like judgment against the *Ghippewa Valley Bank, Thompson,*and the Rusts as executors as aforesaid, for $524.26 and interest from July 30, 1895, on account of receivership moneys used respecting the Asheville plant for the benefit of said bank, *Thompson,*and R. E. Rust. (13) A judgment against the Rusts, as executors as aforesaid, for $1,000, and interest from October 1, 1893, on account of the value of the Asheville bonds converted by R. E. Rust to his own use as indicated in the findings of fact. (14) Also a joint judgment against *Gilbert, Thompson,*and the-Rusts as executors as aforesaid, for $127.30 and interest thereon from January 14,1895, because of receivership moneys wrongfully used respecting the Bigelow Electrical Supply Company account. (15) A like judgment against the *Ghippewa Valley Bank, Thompson,*and the Rusts as executors as aforesaid, for $161.71 and interest thereon from August 6, 1894, because of receivership moneys wrongfully used respecting the Armour & Oo. matter. (16) A like judgment against *Gilbert, ■James T. Barber,*and the Rusts as executors as aforesaid, for $853.80 and interest thereon from August 25, 1893, because •of a depletion of the assets of the insolvent respecting the contract with the St. Louis Electric Light & Power Company, mentioned in the findings. (17) A like judgment again'st the *Ghippewa Valley Bank,*and the Rusts as execu-. tors as aforesaid, for $184.97 and interest from August 6, *1761896, for receivership moneys wrongfully used respecting the National Electric & Construction Company account. (18) A like judgment against Gilbert, *Thompson,*and the Busts as executors as aforesaid for $369.72 and interest thereon from June 6, 1894, on account of receivership moneys wrongfully used respecting the Caspari, Whittaker & Co. account. (19,-20, 21) No compensation should go to either the receiver, T. F. Erawley, or H. H. Hayden, because of wrongful conduct in the receivership proceedings. (22) A joint judgment should be entered against the Busts as executors, and Eraw-ley and Hayden for $23,523.86, with interest from January 3, 1894, on $2,000; from January 15, 1894, on $1,000; from June 11, 1894, on $5,000; from June 18, 1894, on $2,000; and from December 30, 1897, on $13,523.86. (24) All orders entered in the receivership- proceedings prior to and inclusive of the time of the discharge of the receiver should be modified or set aside so- far as inconsistent with the foregoing. (26) Costs in favor of the plaintiffs should go, generally, against defendants *Barber*and Gilbert, W. A. and *A. J. Bust*as executors as‘aforesaid, *Thompson.*Owen> and *Bwnner G.*and *Franh H. Moon*in their capacity as personal representatives of D. B. Moon, H. H. Hayden, T. E. Erawley, and the *Ghippewa Valley*Banlc, in a sum not ex-seeding $500 in addition to taxable disbursements.

Judgment was in due time perfected in accordance with such findings and conclusions and others not necessary to specially mention. Eight separate appeals were taken therefrom, the findings and conclusions involved as to each having been duly excepted to. The following is a detailed statement of such appeals, and, in brief, the ultimate questions raised and the findings challenged:

1. Appeal by W. A. and *A. J. Bust,*as executors as aforesaid, the ultimate complaint being of that portion of the judgment charging them with liability for $1,395.67, principal and interest, for the conversion of the Asheville bonds men*177tioned in conclusion 13, and, generally, for costs according to conclusion 26, the findings of fact excepted to being 1*75 and 178 to 181 inclusive

2. Appeal by the *Chippewa Valley Bank, George T. Thompson,*and W. A. and *A. J. Bust*as executors as aforesaid, complaining of being charged with liability for $52426, $161.71, and $18497, with interest thereon, aggregating $1,128.04, because of the misuse of receivership moneys as indicated in conclusions 12, 15, and 17, and with liability for costs as per conclusion 26; the findings of fact in respect to the matter excepted to being 182, 183, 188, 192, 199, and 200.

3. Appeal by defendants *Gilbert*and *Owen,*W. A. and *A. J. Bust*as executors as aforesaid, and *8. G.*and *F. A. Moon*as personal representatives of D. R. Moon deceased, complaining of the judgment charging them with general liability for costs under conclusion 26, and with liability for $2,834.14 with interest, making $3,536.02, for receivership moneys wrongfully appropriated as held in conclusion 11; the findings excepted to in respect thereto being 159, 161, 163, 164, 168, 170, and 172.

4. Appeal by *Gilbert, Barber,*and the Rusts executors as aforesaid, 'from those parts of the judgment charging them with liability for costs as per conclusion 26, and for $853.80 with interest, making in the aggregate $1,196.68, on account of a wrongful depletion of receivership assets as indicated in conclusion 16, the findings of fact excepted to being 189, 199,. and 200.

5. Appeal by *Gilbert, Thompson,*and the Rusts as executors, from the adjudged liability against them for costs as per conclusion 26, and liability for $8,287.20 and interest thereon, on account of thé illegal disposition of the Brookville plant as indicated in conclusion 7; and $556.50 with interest, for the misappropriation of the proceeds of an .account due from such plant as indicated in conclusion 8; and $155.72 *178■with interest, far moneys misappropriated in respect to the Consolidated Electrical Engineering Company as indicated in conclusion 9; and $51.20 with interest, for moneys misappropriated in connection with the Cassadaga Free Association account, as indicated in conclusion 10; and $2,834.14 with interest, for a wrongful dissipation of the receivership assets in respect to- the Bucyrus contract as indicated in conclusion 11; and $127.30 and interest, for wrongful appropriation of receivership assets in respect to the Bigelow Electrical Supply Company account as indicated in conclusion 14; and $369.72 and interest, for misappropriation of receivership assets in respect to the Caspari, "Whittaker & Co. account as per conclusion 18; the aggregate being $13,436, exclusive of costs; the findings of fact excepted to being 72 to 133 inclusive, 135, 136, 138 to 145 inclusive, 147, 148, 153, 154, and 155.

6. Appeal by H. H. Hayden, T. F. Frawley, and the Rusts, executors, from the adjudged liability against them for costs as per conclusion 26, and liability,for $23,523.86 and interest, aggregating $29,071.90, on account of moneys wrongfully obtained by them out of the receivership assets as per conclusion 22, the findings of fact in respect thereto excepted to being 113 to 128 inclusive, and 176 to 187 inclusive.

7 and 8. Appeals by defendants *Gilbert*and *Owen*from the judgment in respect to several matters, and among them their adjudged liability for $182.94 and $113.58, respectively.

The form of the notices of appeal, as to whether single or not, was this: the parties, joining, “severally and separately appeal.” The form of the bond as to each appeal, except those numbered 6 and 7, respecting the same feature, was as follows: “The above named appellants, feeling aggrieved thereby, intend to appeal, now therefore we, etc., do hereby, pursuant to the statute in such case made and provided, uU-*179■dertake that said appellants will pay all damages and costs which may be awarded against them on said appeal, not exceeding the sum of $250, and do also undertake, etc., the said appellants will pay the amount to be directed to be paid by that part of said judgment so appealed from, etc., affirmed,” etc. The other two bonds, as to such feature, though worded somewhat differently, were substantially the same. After the record was filed in this court the respondents moved to dismiss all of the appeals for insufficiency of the bonds in that, while as to each appeal there were several parties appellant, each appealing for his own behalf, there was but one appeal bond. Thereafter, and before such motion was heard, the appellants moved the court for leave to give a new bond curing the defects claimed by respondents to exist in those on file.

The cause was first argued and submitted on October 25 and 26, 1902.

Eor the appellants, upon the motion to dismiss the appeals, there was a brief signed by *H. B. Walmsley,*attorney for H. H. Hayden, by *O. T. Bundy*and *B. P. Wilcox,*attorneys for the other appellants, and by *W. P. Bartlett,*of counsel for W. A. and *A. J. Bust,*executors of the last will of R. E. Rust, deceased. Upon the merits there was a brief signed by *Frawley, Bundy & Wilcox,*attorneys for appellants other than H. H. Hayden, and by *W. P. Bar licit,*of counsel for W. A. and *A. J. Bust,*executors; a separate brief signed by *S. B. Walmsley,*attorney for H. IT. Hayden; a supplemental brief signed by *Frawley, Bundy & Wilcox;*and a reply brief signed by *Frawley, Bundy <& Wilcox, O. T. Bundy,*and *PL. B. Walmsley,*attorneys, and by *W. P. Bartlett,*of counsel for W. A. Rust and *A. J. Bust,*executors. The oral arguments were by *G. T. Bundy*and *II. B. Walms-ley.*

For the respondents there were briefs by *F. M. Miner*and *Fleming & Blum,*attorneys, and *Olin & Butler,*of counsel, *180and the canse was’argued orally by *J. M. Olin, M. B. Butler,*and *F. M. Miner.*

In support of the motion to dismiss the appeals it was contended, on behalf of the respondents: (1) The appeals should be dismissed because of the insufficiency of the undertakings. There is a separate appeal by each defendant. It is competent for one to separately appeal from a joint judgment, against him and others. Stats. 1898, sec. 3048; *In re Bus-combe’s Will,*109 Wis. 186, 195. The fact that different notices of appeal are included in the same instrument does not render the appeals any the less several. *Sharon v. Sharon,*68 Cal. 326, 9 Pac. 187, 192. The notices must be given effect according to their terms — according to their plain intent. *Johnson v. O., M. & St. P. B. Go.*43 Wis. 431; *Olinger v. Biddle,*55 Wis. 621; *Wood v. Fish,*63 N. T. 245; *Montgomery v. American Central Ins. Go.*106 Wis. 543. An appeal is a purely statutory right. *Western U. B. Go.*v. *Dichson,*30 Wis. 389, 392; *State ex rel. Andreius v. Osh-Jcosh,*84 Wis. 548, 556. And statutory regulations with respect to the talcing of an appeal must be strictly complied with. 2 Ency. PI. & Pr. 213. Taking, for instance, the undertaking on behalf of *Gilbert, Thompson,*and Eust, which is the pattern of all the others, it is void for uncertainty. It does not specify to which of the several appeals contained in the notice it relates. *Kelly v. Beachman,*5-Idaho, 521, 51 Pac. 407; *Wallace v. McKinlay,*6 Idaho, 95, 53 Pac. 104; *Home B. Asso. v. Wilhins,*71 Cal. 626, 12' Pac. 799; *In re Ileydenfeldt,*117 Cal. 551, 51 Pac. 543;. *Centerville & K. I. D. Go. v. Bachtold,*109 Cal. Ill, 41 Pac. 813 ; *Ghamberlain v. Sage,*14 Wis. 193; *White v. Appleton,*14 Wis. 190. The undertaking is to pay all costs and damages which may be awarded against “said appellants,” i. e.r those referred to in the notice. The liability of the sureties being *strictissimi juris (Drinhwine v. Fan Claire,*83 Wis. 430), they could only be held liable for damages and costs *181awarded against said appellants *jointly. Zone v. De Ona-tivia,*135 Cal. 440, 67 Pae. 685; *Wood v. Fish,*63 N. Y. 245. The obligation of the sureties is limited to $250; but the respondents were entitled, under the statute, to undertakings to that amount *on each appeal. White v. Appleton,*14 Wis. 190, 192. ■ (2) The appeals should'be dismissed because no notice was given to the defendant corporation. “The adverse party mentioned in the statute is one who has an interest adverse to the reversal of the matter appealed from.” *Crotuns v. Forest L. Co.*99 Wis. 103; *Rogers v. Shove,*98 Wis. 271; *Wheeler*v. Hartshorn,*40 Wis. 83, 96; *Frost v. St. Paul B. & I. Co.*57 Minn. 325, 59 N. W. 308; *Thompson v. Ellsworth,*1 Barb. Oh. 627; *Cotes v. Carroll,*28 How. Pr. 436; *Barnes v. Stoughton,*6 Iiun, 254. The recovery in this action is a corporate asset. The corporation is therefore a necessary party to the action. *Land, L. & L. Co. v. McIntyre,*100 Wis. 245, 256; *Gager v. Paul,*111 Wis. 638, 651. Except where the corporation has transferred its interest in the assets to an assignee, in which event the assignee takes the place of the corporation and becomes an indispen- * sable party. *Gores v. Field,*109 Wis. 408, 415. Failure to serve the statutory notice on any adverse party is fatal to the appeal. *Munh v. Anderson,*94 Wis. 27; Elliott, App. Proc. § 144; *Hamilton v. Blair,*23 Oreg. 64, 31 Pac. 197; *Butte Co. v. Boydstun,*68 Cal. 189, 8 Pac. 835; *Herriman v. Men-zias,*115 Cal. 16, 44 Pac. 660; *Hunderloch v. Dundee M. & T. I. Co.*88 Ind. 139; *Curten v. Atkinson,*29 Neb. 612, 46 N. W. 91. As to appeal by corporation whose functions have been suspended by receivership, see *Stolze v. Manitowoc T. Co.*100 Wis. 208. That if it might appeal it is necessarily an “adverse party” entitled to notice, see *Rogers v. Shove,*98 Wis. 271. (3) The defects are jurisdictional and not subject to correction. An appeal cannot be perfected after Hie lapse of the statutory period. Secs. 2831, 3039, Stats. 1898; *Herrick v. Racine W. & D. Co.*43 Wis. 93; *Munk v.**182*Anderson,*94 Wis. 27; Elliott, App. Proc. § 128; *Hall v. Oilman,*90 Wis. 455. No question is presented bere of the omission to perfect an appeal “by mistake or accident” referred to in see. 3068, Stats. 1898. *Tyson v. Tyson,*94 Wis. 225, 232. But this statute does not permit an appeal to be .perfected after tbe lapse of tbe statutoiy period. *Drinkwine v. Bau~ Claire,*83 Wis. 429; *Thompson v. Thompson,*24 Wis. 517; *Shaffer v. Ban Claire,*105 Wis. 239. .

For tlie appellants, in opposition to the motion to dismiss, it was argued, among other things, that, the notice of appeal having been given, “any other act necessary to perfect the appeal or make it effectual” may be done under the terms of sec. 3068, Stats. 1898. *J ohnson v. N.*W. *Live Stock Ins. Co.*107 Wis. 337; *Bookman v. Ackerman,*109 Wis. 639; *Ten-ney v. Madison,*99 Wis. 539 ; *Bussell v. Bartlett,*9 Wis. 556; *Helden v. Helden,*9 Wis. 557; *Smith v. C. & N. W. B. Co.*19 Wis. 89; *Ulrich v. Famngton Mfg. Co.*69 Wis. 213; *Branger v. Buttrick,*30 Wis. 153; *Gilbank v. Stephenson,*30 Wis. 155; *Falk v. Goldberg,*45 Wis. 94; *Grant v. Connecticut M. L. Ins. Co.*28 Wis. 387; *White v. Polleys,*20 Wis. 503. The benefit of this curative statute cannot be restricted to the two years after the entry of judgment (1) because the legislature has not said so, and (2) dúring such two years there is no need of the statute, the right to appeal during that time being absolute. The two years had expired in *J ohnson v. N. W. Live Stock Ins. Co.*107 Wis. 337. The undertaking feature of the statute is not a matter of jurisdiction, and the undertaking may be waived. Sec. 3051, Stats. 1898; 1 Ency. PL & Pr. 1000; *In re Luscombe’s Will,*109 Wis. 186, 194. The whole provision as to undertakings for costs is void. The legislature has no power to put any such bar between a litigant and his rights in this court. Const, art. I, sec. 9; Id. art. VII, sec. 3; *Smythe v. Boswell,*117 Ind. 365, 20' N. E. 263; *Hutts v. Martin,*131 Ind. 1, 30 N. E. 698. The statute is repugnant also to> the federal constitution. *183Amendm. XIV; *Williamson v. Liverpool & L. & G. Ins. -do.*105 Red. 31; *Yich Wo v. Hopkins,*118 U. S. 356; *Mutual F. Ins. Oo. v. Hammond,*106 Ky. 386, 51 S. W. 151; *Gulf, 0. & 8. F. B. Oo. v. Filis,*165 U. S. 150.

Upon, the merits of the appeals counsel for the appellants other than U. H. Hayden argued: (1) The plaintiffs having alleged actual fraud and conspiracy against each of the appellants, they must prove such allegations or the complaint will he dismissed. *Kruschke v. Stefan,*83 Wis. 373; *Trues-dell v. Bourke,*145 N. Y. 612; *Barnes v. Quigley,*59 PT. Y. 265; *Gallup v. Bernd,*132 PT. Y. 377; *Truesdell v. Sarles,*104 PL Y. 164; *Garter v. Glass,*44 Mich. 154; *Mt. Vernon Bank v. Stone,*2 R. I. 129, 57 Am. Dec. 709; 11 Ency. PI. & Pr. 895 and notes. (2) In an action brought for actual fraud relief cannot he had by proving a case of constructive fraud. *Fyer v. Potter,*15 How. 42; *Piper v. Hoard,*107 PT. Y. 67; 11 Ency. PL & Pr. 890. (3) The evidence is insufficient to warrant a finding of actual fraud. Eraud must he proved by clear and satisfactory evidence legitimately pointing thereto. ,8 Am. & Eng. Ency. of Law, 854; Kerr, Eraud & Mistake, 382; *Greer v. Galdwell,*14 Ga. 207; *Shaw v. Gilbert,*111 Wis. 169. (4) The mortgage given to *Gilbert, Thompson,*and Rust on May 18th, 1893, on the Brook-ville plant, was a valid and subsisting obligation, even if on that day the officers of the company had determined upon a cessation of business. The informal assignment of Jan. 19th, was, in any event, sufficient evidence of an agreement by the corporation, to secure these appellants. Valid security can be given officers and directors of an insolvent corporation at any time, if given pursuant to a valid prior agreement that such security should he given. *Stout v. Yaeger M. Oo.*13 Fed. 802; *Gowen v. P.-G. Oo.*188 Pa. St. 542, 38 Atl. 1075; *Paulding v. Ohrome S. Oo.*94 PT. Y. 334; *Ooats v. Donnell,*94 PT. Y. 168; *Brower v. Brooklyn T. Oo.*21 PT. Y. Supp. 324; 5 Thompson, Corp. 5134; *Appeal of**184*Neal,*129 P'a. St. 64, 18 Atl. 564; *Young v. Northern Illinois C. & I. Go.*13 Fed. 806; *Fourth Nat. Bank v. American M. Go.*11 Sup; Ct. 52, 29 Fed. 611; *Chicago T. & T. Go. v.*Smith> 158 Ill. 417, 41 N. E. 1076; *Glark v. Iselin,*■21 Wall. 360; *Goolc v. Tullís,*18 Wall. 332; *Burdick v. Jackson,*7 Hun, 488; *Baker v. Ilarpsier,*42 Kan. 511, 22 Pac. 415; 3 Thompson, Corp. § 4068. The informal assignment of Jan. 19th, 1893, was good in equity as a contract to convey. *Dreutzerv. Lawrence,*58 Wis. 594. (5) The mortgage of May 18th being valid, the court should either have affirmed the sale of the plant by the receiver to himself, *Gilbert,*and *Thompson,*or set aside such sale and reinstated the mortgage, compelling the said appellants to account for the rents and profits. *Duncomb v. N. Y., II. & N. B. Co.*84 N. T. 198. (6) Appellant Frawley, not being an officer, stockholder, or director of the corporation, cannot be held liable in this action. Sec. 3216, Stats. 1898; *Clarke v. Banner & V. P. Co.*50 Wis. 416. (7) The orders of the court directing the receiver to charge to profit and loss certain amounts, to complete the Bucyrus contract, and other similar orders directing him as to his duty, are administrative in their character, are discretionary, and will not be reviewed by this court. 17 Ency. PI. & Pr. 881 and cases; *Union Nat. BanJc v. Mills,*103 Wis. 39; *Mercantile T. Co. v. Farmers’ L. & T. Co.*81 Fed. 259. (8) The court and judge making the appointment has the exclusive power to determine the compensation to be paid the receiver, and in doing so can and should consider his personal knowledge of the services rendered and responsibilities assumed. *Union Nat. Bank v. Mills,*103 Wis. 39; 17 Ency. PL & Pr. 878, note, and cases cited. (9, 10) The expenditures of a receiver, made in good faith, for the purpose of reducing to possession, pursuant to the order appointing him, the assets of the corporation, whether encumbered or unencumbered, are properly paid out of any money in his hands at the time of the *185final distribution. Tbe marshaling of the funds in the hands of the receiver and apportioning the expenditures incurred by him in the performance of his trust, is for the court and not the receiver. Sec. 3245, Stats. 1898; *Speiser v. Merchants’ Ex. Bank,*110 Wis. 506. (11) If the court erred by allowing the receiver’s report as filed, and by allowing to him as credits the expense of collecting hypothecated accounts, such error can be corrected by proper proceeding, and his account surcharged;- but it constitutes no sufficient ground to warrant the court in holding that the receiver, his attorneys, and the appellants holding hypothecations were guilty of fraud or dishonesty in the administration of his receivership. *Shavj v. Gilbert,*111 Wis. 189; *Schwartz v. Keystone 0. Go.*153 Pa. St. 283, 25 Atl. 1018. (12) A receiver who is authorized by the order of appointment to operate a manufacturing plant is thereby authorized to purchase materials, employ labor, and to complete all uncompleted contracts. *Sager Mfg. Go. v. Smith,*60 1ST. Y. Supp. 849, 60 hi. E. 1120. (13) The allowance made to the receiver and his attorneys in this case was made by the judge making the appointment u.pon legal rules and was not excessive for the services rendered. *Union Nat. Bank v. Mills,*103 Wis. 39; *Henry v. Henry,*103 Ala. 582; *In re Little,*62 1ST. Y. Supp. 27, 59 1ST. E. 1125. (14) The allowance of attorneys’ fees is an allowance to the receiver as a disbursement, and such allowance having been paid pursuant to the order of the court, the attorneys receiving it are not liable to the creditors therefor. If improperly allowed, or excessive, such allowance or excess can be charged back to the receiver on a restatement of his account, and he-he compelled to account to the creditor^ for the balance which should be in his hands after all proper credits are allowed him. *Henry v. Henry,*103 Ala. 583; *Kirleer v. Owings,*98 Eed. 499; *Mills v. Boss,*57 1ST. Y. Supp. 680. (15) If a receiver improperly disburses funds belonging to-the estate, without authority of the court, he is *186liable to the creditors in an action brought by a new receiver,, both personally and on his bond. *Mills v. Ross,*57 N. Y. Supp. 680. (16) No part of the proceeds realized from the sale or collection of encumbered assets can be used to pay the expense of the receivership. All such must be paid out of the general assets. *Moore v. Lincoln Park Go.*196 Pa. St. 519, 46 Atl. 857; *Lane v. Washington H. Go.*190 Pa. St. 230; *Speiser v. Merchants’ Ex. Bank,*110 Wis. 506. (17) The creditors of the corporation had a lawful right to file their claim for the full amount, without regard to the security by them held or the amount collected thereon, and to-receive their proportion of 'any dividends declared, based on the full amount of their claim. *Ghemical Nat. Bank v~ Armstrong,*59 Fed. 372, and cases; *In re Simpson,*55 N. Y. Supp. 697; *People v. Remington,*121 N. Y. 328; *In re Bates,*118 Ill. 524; *Citizens’ Bank v. Patterson,*78 Ky. 291; *Brown v. Merchant’s & P. Nat. Bank,*79 N. O. 244;. *Kellogg v. Miller,*22 Oreg. 406; *Miller’s Estate,*82 Pa. St. 113; *Third Nat. Bank v. Ilaug,*82 Mich. 607. (18) When .objections are made to a receiver’s account it is proper to order a reference to' a master, to- hear evidence and report on their correctness. 17 Am. & Eng. Eney. PI. & Pr. 837. (19) A master’s report on a receiver’s account does not require confirmation, and does not admit, therefore, of exceptions. 17 Ency. PI. & Pr. 839; *Cowdrey v. Railroad Go.*6 Fed. Cas. No. 3293. (20) Where the order of reference does not require the referee to report to the court the facts found, he has no authority to report them, and if he does there is nothing before the court on which to base exceptions. *Royal v. Baer,*17 Ind. 332. (21) The court erred in consolidating the actions and removing as plaintiff the only judgment creditor of the corporation. None but judgment creditors can maintain such an action. *Hinckley v. Pjister,*83 Wis. 64. (22) The court erred in vacating the administrative order which fixed the compensation of the receiver and *187his attorneys. Such order was exclusively under the control of the judge who administered the trust. *Mercantile T. Go. v. Farmers L. & T. Go.*81 Fed. 259; *Union Nat. Bank v. Millsj*103 Wis. 39; *Olson v. State*Bank, 72 Minn. 320, 75 N. W. 378. (23) D. R. Moon was not shown to he an officer or director of the corporation and sustained no fiduciary relation to it or its creditors, and this cause of action for fraud and conspiracy abated with his death. *John V. Far-well Go. v.*Wolf, 96 Wis. 10; *Lane v.*Frawley, 102 Wis. 373. (24) So, also, the cause of action against R. E. Rust, in so •far as the same is based on fraud, conspiracy, or conversion, abated with his death. (25) The demurrer *ore tenus*of all of the appellants should have been sustained as the complaint did not allege that the plaintiffs, or any of them, were judgment creditors of the insolvent corporation, or that an execution had been returned against said corporation unsatisfied. *Ilinclsley v. Pfister,*83 Wis. 64. (26) The plaintiffs should not be permitted to recover in this action on account of' their laches in failing to appear and file exceptions to the receiver’s final account as filed, and by reason of their failure to object to the manner in which the court was administering the-trust during the receivership. *Twin-Lick 0. Go. v. Marbury?*'91 U. S. 587; *Marsh v.*Whitfore, 83 U. S. 482; *Follansbe v. Kilbreth,*17 Ill. 522; *Dillingham v.*Moran, 81 Fed. 760. (27") The test of a receiver’s action in incurring expense, without the express order of the court, is “Would a man of ordinary business capacity, and prudence, in the conduct of his own business, be likely to incur the same expense?” *Schiuarte v. Keystone 0. Go.*153 Pa. St. 253. (28) This-court will consider only the competent evidence preserved in the record, and will not consider the unidentified scraps of paper, memoranda, telegrams, etc., received by the trial court. *Lace v. Schoenhalss,*93 Wis. 665; *Smith v. Perry,,*52 Neb. 738, 73 N. W. 282.

For the appellant II. II. ITayden

it was argued, among; *188•other things: (1) There being no controverted questions of fact, and the suit being in equity, the examination in this ■court must be, as to the matters appealed from-, absolutely *■de novo;*and no weight whatever is to be allowed to anything found or decided below because *the trial court so found ■or decided it. Dietz v. Neenah,*91 Wis. 422, 426; *Gandee v. W. U. Tel. Go.*34 Wis. 471, 483; *Milwaukee Co. v. Pabst,*70 Wis. 352, 360; *Wheelock v. Tanner,*39 N. Y. 481, 486; *Farmers’ Bank v. Vail,*21 N. Y. 481, 486; *Southard v. Behrns,*52 Neb. 486, 72 N. W. 860, 861; *Pratt v. Foote,*D N. Y. 463, 465; *U. S. v. Pugh,*99 U. S. 265, 270; *Draper ■v. Stouvenel,*38 N. Y. 219, 223; *Fellows v. Northrup,*39 N. Y. 117, 119, 120; *Mason v. Lord,*40 N. Y. 476, 484. ■(2) Fraud must be proved by clear and satisfactory evidence. 1 Jones, Ev. § 190; *Shaw v. Gilbert,*111 Wis. 165, 188, 189; *Lavassar v. Washburne,*50 Wis. 200, 201; 14 Am. & Eng. Ency. of Law (2d ed.) 203. (3) No cause of •action arises from a mere showing that a conspiracy has been formed; there must be a showing of *acts*which have *damaged*the plaintiff. *Smith v. Nippert,*76 Wis. 86, 88; 6 Am. & Eng. Ency. of Law (2d ed.) 873-875. (4) Plaintiffs having made their case upon allegations of actual fraud, if that is not proved, they cannot recover upon any other theory of liability in this action; and defendants are entitled to judgment of dismissal herein. *Kruschke v. Stefan,*83 Wis. 373, '383; *Truesdell v. Sarles,*104 N. Y. 164, 167; *Byre v. Potter,*15 How. 42, 56; *Piper v. Hoard,*107 N. Y. 67, 72; *Miller v. King,*88 Hun, 181, 182. (5) Appellant Frawley, not being an officer or stockholder of the corporation, could not be made a defendant in this action; and this being a ■statutory action, this objection is a “question of jurisdiction.” *Clarke v. Banner & V. P. Go.*50 Wis. 416, 418; •secs. 3216-3228, Stats. 1898. (6) Orders which are purely •administrative, and which involve only questions of business judgment or sagacity — of business policy, — will not be dis*189turbed on appeal, and cannot be in any way affected by the fact that they are improvident or prove unprofitable — no-abuse of discretion being made to appear. *Mercantile T. Co. v.*.Farmers'’ *L. & T. Co.*81 Eed. 254-259; *Weeks v. Weeks,*106 N. Y. 626; *Wabash, St. L. & P. B. Co. v. Central T. Co.*22 Eed. 269, where Justice Bbeweb directed receiver to carry out a bad bargain, made under an order. (7) It is the duty of the receiver, under the court’s direction, to reduce to possession, and realize on, all assets, encumbered as well as unencumbered, and to pay the expenses-of so doing out of the general fund in his hands. All the-money which comes to the receiver’s hands is a single fund,, which is all equally subject to any payments which the court,, or a statute, may order to be made from it. *In re Assignment’ of Riddell,*93 Wis. 564, 566; secs. 3217, 3245, Stats. 1898. (8) The amended complaint was insufficient because it failed' to allege that any plaintiff Was a judgment creditor. *Hinck-ley v. Pfister,*83 Wis. 64, 82; sec. 3216, Stats. 1898. (9)-The consolidation of two or more suits is within the sound discretion of the court, and leaves each suit entirely separate’ and distinct, and operates only as a mere *carrying on together*of suits supposed to involve identical issues, in order-to expedite the hearing and diminish expense. *Toledo, St. L. & K. C. B. Co. v. Continental T. Co.*95 Eed. 497, 506;. *Hinckley v, Pfister,*83 Wis. 64, 75, 83; 4 Ency. PI. *&*Pr. 695. (10) An order directing the receiver to’ pay counsel or himself a certain sum of money for services, or a sum to-any other person, or to deliver property to any person, is a *final judgment,*and can be re-examined only by an appeal in the regular course or an application for relief within the-statutory one year. *In re Commonwealth F. Ins. Co.*32' Hun, 78; 15 Ency. PI. & Pr. 317; *Trustees v. Qreenough,.*105 TJ. S. 527; *Stuart v. Boulware,*133 U. S. 78; *Hovey v.. McDonald,*109 U. S. 150; *Blossom v. M. & C. B. Co.*1 Wall. 655; *Central B. & B. Co. v. Pettus,*113 U. S. 121;. *190*Williams v. Morgan,*111 U. S. 684; *Hinckley v. G. G. & ■ S. B. Co.*94 U. S. 467; *Sage v. Railroad Go.*96 U. S. 712; *Ex parte Farmers’ L. & T. Go.*129 U. S. 206; *Burnham v. Bowen,*111 U. S. 776; *Fosdiclc v. Shall,*99 U. S. 235; *For gay v. Oonrad,*6 How. 201; *Simms v. Simms,*20 Sup. Ot. 58, 61; *Merchants’ Bank v. Grysler,*67 Fed. 388. In each, of the foregoing, irrespective of form or phraseology, the supreme court, or circuit court of appeals, looking to the substance, found a *final*judgment or decree; for by statute Ihe appeal to those courts is limited to such. *Drake v. Koch-ersperger,*170 U. S. 303; *Butterfield v. TJsher,*91 U. S. 246; *Speiser v. Merchants’ Fx. Bank,*110 Wis. 506; *Union Nat. Bank v. Mills,*103 Wis. 39; *Leadville G. Go. v. Mc-■Greery,*141 U. S. 475; *Central T. Go. v. Grant,*135 U. S. 207; *Weeks v. Weeks,*106 N. T. 626; *Mercantile T. Go. v. Farmers’ L. & T. Go.*81 Fed. 254. Being final judgments .•and not being appealed from within two years, nor opened within the statutory one year, they could be attacked, if at .all, only by a direct suit in equity to set them aside for fraud. *.Farwell v. Great Western T. Go.*161 Ill. 522, 44 N. E. 891. But this is not a suit of that character. (11) On no possible •theory can the judgment stand against either Hayden or Frawley, being solely for money, paid them by the receiver ■to discharge his personal indebtedness to them for legal services rendered to him. Neither the court nor the litigants employ counsel for the receiver. He does this personally, be-comes personally bound as an individual for the services, and the court allows him sums *as reimbursement*for such expenses incurred and paid by him. *Stuart v. Boulware,*133 U. S. 78; Gluck & Becker, Receivers, 361, note> citing *Walsh v. Raymond,*58 Conn. 251; Id. 355, citing *Tennessee v. F. & K. R. Go.*4 Baxt. (Tenn.) 92; *Florida G. B. Go. ■v. Bisbee,*18 Fla. 60; *Maxwell v. Bank of New Richmond,*101 Wis. 286, 291. (12) Complainants are barred by laches'. *Gutter v. Iowa W. Go.*96 Fed. 777; Freeman, Judgments, *191■see. 142; 15 Ency. PI. & Pr. 347, notes 4, 5; *Galena & 8. W. B. Go. v. Ennor,*116 Ill. 55. (13) The allowance to tlie receiver for counsel fees, and for Ms own services, in lump ■sums, is tire proper method. Compensation for the service of counsel is never a matter of an aggregate of specific items, .and hears no analogy to an itemized hill for merchandise. *■Greeley v. Prov. S. Bank,*103 Mo. 212, 17 Ency. PL & Pr. ■'843; *Perry-Mason 8. Go. v. Sykes,*72 Miss. 390, 28 L. R. A. 277; *Stuart v. Boulware,*133 U. S. 78; *In re Louisiana 8. B. & 8. D. Go.*40 La. Ann. 514, 4 So-. 301; *Boston 8. D. ■& T. Go. v. Chamberlain,*66 Eed. 847, 848; *Trustees v. ■Gi'eenough,*105 U. S. 527. Counsel and attorney’s fees do not consist of items at all. *Tracy v. Stearns,*61 ITow. Pr. 265; *Sanford v. Buckman,*24 How. Pr. 521; *Eliot v. Law-ton,*7 Allen, 274; *Wilson v. M. S N. W. B. Go.*31 Minn. 481, 18 N. W. 291, 292. Nor need an attorney to make ■charges in his books; if he fails to do so, the court fixes the compensation on some reasonable general rule; and may fix it hv annual retainer for general services. *Hughes v. Dundee M. & T. I. Go.*21 Eed. 169. And if charges are made, they are immaterial, for the court fixes the compensation largely upon its own knowledge. *Union Nat. Bank v. Mills,*103 Wis. 39; *Harrison v. Perea,*168 U. S. 311; *Olson v. State Bank,*72 Minn. 320; 17 Ency. PL & Pr. 843. And a judge may carry this personal knowledge with him from the circuit and use it in review in the circuit court of appeals. *Boston 8. D. & T. Go. v. Chamberlain,*66 Eed. 847, 848. And the court *may*fix such compensation *entirely*upon personal knowledge, *without hearing any evidence. Fowler v. Equitable T. Go.*141 U. S. 411; *8peiser v. Merchants’ Ex. Bank,*110 Wis. 506, 523. (14) The compensation allowed the receiver in the court’s orders for his own services, and for counsel fees, was no more than was reasonable, and was well inside the authorities. *Schwartz v. Keystone O. Co.*153 Pa. St. 283, 25 Atl. 1018; *Trustees v. Greenough,*105 *192U. S. 527; *Cowdrey v. G., E. & H. B. Co.*93 U. S. 352, 354; *Union Nat. Bank v. Mills,*103 U. S. 39. (15) There was no impropriety in Hayden or Erawley-conducting litigation for creditors of the corporation, secured by undisputed hypothecations made by the corporation, the receiver *not being a parly*to such litigation, and having *an interest*in the enforcement of such claims, because entitled to the excess, if any, of the security, Hayden being paid for such services in full by the creditors, without any claim upon the receiver therefor. 3 Am, & Eng. Ency. of Law (2d ed.) 297, 298; *Shaw v. Bill,*95 U. S. 10, 14. (16) Valid orders of the court directing its receiver, on its application, may be made without notice, and in this country it is the common practice so to make them. *Weeks v. Weeks,*106 N. Y. 626. If notice were necessary, it would be presumed, the *contrary*not *expressly appearing upon the record. Falkner v. Guild,*10 Wis. 563, 573. There is no rule of law or practice forbidding so making such orders without notice. *Merchants’ Bank v. Crysler,*67 Eed. 388. At the worst, if objectionable, it would be only *irregular*or *erroneous. 'Merchants’ Bank v. Crysler,*67 Eed. 388. And such an objection can be reached only by appeal from the judgment. 11 Am. & Eng. Ency. of Law, 843, 844; *Jackson v. Astor,*Pin. 137, 158; *Tollman v. McCarty,*11 Wis. 401, 406, 407; *Falkner v. Guild,*10 Wis. 563, 571; *Amory v. Amory,*26 Wis. 152, 160; *Gale v. Best,*20 Wis. 44, 47; *Arnold v. Booth,*14 Wis. 195. (18) Ho claim lay against Rust for what he received for allowances for counsel fees, because he paid it over *under orders*of the court; a subsequent reversal or vacation of the order would be immaterial, and would not make the receiver liable. The party objecting must get a *stay*of the order complained of until it can be reviewed. If he neglects to do this, and the receiver pays, the latter is protected. *Florida C. B. Co. v. Bisbee,*18 Ela. 60; Gluck & Becker, Receivers, 356; *Maxwell v. Bank of New Bichmond,*101 Wis. 286, 288; *Palmer v.**193*Truby,*136 Pa. St. 656, 20 Atl. 516; *In re Home P. 8. F. Asso.*129 N. Y. 288, 15 N. Y. Supp. 211, quoted 20 Am. & Eng. Eney. of Law (1st ed.) 119, col. 1. (23) An attack upon a judgment or order for fraud in its making must show that by some trick, device, or otherwise, the court was induced to do something different from what it intended to do, and which it would not have done except for such fraud. *Fisher v. Simon, 67*Eed. 387; *U. 8. ex rel. Fisher v. Williams,*67 Eed. 384; *Fisher v: Hepburn,.*48 N. Y. 41, 53. (26) A chancellor will decline to act, when what is prayed for amounts substantially to his sitting in review upon another chancellor. *Fisher v. Hepburn,*48 N. Y. 48, 53; *Win-ship v. Piits,*3 Paige, 259 ; Asfor *v. Ward,*3 Edw. Oh. 391; *Greenwich Bank v. Loomis,*2- Sandf. Oh. 76; *In re Livingstone,*34 N. Y. 577; *Arnold v. Oliver,*64 How. Pr. 452; *'Marvin v. Weider,*31 Neb. 774, 48 N. W. 825; *Oglesby v. Attrill,*14 Eed. 214. (27) Fraud that will justify the reexamination of a judgment or order must be some fraud whereby complainant’s antagonist in some way prevented him from having an opportunity of obtaining the relief to which’ he was entitled. *Brooks v. O'Hara,*8 Eed. 533; *U. 8. v. Throckmorton,*98 U. S. 65; *Greene v. Greene,*2 Gray, 361. (28) The original written assignment-, upon the Brookville plant was an equitable mortgage. *Bridgeport H. & I. Go. v. Meader,*72 Eed. 115, 118. The mortgage related back under the “renewal doctrine.” *Ohattanooga Nat. Bank v. Borne I. Co.*102 Eed. 755, 757, 758. (29) This court tries the case on the competent evidence alone. 2 Ency. PI. & Pr. 474; *Lace v. 8choenhalss,*93 Wis. 665; *Smith v. Perry,*52 Neb. 738, 73 N. W. 282, 284.

For the respondents, on the merits, it was contended, *inter alia:*(1) There was no error in the order of March 18, 1898. The statute fully authorized the consolidation of the actions. Sec. 2792, Stats. 1898. The parties had in substance con*194sented. *Eau Claire F. & 8. Co. v>. Lay cock,*92 Wis. 81. No one was prejudiced thereby. *Lauterbach v. Netzo,*111 Wis. 322. The court had power to strike out *Barber*and Hayden as plaintiffs. Such power is expressly conferred by our statute, is inherent in courts of equity, and has been frequently exercised. Sec. 2830, Stats. 1898; 1 Ency. PI. & Pr. 466; Pomeroy, Remedies, sec. 247; *Day v. Buckingham,*87 Wis. 215; *Hewett v. Adams,*50 Me. 271; *Hall v. Laver,*3 Younge & 0. 191; *Lloyd v. Malceam,*6 Yes. Jr. 145; *Durand v. Hutchinson,*2. Dickens, 456. It is well settled that even a sole plaintiff may be removed and persons having a beneficial interest substituted. *State ex rel. Milwaukee v. Ludwig,*106 Wis. 226; *Linden L. Co. v. Milwaukee E. B. & L. Co.*107 Wis. 493, 502; *Wilson v. Welch,*157 Mass. 77; *Hamlin v. Baxter,*20 Kan. 134; *Price v. Wiley,*19 Tex. 142; *Hubler v. Pullen,*9 Lid. 273; *Johnson v. Tail,*14 N. J. Eq. 423; *Pool v. Morris,*29 Ga. 374; *Jennings v. Springs,*1 Bailey, Eq. (S. O.) 181; *Winkelman v. Kiser,*27 Ill. 21; *Silber L. Co. v. Silber,*L. R. 12 Oh. Div. 717; *Plunket v. Joice,*2 Sch. & Lef. 159. The objection that a plaintiff has not reduced his claim to judgment and attempted to collect under execution, is not jurisdictional, but merely goes to the adequacy of the remedy at law. *Stale ex rel. Fowler v. Green Lake Co.*98 Wis. 143, 152. When the order in question was made, the present plaintiffs had no remedy at law, since they had been required to come into the Hayden action, and restrained from proceeding elsewhere. The same practice pursued in this case was sanctioned by this court in *Gager v. Marsden,*101 Wis. 598; *Wechselberg v. Michelson,*105 Wis. 452. By changing their position in the litigation the original plaintiffs were in no way aggrieved. *Day v. Buckingham,*87 Wis. 215. Each and every of the defendants, including Hayden, answered to the merits, without any suggestion of the adequacy of a legal remedy, or of the incompetency of the plaintiffs to maintain the action, and hence effectually waived *195any objection wbieb might have been made. There was no •error in the provisions of the order of March 18 affecting the interlocutory orders made prior to December 30, 1897. The power of the court to modify or vacate interlocutory orders made at any time before judgment is expressly given by our statute, and is recognized by all the authorities. See. 2814, Stats. 1898. Federal decisions, cited hy appellants, holding that certain orders would be considered final judgments within the meaning of the appeal statutes are exceptional, and the doctrine of them has been narrowed by the more recent decisions. *McGourkey v. T. & O. C. B. Go.*146 U. S. 536; *Latía v. KiTbourn,*150 U. S. 524. None of them presented the question whether *ex parte*orders for the payment of money by the receiver, in the course of the administration ■proceedings, would he appealable. , Even were such orders ap-pealable, they are none the less orders, which may be modified or set aside *pendente lite. Gile v. Colby,*92 Wis. 619; *Pleasants v. S. B. Go.*93 Fed. 93. There was no error in that part of the order of March 18 which removed the receiver. The removal by the court of its own officer rests in its sound discretion, and its action is not subject to review. Smith, Receiverships, 565; Gluck & Becker, Receivers (1st ed.) sec. 114, p.- 489. That he was an officer of the corporation should have precluded his appointment in the first place, and was sufficient ground for his removal. *McCullough v. Merchants' L. & T. Go.*29 N. J. Eq. 217; *People v. Third Ave. 8.*Bank, 50 How. Pr. 22; *Att’y Gen. v. Bank of Columbia,*1 Paige, 511; *Bank of Monroe v. Sohermer-horn,*1 Clarke, Ch. 366; *Atkins v. W., St. L. & P. B. Co.*29 Eed. 161, 173; *Wood v. Oregon B. Go.*55 Eed. 901; *In re Golvin,*3 Md. Ch. 278, 302. That he himself had interests adverse to the general creditors, as the holder of preferred claims, should have precluded his appointment, arid demanded his removal. 2 Beach, Mod. Eq. Pr. § 749; *McCullough v. Merchants' L. & T. Go.*29 N. J. Eq. 217; *196*Schwartz v. Keystone 0. Go.*153 Pa. St. 283, 25 Atl. 1018. That, as shown by the records, he had not stood impartially between the unpreferred and the secured creditors, but had aided the latter at the expense of the former to secure the benefit of their securities, demanded his removal. *Speiser v. Merchants’ Ex.*Bank, 110 Wis. 506. That his own conduct was to be investigated was sufficient cause for his removal. Gluck & Becker, Receivers (1st ed.) sec. 116, p. 496; Beach, Receivers, sec. *796; *McGullough v. Merchants’ L. & T. Co.*29 N. J. Eq. 217. (2) There was no error in overruling the demurrer of the executors of D. R. Moon, deceased. By Moon’s answer on the merits all grounds of his demurrer were waived except sufficiency of facts and jurisdiction of court. Sec. 2654, Stats. 1898; *Davis B. L. Go v. Home Ins. Go.*95 Wis. 542, 547; *Jones v.*Foster, 67 Wis. 296; *Monson v.*Lathrop, 96 Wis. 386; *Phillips v.*Carver, 99 Wis. 561, 572. But one cause of action is stated; hence there was no misjoinder. *Gager v.*Marsden, 101 Wis. 598; *South Bend O. P. Go. v. George G. Qribb Go.*105 Wis. 443; *Zinc O. Go. v. First Nat.*Bank, 103 Wis. 125, 139; *Foster v.*Posson, 105 Wis. 99; *Killen v.*Barnes, 106 Wis. 546; *Adkins v. Loucks?*107 Wis. 587, 594; *Bgaard v.*Dahlke, 109 Wis. 366; *Ood-dingion v. Ganaday>*157 Ind. 243, 61 N. E. 567, 573. That directors, officers, or stockholders will be held liable for the fraudulent appropriation to themselves, or the turning over to others, of the assets of a corporation, when it is insolvent or its officers know or have reason to know that suspension is impending, is well settled. *Ford v. Plankinton*Bank, 87 Wis. 363; *Hinz v. Van*Dusen, 96 Wis. 503; *Bowe v. Leuthold,*101 Wis. 242; *Slack v. N. W. Nat.*Bank, 103 Wis. 57; *Glen-wood Mfg. Go. v.*Syme, 109 Wis. 355, 361. With stronger reason, the appropriation to themselves, or the payment to others, after suspension, of the property of the corporation, to secure their individual obligations, or otherwise, to the prejudice of the general creditors, will render officers, di*197rectors, and stockholders liable. All liabilities of officers, directors, and stockholders, of every nature, so far as they run to the corporation, its creditors, or to any class thereof, and whether based on negligence, wilful wrong-doing, either individually or conspiring among themselves or with others, nr even if based upon a penal statute, must be enforced in this exclusive suit. *Murlbut v. Marshall,*62 Wis. 590; *Bal-lin v. Loeb,*78 Wis. 404; *Ford v. Plankinton Bank,*87 Wis. 363; *Ballin v. Merchants'' Ex. Bank,*89 Wis. 278; *South Bend O. P. Go. v. George G. Gribb Go.*97 Wis. 230; *Gores v. Bay,*99 Wis. 276; *Gager v. Bank of Edgerton,*101 Wis. 593, 598; *Foster v. Posson,*105 Wis. 99, 102; *Ounningham v. Wechselberg,*105 Wis. 359; *Eillen v. Barnes,*106 Wis. 546; *Gores v. Field,*109 Wis. 408. Irrespective of the statutes relating to wind-up proceedings, this court has frequently granted relief against conspirators, in actions in equity, and has declared joint and several judgments against them for the damages sustained. *Zinc G. Go. v. First Nat. Bank,*103 Wis. 125; *Spaulding v. North Milwmkee T. 8. Go.*106 Wis. 481, 498; *Franey v. Warner,*96 Wis. 222; *Fountain S. P. Bo. v. Roberts,*92 Wis. 345. When, as here, the tortious act benefited the estate of the wrongdoer, the cause of action survived at the common law, always where the suit was in equity, and the same where the suit was at law, unless the form of the action required the plea of not guilty. 21 Ency. PI. & Pr. 325; *Allen v. Frawley,*106 Wis. 638; *Gheney v. Gleason,*125 Mass. 166; *U. S. v. Daniel’s Ex’rs,*6 How. 13; *Mead v. Porter,*70 Eed. 498; *Griswold v. Milton,*87 Fed. 256; *People v. Gibbs,*9 Wend. 30; *Byxbie v. Wood,*24 N. Y. 607, 609, 612; *Payne’s Appeal,*65 Conn. 397, 32 Atl. 949; *Mench v. Metzer,*6 S. & E. 272, 273; *Penrod v. Morrison,*2 Penr. & W. 126, 130; *Mayden v. Yreeland,*37 N. J. Law, 372, 395; *Shafer v. Grimes,*23 Iowa, 550; *Baker v. Grandall,*78 Mo. 584, 47 Am. Eep. 126, 129; *Lee’s Adm’r v. Mill,*87 Va. 497, 12 S. E. 1052; *Garth v. Cotton,*1 Yes. 524, 3 Atk. 751; *198*Pulteney v. Warren,*6 Ves. Jr. 73; *Peeh v. Twrquand,*L. R. 2 Eng. & Ir. App. 325; *Phillips v. Homfray,*L. R. 24 OR. Div. 439. The rule prevails whether or not any fiduciary relation exists. *Head v. Porter,*70 Fed. 498. Where one of several defendants jointly proceeded against dies, the action survives against his representatives to the full amount of the plaintiff’s property loss, irrespective of the portion which the defendant had received. *Cheney v. Gleason,*125 Mass, 166. In cases where the wrongdoer was benefited, even the early doctrine of the common law that the action would abate where its form was such as to require the plea of not guilty, was reluctantly followed. *Hambley v. Trott,*1 Cowp. 375; *Keite v. Boyd,,*16 S. & R. 300. And has been since-modified by extending the survivability of the action to all cases where the wrongdoer’s estate was benefited, irrespective-of the form of the action. *Phillips v. Homfray,*L. R. 24 Ch. Div. 439, 454; *Balcer v. Crandall,*78 Mo. 584, 47 Am. Rep. 126; *Booth’s Adm’rs v. Northrup,*27 Conn. 325; *Lee’s Adm’r v. Hill,*87 Va. 497, 12 S. E. 1052; *Martin’s Adm’r v. B. & O. B. Co.*151 U. S. 673; *Schreiber v. Sharpless,*110 U. S. 76. The collusive obtaining of the property of the corporation by Moon and his co-pledgees would create, by legal implication, a promise to return the same to the corporation, or to pay to the corporation the value thereof, rendering him and them jointly liable for the value thereof as upon implied contract. *Dow v. Deissner,*105 Wis. 385, and cases cited.. "Wherever such legal implication may arise,'the action will not abate, whatever its form. For another reason, the cause of action against Moon should be held to survive his death. The receiver Rust occupied a fiduciary relation toward the corporation whose funds were misappropriated. Moon was a stockholder colluding with his co-pledgees who were stockholders, and with the receiver. He thereby assumed a similar relation toward the corporation. The cause of action would beheld to survive his death by reason of his fiduciary relation* *19921 Ency. PL & Pr. 358; *Kitten v. Barnes,*106 Wis. 546, 563; *Wineburgh v. U. S. 8. & Sí. B. Go.*173 Mass. 60; *Warren v. Para B. S. Co.*166 Mass. 97; *Concha v. Murrieta,*L. B. 40 Cb. Div. 543; *Bathyany v. Watford,*L. B. 36 Ob. Div. 269; *Btebbins v. Palmer,*1 Pick. 71. (3) As to tbe demurrer *ore tenus*of tbe defendant Prawley, tbe enforcement of tbe liabilities charged against tbe other defendants requires bis presence, be having participated in tbe unlawful acts upon which their liabilities are based. If bis liability cannot be worked out herein, and if, as is apparently conceded, theirs may be, it simply results that tbe receiver or tbe officer or tbe stockholder who has unlawfully misappropriated tbe assets of tbe corporation must be prosecuted in tbe wind-up suit, while others, who have acted in collusion with tbe receiver or tbe officer or tbe stockholder, must be prosecuted in a separate suit, even though all are parties to one fraudulent scheme to accomplish tbe misappropriation, and those who receive tbe benefit are sought to be charged as trustees, with tbe defaulting officers, for tbe benefits they have received. Our statutes and tbe decisions of this court are clearly against any such unreasonable proposition. Sec. 3237, Stats. 1898; *Hurl-hut v. Marshall,*62 Wis. 590, 606; *Hurlbut v. Tayler,*62 Wis. 607; *Baltin v. Loeb,*78 Wis. 404; *Ford v. Planlcinton Bank,*87 Wis. 363; *South Bend C. P. Co. v. George C. Cribb Co.*97 Wis. 230; *Gager v. Marsclen,*101 Wis. 598; *8oulh Bend C. P. Co. v. George C. Cribb Co.*105 Wis. 443; *Gager v. Paul,*111 Wis. 638. Where equity may properly assume jurisdiction over a trustee, to bold him to account for bis wrongful acts, it will, in tbe same suit, assume jurisdiction and grant relief as against all those in collusion with him or to whom be may have transferred assets in bis bands. 15 Ency. PI. & P'r. 271; 2 Oook, Corp. § 656; *Peabody v. Flint,*6 Allen, 52, 57; *Byan v. L., A. & N. B. Co.*21 Kan. 365; *Salomons v. Laing,*12 Beav. 377. Where a trustee — and that tbe officers or receiver of a suspended corporation are *200trustees will not be questioned — diverts the assets of a corporation, all are jointly liable to an accounting in equity therefor, and will be held jointly liable for the fruits of the fraud, irrespective of the amount realized by each. *Zinc 0. Go. v. First Nat. Bank,*103 Wis. 125, 135; *Spaulding v. North Milwaukee T. S. Go.*106 Wis. 481, 498; *Franey v. Warner,*96 Wis. 222; *Fountain S. P. Go. v. Roberts,*92 Wis. 345. Under a statute like our sec. 3216, providing for the sequestration of the assets of an insolvent corporation, that “sequestration” necessarily involves the making of parties to the action, with the corporation, all persons who have in their possession any corporate assets, and that notwithstanding the joinder of such persons and the assertion of liabilities against them, the complaint will be deemed to state but one cause of action. *Proctor v. Sidney S., B. & F. Go.*40 N. T. Supp. 454. (4) There was no error in the judgment against *Gilbert, Thompson,*and the executors of Rust for the proceeds of the sale to them of the Brookville plant. The conclusion of the,court that the giving of the mortgage on the plant May 18, 1893, to the three officers and' directors named, as security to them for an endorsement theretofore made of the paper of the corporation, the corporation being at the time of the giving of the mortgage, to the knowledge of the officers, hopelessly insolvent, and the closing of its business having already been determined upon, constituted an unlawful preference, is well sustained by the authorities. *Hinz v. Van Dusen,*95 Wis. 503; *Ford v. Plankinton Bank,*87 Wis. 363; *Barth v. Koeiting,*99 Wis. 242; *Bowe v. Leuthold,*101 Wis. 242; *Slack v. N. W. Nat. Bank,*103 Wis. 57; *Qlenwood Mfg. Go. v. Syme,*109 Wis. 355 ;■ *Swift & Co. v. Dyer-V. Go.*28 Ind. App. 1, 62 N. E. 70; *Bosivorth v. Jacksonville Nat. Bank,*64 Eed. 615; *Lippincott v. Shaw G. Go.*25 Fed. 577; *Montgomery v. Phillips,*53 N. J. Eq. 203, 31 Atl. 622; *Savage v. Miller,*56 N. J. Eq. 432, 39 Atl. 665; *Lowry B. Go. v. Empire L. Go.*91 Ga. 624, 17 S. E. 968; *Atlas T. Go.**201*v. Macon H. Go.*101 Ga. 391, 29 S. E. 27; *Tillson v. Downing,*45 Neb. 549, 63 N. W. 836; *Slough v. Ponca M. Go.*54 Neb. 500, 74 N. W. 868; *National W. P. Go. v. Columbia Nat. Bank,*63 Neb. 234, 88 N. W. 481; *Reynolds v. Smith,*60 Neb. 197, 82 N. W. 627; *W. P. Noble M. Go. v. Mt. Pleasant E. G. Inst.*12 Utffii, 213, 42 Pac. 869; *Gottlieb v. Miller,*154 HI. 44, 39 N. E. 992; *Goodyear R. Go. v. George D. Scott Go.*96 Ala. 439, 11 So. 370; *U. S. Rubber Go. v. American 0. L. Go.*96 Eed. 891; 2 Cook, Corp. § 693. Tbe claim that sucb preference was given in pursuance of tbe assignment of Jan. 18, 1893, and that tbe assignment was given at a time and under circumstances wben tbe corporation might lawfully prefer its officers, is without merit. Tbe assignment was not witnessed, and was not sealed with tbe corporate seal. It was a nullity, and conferred no rights whatever. Sec. 2216, Stats. 1898; *Rockwell v. Elkhorn Bank,*13 Wis. 653, 657; *Galloway v. Hamilton,*68 Wis. 651; *Marvin v. \Anderson,*111 Wis. 387, 392; 4 Thompson, Corp. § 5060; 'Angelí & Ames, Corp. § 291; 2 Morawetz, Corp. (2d ed.) § 582; *Allen v. Brown,*6 Kan. App. 704, 50 Pac. 505; *Shropshire v. Behrens,*77 Tex. 275, 13 S. W. 1043; *Mott v. Danville Seminary,*129 HI. 403, 21 N. E. 927, 929; *Dan-ville Seminary v. Mott,*136 Ill. 289, 28 N. E. 54, 55; *Washington & P. T. Go. v. Cullen,*8 Serg. & R. 517; *Wheelock v. Moulton,*15 Vt. 519; *Koehler v. Black R. F. I. Go.*2 Black, 715, 717; *Dobbins v. Etowah Mfg. Go.*75 Ga. 238; *Beatty v. Marine Ins. Co.*2 Johns. 109; *Williams v. O. & H. R. Go.*5 Eng. L. & Eq. 497, 503. Tbe assignment was made by tbe president and secretary as officers and directors of tbe corporation, to themselves personally. Sucb a deed is, on its face, void even where tbe statutory requisites of execution have been complied with. *Cook v. Berlin W. M. Go.*43 Wis. 437; *Haywood v. Lincoln, L. Go.*64 Wis. 639; *GlenwoodMfg. Go. v. Syme,*109 Wis. 355; *Swift & Go. v. Dyer-V. Go.*28 Ind. 'App. 1, 62 N. E. 70. Sucb a conveyance could only be jus-*202tilled, if at all, by the clearest evidence of special authority given by the corporation to the officers so to do, independently of their votes or influence, and the onus of showing such authority would rest upon the officers claiming under the assignment. *Ludinglon v.*Palkon, 111 Wis. 208; *Swift & Go. v. Dyer-V. Go.*28 Ind. App. 1, 62 N. E. 70; *Pitman v. El-*more, 93 Mo. App. 592, 61 S. W. 946; *Finch Mfg. Go. v. Stirling Go.*187 Pa. St. 596, 41 Atl. 294. To say that the assignment, though not enforcible, should operate as a promise to give security, is to say that the assignment is not a void thing, as the courts hold, but is valid as an executory contract. *Grant v. Minneapolis B. Go.*68 Minn. 86, 70 N. W. 868; *Gole v.*Dealham, 13 Iowa, 551. Under the authorities, it would add nothing to the legality of the mortgage of May 18, even if it were given in execution of an agreement made prior to the time when the corporation became insolvent, at least unless the agreement were such that it would be specifically enforced. *Gopeland v.*Barnes, 147 Mass. 388; *In re Jaclcson I. Mfg. Go.*Fed. Gas. No. 7153; *Bank of Leavenworth v.*Hunt, 11 Wall. 394; *In re Thomas*Wood, 5 Eed. 443; *Arnold v. Maynard,*2 Story, 349, Fed. Cas. No. 561; *Morey v.-Millikin,*86 Me. 464, 30 Atl. 102; *Montgomery v.*Phillips, 53 N. J. Eq. 203, 31 Atl. 622. (5) There was no error in respect of the judgment rendered for expenditures made by the receiver in completing, perfecting, and collecting upon pledged contracts or accounts. The rule is well settled that a receiver should not assume the execution of a contract which is onerous to the estate, or which may result in depleting the assets in his hands, and that so to do is to create an unlawful preference. Smith, Receiver ships, § 35; *Scott v. Banier P. & B. Go.*13 Wash. 108, 42 Pac. 531; *United E. S. Go. v. Louisiana Er. L. Go.*71 Fed. 615; *General E. Go. v.*Whitney, 74 Fed. 664; *Dushane v.*Beall, 161 U. S. 513; *Southern Ex. Go. v. W. N. G. B. Go.*99 U. S. 191; *Quincy, M. & P. B. Go. v.*Humphreys, 145 U. S. 82; *St. Joseph &**203*St. L. B. Go. v. Humphreys,*115 U. S. 105; *Sun Flower 0. Go. v. Wilson,*112 U. S. 313; *Central T. Go. v. Fast Tennessee L. Go.*79 Eed. 19; *Ames v. Union P. B. Co.*60 Eed. 966; *Union L. & T. Go. v. S. O. M. B. Go.*19 Eed. 267;. *Farmers’ L. & T. Co. v. O. F. & Y. V. B. Go.*73 Eed. 715; *Oentral T. Go. v. M. & N. G. B. Go.*51 Fed. 15; *Filis v. B. FL. & F. B. Go.*107 Mass. 1. But whether the receiver was or was not hound to complete such a contract or to incur expense in realizing upon it, makes no difference in the result. Pledged as it was, if he spent the funds of the estate in completing or realizing upon it, the expenditures were incurred in the creation of a fund for the benefit of the lien holders, and the fund so created should bear the expenses incurred in its creation. *Speiser v. Merchants’ Fx. Banlc,*110 Wis. 506, 519, 520; *T. T. Eaydock O. Go. v. Pier,*78 Wis. 579; *Fuller v. Abbe,*105 Wis. 238. All who actively and fraudulently participated in procuring and receiving the benefit of such expenditures are jointly bound to make good the amounts so diverted to their benefit, irrespective of the extent of the benefit which each may have received. *Spaulding v. North Milwauhee T. S. Go.*106 Wis. 181,498; *Zinc O. Go. v. First Nat. Bank,*103 Wis. 125, 135; *Fountain S. P. Go. v. Bob-erts,*92 Wis. 315; *Franey v. Warner,*96 Wis. 222; *Banner v. Schlesinger,*109 Mich. 262, 67 N. W. 116. Even if the pledgees were not themselves trustees, and had not actively participated in the procuring of the preference, they would be liable with him for the return of the expenditures made because of their receipt of the benefits arising therefrom with knowledge that the expenditures were made in violation of Rust’s duty as trustee. *Wetmore v. Porter,*92 N. Y. 76, 81; *First Nat. Bank v. Nat. Broadway Bank,*156 N. Y. 159, 467; *Warren v. Union Bank,*157 N. Y. 259, 268; *Duncan v. Jaudon,*15 Wall. 165 ; *Kitchen v. Bedford,*13 Wall. 113; *Shaw v. Spencer,*100 Mass. 382; *Goldthwaite v. Fllison,*99 Ala. 197, 12 So. 812; *Ludington v. Patton,*111 Wis. 208, *204239, 242; *Lee v. Horton,*104 N. Y. 538, 541; *Pittsburg M. Go. v. Spooner,*74 Wis. 307, 320; *French v. Pittsburgh V. & H. Go.*184 Pa. St. 161, 39 Atl. 63. The making of such expenditures by the trustee, in breach of his trust, and the receipt of the benefit thereof with knowledge, or means of knowledge,- that the payments were made in breach of the trust, constitute a joint conversion on the part of him paying and those receiving, rendering all equally liable for the repayment of the amount paid. *Western TJ. T. Go. v. Franklin G. Go.*70 N. H. 37, 47 Atl. 616; *Pierson v. McOurdy,*33 Hun, 520, 100 N. Y. 608; *Kavanaugh v. Taylor,*2 Ind. App. 502, 28 N. E. 553; *Govington v. Anderson,*16 Lea, 310; *D. M. Osborne Go. v. Plano Mfg. Go.*51 Neb. 502, 70 N. W. 1124; *Byan v. L., A. & N. R. Go.*21 Kan. 270, 294; *Robertson v. Hunt,*77 Tex. 321, 14 S. W. 68; *Hill v. Oampbell,*54 Neb. 59, 74 N. W. 388; *Smith v. Briggs,*64 Wis. 497; *Barth v. Graf,*101 Wis. 27, 35; 1 Sutherland, Damages (2d ed.) § 140. As to the effect of the orders of the court made, in reference to the foregoing matters, it is well settled that a receiver will not be protected in the payment of money, or in other action, by an order of the court obtained in bad faith or in violation of his duty. *Sweet v. Converse,*88 Mich. 1, 49 N. W. 899; *In re Shea,*57 Minn. 415, 59 N. W. 494; *Schwartz v. Keystone 0. Go.*153 Pa. St. 283, 25 Atl. 1018; *Matter of Commonwealth F. Ins. Go.*32 Hun, 78; *People v. Family F. Soc.*52 N. Y. Supp. 867. Even where such an order is obtained by a receiver upon notice, in good faith, and without breach of his trust, so that it will protect him for expenditures made under it, it will not shield the persons for whose benefit the expenditures are made from liability, if it develops that the order was irregular or improvidently granted. *In re Home P. S. F. Asso.*15 N. Y. Supp. 211, 129 N. Y. 288; *Palmer v. Truby,*136 Pa. St. 556, 20 Atl. 516; *Boice v. Oonover,*54 N. J. Eq. 531, 543, 544, 35 Atl. 402. (6) There was no error in the judgment against Hay*205den, Erawley, and tlie representatives of Rnst. That a receiver is not entitled to compensation where he has been guilty of negligence or misconduct, or breach of trust, even where he acts without fraudulent intent, is well settled. *Speiser v. Merchants’ Ex. Bank,*110 Wis. 506; *Davis v. Swedish-Am. Nat. Bank,*78 Minn. 408, 81 3ST. W. 210; *Schwartz v. Keystone 0. Go.*153 Pa. St. 283, 25 Atl. 1018. It is equally well settled that trust funds may not be depleted by the payment of compensation to attorneys who have acted in bad faith, or adversely to the interest of the trust, or who represent conflicting interests. *Davis v. Swedish-Am. Nat. Bank,*78 Minn. 408, 81 R. W. 210; *Speiser V. Merchants’ Ex. Bank,*110 Wis. 506; *T. T. Eaydock G. Go. v. Pier,*78 Wis. 579; *Farwell v. Great Western T. Go.*161 Ill. 522, 44 1ST. E. 891, 920; *Strong v. International B. L. & I. U.*183 Ill. 97, 47 E. R. A. 792; *Vieth v. Bess,*60 Reb. 52, 82 R. W. 116; *Adams v. Woods,*8 Cal. 306; *Schwartz v. Keystone 0. Go.*153 Pa. St. 283, 25 Atl. 1018; *In re Glauser’s Est.*84 Pa. St. 51; *Olapp v. Olapp,*1 R. Y. Supp. 920; *Smith v. Wise,*132 R. Y. 172; *Perry-Mason S. Go. v. Sykes,*72 Miss. 390, 28 L. R. A. 277; *Platt v. Archer,*13 Blatchford, 351. Even were the question one between attorney and client, the attorneys, under the facts of this case, would be precluded from recovering compensation. *Strong v. International B. L. & I. U.*183 Ill. 97, 47 L. R. A. 792; *B^okett v. Norton,*4 Conn. 517, 10 Am. Dee. 179. (7) The action would not necessarily fail, even though conspiracy and fraud were not proven. Ro variance short of an entire failure of proof is material. And if the proof might have been admitted under an amendment to the complaint, the case made by the complaint could not be deemed to be unproved. *Beisz v. Supreme Council,*103 Wis. 427; *McNally v. McAndrew,*98 Wis. 62; *Slater v. Cook’s Estate,*93 Wis. 104. In this case there was but one cause of action, — that for closing up the corporation, and, as incidental thereto, compelling an ac*206counting by defendants for the disposition of this property and funds for the benefit of its creditors. *HurTbwt v. Marshall,*62 Wis. 590, 601; *Gager v. M'arsden,*101 Wis. 598; *South Bend O. P. Oo. v. George G. Gribb Go.-*97 Wis. 230, 105 Wis. 443. But were the scope of the action merely conspiracy and fraud, there would here be no failure of proof, though it were assumed the evidence established no conspiracy. The gist of the action wherein conspiracy is charged is the damage, and not the conspiracy. *Martens v. Reilly,*109 Wis. 464. Though the proof of conspiracy fail, recovery may be had against any one or more of the defendants who may have caused the damage. 6 Am. & Eng. Ency. of Law (2d ed.) 872; *Hutchins v. Hutchins,*7 ITill, 104; *Jones v. Baker,*7 Oowen, 445; *Parker v. Huntington,*2 Gray, 124; *Booker v. Puyear,*27 Neb. 346, 43 N. W. 133; *Van Horn v. Van Horn,*56 N. J. L. 318, 28 Atl. 669; *Fountain S. P. Go. v. Roberts,*92 Wis. 345.

The cause was reargued on December 11, 1903.

For the appellants, on the reargument, there was a brief signed by *Frawley, Bundy & Wilcox,*attorneys for W. A. and *A. J. Rust,*as executors, *Lydia A. Frawley,*as executrix, *F. II.*and *S. G. Moon,*as administrators, *J. T. Barber, Filch Gilbert, George T. Thompson,*and *Ghippeiva Valley Bank,*and by *W. P. Bartlett,*of counsel for W. A. and *A. J. Rust,*executors; and a separate brief signed by *H. B. Walms-ley,*attorney for H. H. Hayden. The cause was argued orally by *O. T. Bundy, H. B. Walmsley,*and *W. P. Bartlett.*

For the respondents there was a brief signed by *F. M. Miner*and *Fleming & Blum,*attorneys, and *Olin & Butler,*of counsel, and oral argument by *J. M. Olin, H. L. Butler,*and *F. M. Miner.*

The following opinion was filed April 19, 1904:

*207I.

Motions to Dismiss Appeals.

Maeshall, J.

Many questions are presented for consideration on tlie motions to dismiss. Perhaps most of them •could well he jfassed without even a mention thereof. It is certain, as will he seen, that those upon which the motions must turn are few in number and simple. However, as ■others are of interest as practice matters, and distinguished counsel have with great industry briefed all of them, it is considered hest to make this opinion a response to each and all which they so seem to regard of sufficient importance to ask it, and have devoted so much professional energy to aid in a right conclusion in respect to being reached.

1. First, we have the question of whether there was a fatal omission as regards complying with sec. 3049, Stats. 1898, because the notices of appeal were not served on the National Electric Manufacturing Company, the insolvent corporation, and in the initiatory proceedings the sole defendant.

Cases here on appeal must necessarily have their appropriate parties, properly brought into court, else jurisdiction cannot exist to do more than dismiss. One of such parties is known in the initiatory proceedings as the adverse 'party. That does not necessarily include, in a jurisdictional sense, persons on the side of the adverse decision sought by some on that side to have reversed or modified, even if there is an adversity of interest between them *(Hunter v.*Bosworth, 43 Wis. 583); though it is said that one so circumstanced, — - whether treated as an adverse party or not, for the purposes of service under the section under consideration, — may have all the rights thereof as regards a hearing on the appeal if he so desires. The adverse party does not necessarily include merely the opposite party appearing upon the record. A per*208son may be an appellant or an adverse party within the meaning of the statute and his name not appear in the litigation resulting in the decision at all. If he has a substantial interest adverse to the decision, that is all that is required for an appellant, whether it be direct or by privity created between himself and the person against whom the decision was rendered by reason of succeeding to his rights after the decision or subsequent to the commencement of the action. *Rogers v. Shove,*98 Wis. 271, 73 N. W. 989; *Crowns v. Forest L. Co.*99 Wis. 103, 74 N. W. 546; *Hiscock v. Phelps,*2 Lans. 106; *Cotes v. Carroll,*28 How. Pr. 436; *Barnes v. Stoughton,*6 Hun, 254; *Pickersgill v. Read,*7 Hun, 636; Baylies, New Trials & Appeals (2d ed.)145. To determine when the appeal statute is satisfied as to an appellant or a party aggrieved or an adverse party, while, *prima facie,*the original parties on the record may answer, the supreme test is the possession of some substantial' interest adverse to the judgment, a revision of which is sought in the appellate court.

We are unable to see how the insolvent corporation,— which, according to the record, exists at best only in name; that has surrendered all its property to the court so far as it is 'capable of doing so, and in no event, according to the undisputed facts and its own confession, can profit by the judgment ; moreover, that has filed a declaration in this court, in effect, that it has no concern at all with what comes of the matter in controversy here, — can be considered an adverse party to the appellants.

It was held in *Gores v. Field,*109 Wis. 408, 415, 84 N. W. 867, 85 N. W. 411, an action to recover of the officers of a corporation circumstanced as this one for the benefit of its creditors, property thereof misappropriated by. such officers while the corporation was a going concern, — that it was not an interested party in the litigation, required to be joined in the suit under the general rule governing the enforcement of the right of a corporation at the suit of another. It would *209seem to follow logically that, in a sequestration suit under the statutes, after the same has passed the stage rendering the presence of the insolvent necessary in order that its liabilities may be adjudicated and the assets under its control taken into the custody of the court, the corporation is not an adverse party as to its creditors in further proceedings in the litigation to secure the honest application of the trust property — that in the possession of the court and that misapplied, if any, by its officers before suit brought — to the payment of its indebtedness. If that he so, then the insolvent corporation here is not an indispensable party to the appeals. In the case cited it was said that the corporation was as far removed from pecuniary injury as if it were legally dissolved. The situation here is stronger yet. The corporation is dead for all purposes except the settlement of its affairs. The purpose of the suit is to wind it up, in a business sense, and the judgment of this court practically has that effect. It is 'really, for all practical purposes, as though it never was. It can neither injure nor he injured. It has nothing to render up, and that which the pending litigation seeks to obtain can never reach its treasury. Strictly speaking it has no treasury, even though' it has a sort of existence for the purpose of the settlement of its affairs, since all it hadj including that unlawfully parted Avith by its officers, if'any, before the commencement of this action, and that surrendered by it and subsequently dissipated by thosp called upon to administer the same, if any there be, reachable in this litigation, constitutes a trust fund for its creditors. It is their sole property by the undisputed facts, since at the very best it will pay but a small percentage of the corporate liabilities. The corporation cannot in any sense he considered even a remote *cestui que trust.*It needs no further argument to show that it is as far removed from the status of one having a substantial interest in the judgment in favor of its creditors, now sought to be impeached, as one can imagine.

*210It may be stated as a rule of practice, deducible from tbe foregoing, tbat in an action under sec. 3216, Stats. 1898, and its associate sections, to sequestrate and distribute tbe assets of an insolvent corporation, wben tbe sequestration shall bave been fully accomplished and tbe liabilities fully ascertained, rendering it certain tbat under no circumstances will tbe assets discharge tbe same, in subsequent proceedings in tbe litigation in respect to realizing upon tbe trust fund by tbe creditors, — whether against unfaithful administrators thereof in tbe suit causing a diminution of the same, or guilty participants with them, or against officers of tbe corporation or guilty participants with, them in misapplying tbe corporate assets after tbe status of tbe same shall have been fixed as a trust fund for tbe benefit of its creditors, — the corporation is not an interested party adverse to either party to tbe litigation under the appeal statute.

2. Tbe next proposition for consideration has to do with tbe character of tbe .appeals as regards • whether they are single or joint. We see no escaping from tbe position of respondents’ counsel tbat tbe parties in each notice of appeal did not intend thereby to take one appeal, but purposed tbat each in his own behalf should appeal. To that end they gave each notice the effect of as many notices as there were parties appellant mentioned therein, and tbe service thereof tbe effect of an attempt to institute an independent appeal for each of such parties. Notwithstanding tbe ingenious argument of able counsel to the contrary, there can be, it seems, no misunderstanding the meaning of these words, which are a fair sample of what is contained in all of the notices: *“Fitch Gilbert*and *John 8. Owen*severally and separately appeal.” They mean, if they mean anything, tbat each, independent of the other, invokes the jurisdiction of tbe appellate court. Tbe bond as to each notice is clearly inconsistent therewith. It is a single obligation for $250. The premise, preceding tbe obligatory clause, uses language as regards tbe occasion there*211•of, appropriate only to a joint appeal and a single undertaking. “The above named appellants intend to appeal,” etc. 'Snob clause is in perfect harmony .therewith: “Appellants will pay all damages that may be awarded against the appellants, not exceeding $250.” So, while we have numerous .groups of persons, each person with a separate appeal, there .are only as many undertakings as groups. That does not satisfy the calls of sec. 3052, condemning every appeal as “ineffectual for any purpose” unless an “undertaking be executed on the part of the appelant by at least two sureties,” to the effect that “the appellant will pay all costs and damages which may be awarded against him on the appeal, not ■exceeding $250.”

Counsel for appellants advance the idea that a proper construction of a single undertaking, in form to answer for the default of several persons, is that it is one to answer for the default of each, hence a several undertaking, thus satisfying the statute, citing *Vandyke v. Weil,*18 Wis. 277. We are unable to see that the doctrine of that and similar cases applies here. It is to the effect that a single undertaking for a single appeal by several appealing jointly, is an obligation to answer for the amount specified therein for all of the defaults, whether joint or several, as regards the matters to secure which the undertaking is given. That is quite familiar, but it comes far short of holding that when two persons appeal separately, either by independent notices or joining in one notice so worded as to give it the effect of two, and give one •undertaking appropriate to a single appeal, such undertaking can by construction be held to be two, each for $250, and thus satisfy the calls of the statute. An obligation to the extent of $250 for the defaults, joint or several, of a number of persons acting jointly of course satisfies the statute. It would hardly seem that rules for construction would be required to discover that, though the early decision seems to have been reached by the aid thereof. But there is no way by which one *212■undertaking for $250 can be turned into several suck, without plainly violating the statute.

3. Next it is contended on the part of respondents’ counsel that though the notice of appeal was served as required by sec. 3049, and the record transmitted to this court, no jurisdiction was obtained here for any purpose whatever; and that the defect is not remediable. On the other hand appellants’ counsel just as confidently contend that the failure to execute the bonds required, or to serve the same as the statute provides, does not militate against jurisdiction having been conferred here for some purposes; citing in support of that, *Helden v. Holden,*9 Wis. 557; *Russell v.*Bartlett, 9 Wis. 556; *Smith v. C. & N.*W. *R. Co.*19 Wis. 89; *White v. Polleys,*20 Wis. 503; *Grant v. Connecticut M. L. Ins. Co.*28 Wis. 387; *Branger v.*Buttrick, 30 Wis. 153; *Ulrich v. Farrington Mfg. Co.*69 Wis. 213, 34 N. W. 89. The effect of those cases is that the mere taking of an appeal by the service of a proper notice and sending the record here does not give the court such jurisdiction as to enable it to hear the cause, but does give it the necessary jurisdiction to enable it to permit the appeal to be perfected by the service of a proper bond, or cure any other defect in the proceedings within the period limited by statute for appealing; and that, if the proper undertaking is executed and filed, but not properly served, the court acquires such jurisdiction as to enable it to hear and decide the cause, the adverse party not seasonably objecting, failure in that regard being deemed a waiver of such service or an estoppel as regards suggesting such failure with effect. In that the court, as will be seen, gave force to the statute in all substantial essentials. Sec. 3052 says that: “To render an appeal effectual for any purpose an undertaking must be executed,” etc. That suggests at once that an appeal may have an existence before the execution of the undertaking, though not for all purposes. The term “any purpose” clearly includes the duty of the clerk below to certify *213up tbe record, and proceedings bere as regards a bearing of tbe canse. Tbe clerk bas no right to act in tbe matter till be can accompany tbe papers with some semblance, at least, of a proper undertaking under sec. 3052. That is tbe effect of sec. 3050. That tbe former section means as indicated must be tbe case to render it harmonious with sec. 3049, to tbe effect that any appeal wiE be deemed “taken by tbe service of tbe notice of appeal and perfected on tbe service of tbe undertaking for costs, or tbe deposit of money instead, or tbe waiver thereof as hereinafter prescribed.” Tbe waiver mentioned is required to be in writing. Sec. 3051. Consistent with tbe meaning we attribute to secs. 3049, 3050, and 3052, we have sec. 3068, providing that:

> “When a party shall in good faith give notice of appeal and shall omit, through mistake or accident, to do any other act necessary to perfect tbe appeal or make it effectual or to stay proceedings, tbe court from which tbe appeal is taken or tbe presiding judge thereof, or tbe supreme court or one of tbe justices thereof, may permit an amendment or tbe proper act to be done, on such terms as may be just.”

So, as said in *Grant v. Connecticut M. L. Ins. Co.*28 Wis. 387, when a notice of appeal is duly served in good faith, jurisdiction is at once conferred upon this court as well as tbe trial court for some purpose, i. e., that of permitting tbe appeal to be perfected so that it can be beard. Such jurisdiction is not ordinarily exercised bere in advance of tbe transmission of tbe record hereto, though it may be, and should be when necessary to prevent a miscarriage of justice. Obviously, this court could not proceed to bear a cause upon appeal without compliance with sec. 3052. To do so would be to act in defiance of tbe statute as regards a right wholly statutory. *White v. Polleys,*20 Wis. 503, does not go so far as to decide to the contrary of this. It is only to tbe effect that, if the bond is executed in compliance with such section and duly transmitted to this court for tbe benefit of tbe adverse party, tbe cause may proceed to judgment unless such *214adverse party seasonably objects. That is, tbe party may waive tbe service of tbe undertaking, but not tbe execution thereof and filing tbe same in tbe record. Tbe rule obviously cannot apply to tbis case in any event, since, as we bave seen, sec. 3052 was not complied with at all, since it cannot be said that tbe giving of one undertaking in tbe sum of $250, covering several appeals, is tbe giving of a separate undertaking-in that sum for each of sucb appeals.

4. Next counsel for appellants challenge tbe power of tbe legislature to require security for costs as a condition of invoking tbe jurisdiction of tbis court. They refer to tbe constitutional provision conferring appellate jurisdiction here, and also that part of tbe bill of rights adopted from Magna Carta, providing that, “Every person ought to obtain justice freely and without being obliged to purchase it, completely and without denial, promptly and without delay.” Sucb statutes as those under consideration bave existed in tbe face of similar constitutional provisions for a hundred years or more.. Courts exercised authority of a like nature theretofore, though fenced about by Magna Carta. Tbe subject has bad tbe attention of tbis and other courts, and tbe law in respect to it has been so thoroughly settled that any lengthy discussion thereof anew would seem quite out of place were it not for tbe confidence with which tbe matter is now pressed upon our attention and tbe fact that tbis is tbe second time in recent years that tbe subject has been presented to tbis court.

True, appellate jurisdiction conferred here, within tbe meaning of tbe constitution, cannot be restricted by legislative authority, but sucb jurisdiction has regard to that exercised before tbe constitution was adopted, not to remedies by appeal, which are purely legislative creations. 'The permission to use tbe machinery of tbis court as to sucb a right being purely statutory, it is competent for tbe legislature to prescribe sucb conditions in respect thereto as it sees fit, tbe same as it is for it to withhold tbe right altogether, leaving *215litigants solely to their common-law remedies. *Western U. R. Co. v. Dickson,*30 Wis. 389; *Gianella v. Bigelow,*92 Wis. 267, 65 N. W. 1030. The law in that regard was very tersely stated by Mr. Justice RyaN in the first case cited, this language being used: “An appeal is purely a statutory remedy, and unless given by statute the right does not exist.” The idea is this: The hearing of an appeal given by statute is within the constitutional jurisdiction of this court; the creation of a right to a particular method of bringing about a review here, of the decision of the lower court, is within the constitutional authority of the legislature. To invoke the jurisdiction of this court, which exists by constitutional grant, is one thing; the remedy by which it is accomplished is another. The only constitutional remedies guaranteed are those specially preserved, exercisable by common-law writs in their-appropriate spheres.

Nor authorities to the effect that courts were never deemed controlled by Magna Oarta as to requiring security for costs, either in law or equity, we refer to *Bradwell v. Weeks,*1 Johns. Ch. 325; *Mayer v. Tyson,*1 Bland (Md.) 559; *Swift v. Collins,*1 Denio, 659; *Dyer v. Dunivan,*3 How. Pr. 135; *People ex rel. Fuller v. Oneida Common Pleas,*18 Wend. 652; 1 Dan. Ch. Pr. 35; 3 Bla. Com. 399. The question of whether the constitution has changed that was discussed and decided in the negative in the recent case of *Christianson v. Pioneer F. Co.*101 Wis. 343, 77 N. W. 174, 917. Por examples that other courts that have spoken on the subject are in harmony therewith, see *Nease v. Capepart,*15 W. Va. 299; *Haney v. Marshall,*9 Md. 194; *Molt v. T. & R. R. Co.*81 Md. 219, 31 Atl. 809; *Gesford v. Critzer,*7 Ill. 698.

As explained in *Christianson v. Pioneer F. Co.,*the provision of our bill of rights, taken from Magna Carta, means no more than it formerly did. It grants no new right, but guarantees one existing at common law. Therefore, when we take the measure thereof by common-law rules, we have its *216constitutional scope. The burdens which the Magna Carta provision was designed to lift and secure immunity from, bear no resemblance whatever to those legitimate expenses of litigation which we call costs, or security for the payment thereof, to the prevailing party. They were those exactions, common once, when standards of official conduct, as regards judicial administration, were so incomparably lower than in modern times that we can hardly appreciate how they could ever have been deemed justifiable, as they doubtless were. They were bribes, so to speak, demanded and received by officers exercising judicial power in the king’s courts, in the nature of consideration for the use of judicial machinery. In effect, justice was to some extent a matter of bargain and sale. The exactions were not to pay for any legitimate expense, but went to enrich the judicial head, or some one acting thereunder and by his authority. Strange as it may seem, that practice was not deemed to involve any moral turpitude. It was supposed to be to such a degree attributable to sovereign prerogative that the uprooting thereof was accomplished only by a formal relinquishment by the sovereign and a grant to the people, the form thereof being this: “We will not sell the right and justice to any one, nor will we refuse it, or put it off.” Sir Edward Coke’s explanation of the scope of that pledge would seem to have given rise to the phrasing of the idea as we now find it in our own and other constitutions:

> “The king, in the judgment of the law, is ever present and repeating in all his courts, *‘Nulli vendemus, nulli*negabimus„ *aut differemus rectum vel justitiam’*(We neither sell nor deny, nor delay, to any person, equity or justice), and therefore every subject, for injury done him *‘in*bonis, *in*terris, *vel personé*(in person, goods, or body) by any other subject, be he ecclesiastical or temporal, without any exceptions, may take his remedy by the course of the law and have justice and right for the injury done to him, freely without sale, fully without any denial, and speedily without delay.”

*217In construing any provision of tbe bill of rights taken from tbe English Charter, it must not be forgotten that no new restriction was intended thereby, but that the sole purpose thereof was to preserve those valuable safeguards against excessive use of sovereign authority that had become a distinguishing characteristic of English liberty. That idea cannot be found better stated than by Cooley, J., in *Weimer v.*Bunbury, 30 Mich. 201, 214:

> “The truth is, the bills of rights in the American constitutions have not been drafted for the introduction of new law, but to secure old principles against abrogation or violation. They are conservatory instruments rather than reformatory; and they' assume that the existing principles of the common law are ample for the protection of individual rights, when once incorporated in the fundamental law, and thus secured against violation.”

It is suggested, as conclusive evidence that the right to use judicial remedies under the common-law system was free and that the provision of our bill of rights referred to was designed to prevent conditions thereof being created here, that appeals in England were always allowed, even to the House of Lords, without any burdens being imposed on the appellant. A more careful examination of the subject would have shown that the right to impose reasonable conditions as to costs and security for costs was never questioned in the English courts. Special favors, it is true, were granted to persons in need thereof, to sue *in forma*pauperis, upon proof being made that otherwise justice would be denied (1 Dan. Oh. Pr. [6th Am. ed.] 38, 155) ; but generally, costs and security for costs, in some form, in personal actions, were exacted, after the days of Magna Carta. At first the system was somewhat after the course of the old mischievous custom, though shorn of the real wickedness thereof, since the exac-tions were required as amercements in the nature of revenue for the sovereign. The imposition went against the losing *218party as a penalty: in tíre case of the plaintiff for unjustly bringing the defendant into court; and in the case of the defendant for unreasonably resisting the plaintiff’s demand. 3 Bla. Com. 399. Later by legislation costs were given the-plaintiff, when a prevailing party, but not to the defendant under the same circumstances. 6 Edw. I, c. 1. Subsequently the same privilege was extended to defendants. 23 líen. VIII, c. 15. Soon amercements for the enrichment of the sovereign treasury were abolished. 24 Hen. VIII, c. 8. Laws providing for security for costs naturally followed. By the statutes of 3 Jac. I, c. 8, and 3 Car. I, c. 4, § 4, it was provided that in personal actions, with few exceptions to fit particular cases: “No writ of error should be allowed, unless the party bringing the same, with two sufficient sureties, shall first be bound unto the party for whom the judgment is given, by recognizance to be acknowledged in the same court, in double the sum to be recovered by the former judgment, to prosecute the said writ of error with effect, and also to satisfy and pay, if the said judgment be affirmed, or the writ of error non prossed, all and singular the debts, damages, and costs adjudged upon the former judgment, and all costs and damages to be awarded for the delaying of the execution.” 3 Bla. Com. 411, note. Long before the separation of this country from England Blackstone said in giving the state of the law as it then existed:

> “If a writ of error be brought . . . after verdict, he that brings the writ or that is plaintiff in error, must find substantial pledges of prosecution, or bail: to prevent delays, by frivolous pretences to appeal; and for securing payment of costs and damages, which are now payable by the vanquished party in all, except in a few particular instances, by virtue of the several statutes.”

Thus it will be seen that substantially every element in our statutes as to costs and security for the payment thereof, is found in the laws of England as they existed before the Revolution, and that it was never supposed there was anything in *219Magna Carta inconsistent therewith. By gradual approaches,, so to speak, the doctrine of the civil law in its entirety was-reached and engrafted upon the English system: *“Yidus, vic-tori in expensis condemnandus ést”*— the vanquished is to be-, condemned in costs to the conqueror. We' inherited the principle thereof as part of the common law. In some form it has found a place in the code of every state of the TJnion that has followed common-law ideas, notwithstanding the adoption at the same time, in the constitutions of such states, of the essential principles of Magna Carta.

We often see it stated that costs are a creature of the statute; that costs were not given at common law. *Wisconsin C. R. Co. v. Kneale,*79 Wis. 89, 95 N. W. 248; Parsons, Costs, § 1. That is liable to be misunderstood by not considering that the common law of England is not synonymous with the common law of this country. The former does not include the English statutes. As the only way costs were imposed before such statutes was by amercements for the benefit of the king, or possibly an addition to the verdict or the judgment of the jury (5 Ency. Pl. & Pr. 108), it is right to say costs were not allowed by the common law of England. But the principles of the English statutes amending the common law and existing at the time of our Eevolution, suitable to our condition and in harmony with our constitution and statutes, are a part of the common law of this country. *Coburn v. Harvey,*18 Wis. 147; *Kellogg v. C. & N. W. R. Co.*26 Wis. 223. As only the principle of the English statutes as to costs and security for costs has been regarded as thus made a part of the common law of this country, the idea that costs are regulated wholly by statute is of course‘true. *Nash v. Meggett,*89 Wis. 486, 494, 61 N. W. 283.

In harmony with the law as stated, the writ of error, commonly known as the writ of right, which our constitution so carefully preserved, providing that it shall never be prohib*220ited (see. 21, art. I), bas uniformly been, beld to be subject to reasonable regulations, including tbe imposition of security for costs. 7 Ency. Pl. & Pr. 827. In *Ripley v. Morris, 7*Ill. 381, a general statute requiring tbe filing of security for costs in ciyil actions was beld to apply to one commenced by writ of error. Our statute, sec. 3054, Stats. 1898, requiring security for costs when a cause is removed on writ of error to tbis court tbe same as in case of a statutory appeal, was sustained in *Lombard v. Cowham,*34 Wis. 300, as a reasonable regulation of tbe use of tbe writ. That, it was said, was permissible before tbe constitution was adopted, and tbe term therein respecting tbe writ is to be construed witb reference to tbe conditions then existing.

Tbe foregoing quite extended discussion of tbe validity of statutes on tbe subject of costs, and tbe incidents thereof, though *going*no further than to respond to tbe different phases of counsel’s argument, is probably unnecessary; yet it will be helpful if it shall prove efficient to guard against a recurrence of tbe subject being presented to tbis court for consideration. Tbe treatment of tbe matter in *Christianson v. Pioneer F. Co.*101 Wis. 343, 77 N. W. 174, 917, it was thought would finally close tbe matter here; but such, it is seen, bas not been tbe case.

5. Tbe next proposition submitted as fatal to tbe motion to dismiss is that sec. 3052, Stats. 1898, is class legislation, hence contrary to tbe spirit of our constitution and tbe fourteenth amendment to tbe national constitution, prohibiting any state from denying to any person within its jurisdiction tbe equal protection of tbe laws. Tbe authorities relied on in support of that are *Williamson v. Liverpool, L. & G. Ins. Co.*105 Fed. 31; *Yick Wo v. Hopkins,*118 U. S. 356, 6 Sup. Ct. 1064; *Gulf, C. & S. F. R. Co. v. Ellis,*165 U. S. 150, 17 Sup. Ct. 255; *Mut. F. Ins. Co. v. Hammond,*106 Ky. 386, 51 S. W. 151. All of those cases, if we understand them, support the opposite view to tbe one advocated by coun*221sel. They deal with enactments arbitrarily creating classes and imposing upon members of one burdens not borne by persons generally. The idea that a law which applies to all alike, as does the one in question, is such an enactment merely because the circumstances of particular members of the community may be such that the burden of complying therewith is harder for them to bear than for others, has no support in the authorities nor in the principle of equality before the law, which is the fundamental idea of our system of government. The fact that one' person may be poor and another rich is something that the law does not take note of, necessarily. It is for all alike, regardless of wealth or station.

6, Counsel for appellants contend that, if there be not an effective answer to respondents’ motion in any of the points heretofore discussed, the supplemental return to this court— showing that before the motions to dismiss were heard due application was made to the court below for leave to perfect the appeals by filing there an undertaking under sec. 3052 as to each of them, regarding every appellant as standing independently of all others, the granting of such application, the execution of an instrument intended to accomplish that purpose, the service thereof as required by sec. 3049, and the return of the same to this court as required by sec. 3050— cures the defect claimed and renders the appeals perfected for all purposes. That the practice, in any view of the matter, was correct, is sufficiently indicated by what has been said; but it is very clearly shown in *Tyson v. Tyson,*94 Wis. 225, 68 N. W. 1015. If a failure to give a proper undertaking in the first instance were to be classed as an excusable mistake or accident, then it was in the power of the court below-to allow the omitted act to be done, as it did, under sec. 3068. If such failure cannot be so classed, but the omission was excusable in any view of the matter, then it is proper for this court to allow the supplemental return with effect, if the new undertaking be sufficient in form, and to deny the *222■motions to dismiss with, or without terms according as justice, under all the circumstances, would seem to demand. The cases cited in the early part of this opinion amply demonstrate that. Our examination of the new instrument leads ■to the conclusion that it is in legal effect an obligation in the •sum of $250 as to each appellant; that is, it is equivalent to as many undertakings of $250 each as there are appeals, regarding the number thereof to be equal to the number of appellants. In that view, we see no reason why the fact that there is but one instrument for all, instead of one for each ■appellant, should militate against its efficiency as complying with the statute.

Ordinarily the practice in such cases is to allow the appeal to be perfected in the manner sought here upon terms, but exceptional circumstances may justify or demand that no terms be imposed, as was the case in *Tyson v. Tyson.*Here there can be no doubt that appellants’ counsel acted in the best of faith in serving the first undertakings. They erred in a matter of judgment. Had their attention been seasonably called to such error it would probably have been corrected without the labor the matter has given to the attorneys on both sides and to this court. It appears that the first undertakings were served on respondents’ counsel December 6, 1900. For nearly two years thereafter they treated the case as properly in this court for a hearing when reached in its order; and the rules in regard to the service of cases and briefs were satisfied. In the meantime several stipulations were made with appellants’ attorneys in respect to the ease, in effect conceding full jurisdiction here. The cause was continued on stipulation twice, on one of which occasions the writing required appellants’ attorneys to pay respond•ents’ attorneys the sum of $100. True, the record shows payment of a less sum, which was probably according to some supplementary agreement, but the effect is the same. -Several supplemental returns were made. One motion was *223made by respondents’ attorneys to dismiss tbe appeals for want of prosecution, which was disposed of upon the 'theory that the case was here for all purposes. Not till the September term of court for 1902, the fourth term after the first return was filed here, and not till the case was about to be ■set down for argument, was the defect in the appeals called to the attention of the court or counsel on the other side by the making of these motions. Moreover, there is no showing in the moving papers why the motions were not made at an earlier date. Nothing said, of course, militates against the right to make the motions, to secure the benefit of a proper bond and to raise the judicial question; but the situation ■shows fault upon the part of respondents’ attorneys in not moving in the matter at a much earlier day. It would seem that, if there could be a case justifying the withholding of terms for granting the favor to appellants’ attorneys of allowing the supplemental return to stand as effective for the purposes intended, even if the granting of the application in the court below does not remove the matter beyond the discretionary power of this court — which it probably does if the difficulty to be remedied falls under sec. 3068 — other than that the favor shall not cause delay in the final disposition •of the case, this is one. That has been submitted to. It is therefore considered that the supplemental return fully perfects the appeals, and that the motion to dismiss the same should be denied without costs; and it is so ordered.

II.

'JuRISDIOTIOW OR THE TeIAX, COURT.

An important subject remains to be considered before reaching a point where the merits of the appeals can be examined. All questions pertaining to the jurisdiction of this court to entertain the appeals being settled favorably thereto, except for an incidental statement in the original briefs of *224counsel, tbe next subject calling for consideration, so far as counsel are concerned, would be tbe alleged errors of tbe trial court in tbe exercise of its jurisdiction. Quite independently of sucb incidental suggestion, serious doubt arose during our deliberations as to tbe right of tbe circuit court, under any circumstances, to entertain a suit of tbe nature' of tbis one, as presented by tbe supplemental bill. Tbat concerns, of course, tbe jurisdiction of sucb court of tbe subject of tbe action, and was not waived by going to trial upon tbe merits. It seems, respecting tbe principal defendants at least, tbat'tbe point was not urged below, if suggested, nor presented by counsel bere at first in a way to call tbe attention of tbe court to tbe matter as one likely to be vital to tbe case.

A challenge to tbe jurisdiction of tbe trial court of tbe subject'matter of tbe action is proper at any time; and, without tbe question being urged by counsel. It is not only proper for tbis court, but it is its duty, to malee all investigations necessary to satisfy itself in regard thereto with reasonable certainty. *Pollard v. Wegener,*13 Wis. 569; *Damp v.*Dane, 29 Wis. 419; *Butler v.*Wagner, 35 Wis. 54; *Mathie v.*McIntosh, 40 Wis. 120; *Meyer v.*Garthwaite, 92 Wis. 571, 66 N. W. 704; *In re*Klein, 95 Wis. 246, 70 N. W. 64; *Burnham v.*Norton, 100 Wis. 8, 75 N. W. 304; 12 Ency. Pl. & Pr. 187, 190:

> “When it appears tbat tbe court has no jurisdiction over tbe subject matter of tbe suit, it will take notice of tbe defect whether objection is made or not, and will dismiss or stay proceedings *ex mero motu,*and it is its duty to do so without determining any other matter involved in the litigation.”

Tbe instances are very rare where any court has ventured to invade tbe salutary doctrine above stated for tbe purpose of saving a party from consequences, however severe. It would be difficult to assign any justification for sucb an invasion tbat *225would leave it free from condemnation, as being an act of usurpation, since it goes to tbe question of power. A court is all-powerful within its jurisdiction, but is absolutely powerless in any legitimate sense when acting outside thereof. Notwithstanding that limitation upon the judicial function which cannot be passed without enterings the field of usurpation, and the duty of the judiciary to set, most significantly, an example of submission to law, the call for vindication of right from a plane seemingly beyond the legitimate realms of law, in the strict sense of the term, a plane of mere moral obligation, has sometimes been too strong, it is feared, to be resisted; and in the endeavor to respond thereto, jurisdictional boundaries have been overstepped, actually or in effect *(Boone's Adm'r v. Shackleford's Adm’r,*66 Mo. 493)- — the court seeking to justify it upon grounds of es-toppel *in pais,*or some other, — preventing the party against whom relief is granted from being heard to raise the jurisdictional question. It is doubtful whether a court would be justified under any circumstances in assuming jurisdiction of a subject matter which neither the law gives nor the parties could bestow by consent, by either neglect or refusal to take its bearings in that regard, by the limitations upon its power set by the organic act by which it was created.

With the views above expressed, notwithstanding, as indicated, it seemed that there was practical submission to the power of the trial court in this case by appellants, when the appeals were taken up for decision, after a full argument thereof upon the merits, we were confronted at the threshold of our deliberations by the necessity to determine whether such court had not gone so far in an attempt to do justice as to transgress its jurisdiction. Doubts in that regard became so serious that it seemed that counsel for the respective parties should have a full opportunity to aid the court to the best of their ability in reaching a right conclusion, and to *226that end tbis question was formulated, definitely covering *the*subject, and a reargument *thereon*ordered:

> “The property of an insolvent corporation having been placed under the control of a receiver appointed by the court in a winding-up suit, and it being claimed that sucb receiver, in tbe course of bis administration, bas wrongfully lost sucb property or some portion thereof, bis attorneys and others participating in *the wrong;*is it competent for tbe court to make tbe alleged guilty parties defendants in tbe pending suit with some creditor, or creditors, standing for all persons so circumstanced, as plaintiff or plaintiffs, broaden out the complaint so as to cover tbe new matters by a supplemental bill, litigate tbe same, and include in tbe general decree in sucb suit recoveries against all of sucb alleged guilty parties according to tbe nature or extent of their liabilities ?”

Tbe eminent counsel upon both sides responded to tbe order for a bearing upon sucb question by elaborate, learned, and helpful arguments covering a wide range of *principles*deemed by them to aid in or control its solution. We have endeavored not to pass over one of tbe learned counsel’s suggestions without devoting thereto that careful study which in any reasonable view of tbe matter it seemed to require to enable us, in tbe end, to arrive at a just conclusion, all tbe time being taken for that purpose which seemed necessary or could be used to any appreciable advantage. We shall not undertake to embody in tbis opinion all of tbe counsel’s points in detail with tbe reasons for our conclusions in respect thereto, but we will endeavor to treat all specially, not involved in and answered by *the*declaration of some general principles.

Some observations at tbe outset seem proper in view of tbe broad field covered by tbe arguments of counsel and tbe court’s study of tbe subject, respecting tbe scope of tbe jurisdiction of tbe circuit courts; not with tbe idea of declaring anything new, but that we may have a perspective, so to speak, before tbe mental vision as we proceed, of tbe vast *227extent to wbicb such jurisdiction extends in weighing out justice between man and man. We shall see that, standing where we will and looking where we may, judicial power is present to prevent and redress wrongs. We take a view to the very horizon of our mental perception within the scope of human capacity to violate obligations other than those of a purely moral nature, and the jurisdiction of our circuit ■courts, except as specially restricted by statute within legislative power to do so or by the constitution itself — those exceptions not, however, affecting the matter in hand — is found to occupy the whole field with instrumentalities designed, and as well adapted as human wisdom has been capable of mak'ing them, to execute its function to completeness. Such ■court, subject to the exceptions suggested, has original jurisdiction in all matters, civil and criminal, within the state, together with appellate jurisdiction from all inferior courts, with power to use all writs necessary to carry into effect its orders, judgments, or decrees (Const, art. VII, sec. 8), a jurisdiction early declared by this court to be “greater, probably, than was ever before our time, in a free government, delegated to one tribunal: the united powers of the English King’s Bench, Common Pleas, Exchequer, and Chancery.” How vast that is in its chancery field can best be appreciated by applying thereto the standard of measurement which the distinguished men who have been significant in the development of our system have taught us must be used to span it: “Equity will not suffer a wrong to go without a remedy.” The term “wrong” in the maxim, as before indicated, has here a significance which does not reach violations of mere moral rights. Any other wrong is said to involve a corresponding primary legal or equitable right, with an equitable or legal ■remedy, according to circumstances, for the former, and an equitable remedy for the latter. Pomeroy, Eq. Jur. 424.

In the foregoing the term “jurisdiction” is used in its broad, general sense, — that of judicial power. A court may *228bave jurisdiction of a particular subject matter, but by settled judicial policy ought not to exercise it. Again, it may,— by tbe settled law, established by its own practice, deemed to be as binding as-the written law — have power in a constitutional sense to adjudicate disputed matters of a particular character, acting by recognized unbending principles of procedure, but not jurisdiction to adjudicate such matters in the particular way attempted. In either case it is common to say of an excessive exercise of authority, that the court is without jurisdiction. If the excess has reference to want of power over the subject matter, strictly so called, the result is void and may be successfully challenged directly or collaterally. If it has reference merely to the judicial method of exercising power, the result is’binding upon the parties to the litigation till reversed or set aside in some of the ways appointed by law. The former is usurpation; the latter error of judgment. That rule is said to be universal, — to apply to the highest court as well as the lowest. The former cannot render a valid judgment outside of its constitutional authority, while its error within the scope of its authority stands on no higher plane than that of the latter, except for the fact that there is no tribunal to which an appeal can be taken to correct it. As Justice BaldwiN, in *Voorhees v. Jackson,*10 Pet. 449, 474, put the matter:

> “The only difference in this respect between this and any other court is, that no court can revise our proceedings. . . . If not warranted by the constitution or law of the land, our most solemn proceedings can confer no right which is denied to any judicial act under color of law, which can properly be deemed to have been done *coram non judice;*that is, by persons assuming the judicial function in the given case without lawful authority.”

Applying the foregoing to the question in hand, time need not be spent in demonstrating that there was no want of jurisdiction in respect thereto in the sense of want of power. Upon the face of the complaint and the evidence in support *229of it, there were many wrongs to be righted. The matter had not passed beyond the control of the court. It had constitutional authority, or, in other words, jurisdiction over such subjects and of the parties. Was judicial power invoked in a proper way, — one which, by settled principles, it was permissible for the court to recognize as legitimate, whether consented to by the adverse party or not ? If that must be answered in the negative, then, irrespective of whether the question was suggested for consideration by appellants, and although the judgment entered may be binding as long as it stands, the trial court obtained no jurisdiction of the subject matter of the litigation and its decree must be reversed on .that ground. The rule is well stated in 12 Ency. PL & Pr. 120, thus:

> “Every power exercised by any court must be found in and derived from the law of the land, and be exercised in the mode and manner prescribed by that law. If the court cannot try the question except under particular conditions or when approached in a particular way, the law withholds jurisdiction unless such conditions exist or the court is approached in the manner provided, and consent will not avail to change the provisions of the law in this regard.”

This and other courts have frequently declared that principle this way, in substance: Where the circuit court possesses jurisdiction in the broad sense of the term, but ought not to exercise it in the way invoked, or at all in the given circumstances, it should be deemed, to all intents and purposes, except in the sense of want of power strictly so called, to be without jurisdiction. Where it ought, regardless of the attitude of the parties, to decline to act, it should be deemed, regardless of such attitude, not to have jurisdiction to act. *In re Klein,*95 Wis. 246, 70 N. W. 64; *Burnham v. Norton,*100 Wis. 8, 75 N. W. 304; *Scott v. Whitlow,*20 Ill. 310, 312; *Curtiss v. Brown,*29 Ill. 201; *Williams v. Detroit,*2 Mich. 560, 585; *People ex rel. Davis v. Sturtevant,*9 N. Y. 263; *Bangs v. Duckinfield,*18 N. Y. 592; *People ex rel.**230*Gaynor v. McKane,*78 Hun, 154, 28 N. Y. Supp. 981. An examination of those cases will demonstrate that, while the term “want of jurisdiction of the subject matter,” strictly speaking, refers to want of power, in most cases in equity it applies either to whether power possessed should be exercised at all, or in the particular way, or under the particular circumstances; and in all of such cases error is deemed to be judicial in the sense that the result is binding till reversed or set aside in some proper way. When there is said to be want of jurisdiction in such cases, the idea intended to be conveyed is that “it would be erroneous to exercise judicial power, and the decree would be reversed on appeal.” Cur*tiss v. Brown, supra.*This remark was made in that case:

> “We often find the jurisdiction denied, where the power exists, but ought not to be exercised, and in this sense is the word ‘jurisdiction’ usually used, when applied to courts of chancery. Where there is a want of power, the decree is void collaterally; but where there is said to be a want of jurisdiction merely, it is only meant that it would be erroneous to exercise the power, and the decree would be reversed on appeal.”

In *Bangs v. Duckinfield, supra,*the court said:

> “There are, I apprehend, few cases in which the position [that the decree is void for want of power] could be .affirmed in respect to a court possessing general jurisdiction in law and equity, on grounds relating to the subject matter of the controversy.”

And in *Williams v. Detroit, supra,*the rule was declared to be that:

> “When the subject of the suit is embraced under any of the appropriate heads of equitable jurisdiction, the court will take cognizance of it, notwithstanding there may be a remedy at law, or other circumstances exist, which would induce the court to refuse to' entertain jurisdiction in the particular case, unless the defendant raises the objection by demurrer,, or claims the benefit in his answer.”

*231Tbe foregoing leads to tbis: Tbe circuit courts of tbis state bave, under tbe constitution, succeeded to all tbe jurisdiction formerly exercised by courts of law and courts of chancery as well; and though old forms of enforcing judicial remedies have been abolished, that does not mean, necessarily, that tbe remedies have been abolished. Tbe forms have ceased to exist, but substituted therefor and in place of all we bave one form of remedy, denominated a “civil action.” Sec. 2600, Stats. 1898. "Whether a plaintiff declares in equity or at law, or if at law declares in respect to matters ordinarily cognizable by a court of equity, so long as tbe subject matter is within tbe power, strictly so called, of tbe court to adjudicate it, does not generally involve any question of tbe jurisdiction of tbe subject matter or question of whether tbe complaint states a cause of action, or any other question not subject to waiver by failure to raise it by demurrer or answer or which is not so waived by going to trial upon tbe merits without objecting other than by a demurrer *ore tenus. Becker v. Trickel,*80 Wis. 484, 50 N. W. 406; *Sweetser v. Silber,*87 Wis. 102, 58 N. W. 239; *Hoff v. Olson,*101 Wis. 118, 76 N. W. 1121. Tbe question of whether principles of equity jurisprudence are involved in such a case and can be applied therein, involves a question of practice, strictly speaking. *Martin v. Martin,*112 Wis. 314, 317, 87 N. W. 232, 88 N. W. 215.

Applying tbe foregoing here, there is good ground for bold-ing that there is no jurisdictional question in any sense of tbe term that should be considered at tbis stage of tbe litigation, barring tbe subject of whether the statutes (secs. 3216 and 3239, Stats. 1898) in effect prohibit an action being reorganized as tbis was, — which will be considered later. But, as before indicated, a departure from established practice may be deemed so important as to be legitimately regarded as jurisdictional error to the extent that, though not available to avoid the judgment as the result of an excess of *232power, it may be raised by tbe adverse party for tbe first time on appeal as a ground of reversal, or tbe court may and ought to take notice of it — whether insisted upon by such adverse party or not, and even if such party expressly waives it — and reverse tbe judgment upon that ground alone. That is recognized in *Livingston v. Livingston,*4 Johns. Ch. 290, where Chancellor BjsNt suggested the power of waiver in such cases as exercisable as a general but not as a universal rule. In *Williams v. Detroit,*2 Mich. 560, it was said:

> “It is obvious there must be exceptions to the rule. Otherwise, every question which could be litigated at law, might be brought into a court of chancery for adjudication, if both parties should consent thereto.”

True, and so any number of questions between any number of parties, so long as such questions were proper, in any view, for judicial determination, might be so presented, and this court, notwithstanding its power of superintending control, would be powerless to compel observation of those orderly methods prescribed by the unwritten and written law as the embodiment of judicial and legislative wisdom for the highest attainable degree of perfection in the administration of justice: all semblance of a definite system would be lost sight of and the confusion of things would fatally affect the ability of trial courts, and appellate courts as well, to arrive at the real truth and justice of disputed matters with due regard to the convenience of litigants and the safeguarding of their rights. In that view the judicial rule should be firmly applied, suggested in *Meyer v. Garthwaite,*92 Wis. 571, 66 N. W. 704, and *Burnham v. Norton,*100 Wis. 8, 75 N. W. 304, that while a trial court, though possessing power and jurisdiction in the general sense, ought not under the circumstances to exercise it, such exercise, whether by consent of the parties or not, is to be deemed, for the purposes of a reversal upon appeal, akin to total want of *233jurisdiction of the subject matter in the broad sense of the term.

It was the purpose of the court in framing the question for counsel, to draw their attention upon the reargument to the suggestion on the main inquiry, of whether the circuit court possessed jurisdiction of the subject of this action in the sense of that term used in the closing lines of the last paragraph. Erom the arguments of counsel it is not clear that they fully comprehended the import of the question, though the numerous points presented by them in the main hear more or less upon the vital point of uncertainty in respect thereto. Counsel upon the side of appellants do not wholly agree between themselves as to the nature of the defect in the proceedings. It is referred to on the one hand as a defect in procedure, and upon the other as a total want of jurisdiction because in effect prohibited by statute. Appreciating, during the argument, that a defect in a mere matter of procedure is generally waived by not seasonably insisting upon it, and that it does not go to the jurisdiction of the subject matter other than in an exceptional sense, circumscribed within very narrow limits, when the point is not raised specially in the trial court, it was denominated a defect in jurisdiction of the subject matter, because, first, judicial power over the subject, proper to be litigated in this form of action, is dependent upon and wholly given by statute, and does not include the matter in controversy; and, second, the proceedings adopted for vindicating the rights claimed to exist are so utterly foreign to the practice of courts and inconsistent with the status of the parties and the property sought to be recovered in the form of money, that appellants should not be compelled to submit to it, nor should the court in any event permit it. This latter ground, at least, is within the domain of practice, hut suggests such an abuse of it as to amount to- a defect of jurisdiction of the subject matter, under the doctrine already discussed.

*234To support tbe proposition last suggested it is insisted tbat there are no precedents to be found in the books, of any suit exactly like this, one where the creditors have been permitted, in a winding-up action, — upon its being alleged that the court’s receiver and others, by various moans, including frauds upon the court,- have converted assets of the insolvent to their own use under the forms of law, in part execution of a collusive agreement entered into by them before the receivership proceedings commenced, such commencement and the final payment of the receiver and his legal assistants for their services being also in part execution of such agreement, which in the whole had in contemplation the conversion of all of the property constituting the insolvent’s estate, — to make such alleged guilty parties defendants and to redress the wrongs committed by them, enforcing by means of money judgments the restoration to the court’s control for the benefit of creditors of an equivalent for the property so wrongfully appropriated. True, the suit is novel in character, but so are the alleged circumstances giving rise thereto. If, before a court of equity could take jurisdiction of a principal subject, complicated by numerous incidental matters germane thereto, it were always obliged to test its authority by precedent, in any other sense than to refer thereto as illustrative of principles to be applied, it would often find itself incompetent to settle a controversy without a multiplicity of suits or to grant relief at all adequate to the nature of the case. The scope of equity jurisdiction is by no means closely fenced about by precedent. It it were, there could be no further development to meet new conditions as they arise. Certain principles in equity jurisdiction are established, and dominate in the administration of justice in that field with as much certainty as do principles upon the law side, so to-speak, of the court. But mere precedents are of no avail except to illustrate the extent to which principles have been applied. The textwriters disagree, in some respects, in the *235manner of stating that rule, but are in harmony in this: While new principles are not to be added to those long established for the government of equitable remedies, the rules, not the precedents, are to control. There is no vitality in precedents; there is in rules. They are susceptible of expansion along every line necessary to reach new conditions. The ingenuity of man in devising new forms of wrong cannot outstrip such development. In all situations and under all circumstances, whether new or old, the principles of equity will point the way to justice where legal remedies are infirm. Precedents will be a constant guide, but never a bar. Where a new condition exists, and legal remedies afforded are inadequate or none are afforded at all, the never-failing capacity of equity to adapt itself to ..all situations will be found equal to the case, extending old principles, if necessary, not adopting new ones, for that purpose." That is a very old doctrine. It will be found declared in the decisions of this and other courts. Lord Eedesdaxe’s statement of it in *Bond v.*Hopkins, 1 Sch. & Lef. 413, 429, has been adopted by eminent textwriters as being so accurate and clear as to leave little or no room for improvement:

> “There are certain principles, on which courts of equity act, which are very well settled. The cases which occur are various; but they are decided on fixed principles. Courts of equity have, in this respect, no more discretionary power than courts of law. They decide new cases as they arise by the principles on which former cases have been decided, and may thus illustrate or enlarge the operation of those principles ; but the principles are as fixed and certain as the principles on which the courts of common law proceed.”

So, it is said, grantable relief in equity, the case falling within its principles, is limited only by the primary right and those so germane thereto as to be deemed properly connected therewith for the purposes of the litigation, or the primary wrong, including those incidental thereto and proper to be redressed therewith.

> *236“It has never placed any limitations to the remedies it can grant, either with respect to their substance, their form, or their extent; bnt has always preserved the elements of flexibility and expansiveness, so that new ones may be invented, or old ones modified, in order to meet the requirements of every case, and to satisfy the needs of a progressive social condition, in which new primary rights and duties are constantly arising, and new kinds of wrongs are constantly committed.” 1 Pom. Eq. Jur. § 111.

Mr. Pomeroy, in those few lines, most fittingly pictured the nature and scope of equity power. Though no precedent may be at hand in a given situation, since principles of equity are so broad that the wrong involved need not go without a remedy, its doors will swing open for the asking, and a new precedent be made, an old principle again being illustrated. Applying that to the matter in hand, if it falls within some one of the well-recognized heads or principles of equity, we need not hesitate to sustain the jurisdiction of the circuit court because there are no precedents to go by, even if the claim in that regard be borne out by the facts.

The conclusion reached in the last paragraph suggests” the next subject to be treated. Does the matter in hand, on principle, belong within the field of equity jurisprudence ? That suggests, as a minor question, What is the dominant purpose of this litigation? That is governed by a few elementary principles. It is the settled law that the property of a corporation in a state of suspension because of insolvency, constitutes a trust fund for the benefit, principally, of its creditors, so that its officers cannot deal therewith to their personal advantage. Their status in such circumstances is that of trustees for the creditors, subject, however, to their right to deal with the property, until taken into the possession of the court, as any other debtor might deal with his property, excepting, however, the disability as regards special benefits to themselves. *Hinz v. Van Dusen,*95 Wis. 503, 70 N. W. *237657; *Slack v. N. W. Nat. Bank,*103 Wis. 57, 79 N. W. 51; *Marvin v.*Anderson, 111 Wis. 387, 87 N. W. 226. Until by proper proceedings the corporation shall have been deprived of its liberty to deal with its creditors, it may, as before indicated, pay one of them in preference to another; but when so deprived by the remedy of sequestration, in an action where such remedy is appropriate, the effect thereof is to impress upon its property a trust for creditors, subject to valid liens thereon, and any interference with such property thereafter in violation of the trust is unlawful. In such circumstances every person in possession of any part of the trust property is in a proper sense a trustee, and subject to be dealt with accordingly. That has become elementary. A receiver, appointed by the court to take charge of such property, by virtue of his office succeeds, for the benefit of creditors, to all the property and all the causes of action belonging to the corporation, in its right, and to all corporate property transferred by it in fraud of creditors, the transferee participating in the fraud, in the right of the creditors themselves; and he becomes, as holder thereof, trustee for such creditors. High, Receivers, § 315.

The last-mentioned feature of the status of a receiver is not always recognized, and for that reason it is sometimes suggested, as in this case, that the right to recover property transferred by a corporation in fraud of creditors is a right of creditors only, — does not pass to the receiver in a winding-up proceeding, and cannot be vindicated in the receivership action. That overlooks the fact that a transfer in fraud of creditors is deemed, as to them, to leave the property subject to their claims substantially as before, that such property constitutes a part of the trust fund for general creditors, and as the entire trust must necessarily be worked out through one proceeding, every holder of property of the corporation, and every holder of property in the right of a corporation, but in fraud of creditors, is, as to them, the pos*238sessor of a part of the fund, and is, as such, a trustee and liable to account as such in tbe action. The true doctrine on this subject, as applied to an insolvent corporation in a state of suspension, is well stated in Gluck *&*Becker on Eeeeivers of Corporations, § 58, in these words:

> “Property — and by this is meant any conceivable kind— may have gone beyond the recall and reach of the corporation itself, and yet, by reason of the fraud practiced, may still be subjected to the claims of creditors and the rights of stockholders, under the familiar rule that fraud vitiates nearly, if not all transactions. Such property, so far as the creditors and stockholders are concerned, still remains a part of the trust estate and therefore a part of the assets of the corporation. There is no sound reason why the court cannot marshal those assets as well as other assets of the corporation for the benefit of the same parties.”

See, on the same point, *Pittsburg C. Co. v. McMillin,*119 N. Y. 53, 23 N. E. 530; *Rudd v. Robinson,*54 Hun, 347, 7 N. Y. Supp. 535; *Oneida v. Thompson,*92 Hun, 16, 37 *N. Y.*Supp. 889; *Cummings v. Am. G. & S. Co.*87 Hun, 598, 34 N. Y. Supp. 541; *Proctor v. Sidney S. B. & F. Co.*8 App. Div. 42, 40 H. Y. Supp. 454; *Hayes v.*Kenyon, 7 R. I. 142; *Monitor F. Co. v. Peters,*40 Ohio St. 575; *Chicago & A. B. Co. v. Fowler,*55 Kan. 17, 39 Pac. 727; *Alexander v. Relfe,*74 Mo. 495; Thompson, Corp. §§ 3562-3564; 2 Morawetz, Priv. Corp. 867. The authorities cited are to the effect 'that all the assets in which the creditors of the insolvent corporation are entitled to share equally, whether the same are under the control of or have passed from the corporation, constitute a trust fund, and every one holding any part of the same in the capacity of a trustee, whether of an express trust, in any sense, or in any trust capacity known to the law, may be charged in a single action for the conservation of the whole for the use of all the beneficiaries.

Much has been written on the subject under discussion in recent years, but nothing has been really added to what was *239decided in *Hurlbut v.*Marshall, 62 Wis. 590, 22 N. W. 852, which followed the decisions in New York under a statutory system similar to ours. The court there said, in effect, that in a suit of this kind all officers, directors, stockholders and all other persons who shall have taken and carried away and converted property or funds of the corporation wrongfully, are trustees for the corporation, and remotely for creditors, and may be compelled in the winding-up suit to account therefor as parties defendant. In the recent case of *Williams v. Brewster,*117 Wis. 370, 93 N. W. 479, all previous cases on the subject were collated and discussed. It would seem a work of supererogation to go over the subject, 6r any branch of it again. It is sufficient to state the doctrine, which is as old as the system found in our statutes and long antedates its adoption here. Such doctrine is this: The primary purpose of a suit being to wind up an insolvent corporation and distribute its assets ratably among its creditors, the enforcement of all liabilities of officers and stockholders to the corporation, whether created by law or otherwise, and all liabilities of directors and stockholders to creditors created by law, are germane to the main purpose of the litigation and not only may be joined therewith as a part thereof under the established rules of equity jurisdiction, but, under the scheme of the Code for working out the various'liabilities in which creditors of a corporation as a class are interested, must be so joined, and the liabilities of all others to creditors, of a trust nature, may be so joined.

The rule which, independently of the statute, charges an officer of a corporation who has dissipated, wrongfully, a part of the trust fund as a trustee thereof and renders him liable to account accordingly as a party defendant in the action, must, of necessity, charge any other person who has obtained property of a corporation in fraud of creditors as a trustee thereof. So far as they are concerned, the property belongs to the trust fund for the payment of the debts of the corpo*240ration, tbe same in tbe one case as in tbe other. Tbe fact that in tbe one case tbe liability is to tbe corporation primarily, and in tbe other primarily to tbe creditors, makes no difference. The winding-np suit is to be regarded as impounding all such liabilities for tbe benefit of all tbe creditors. If that were not so, while creditors as a class were participating in tbe distribution of tbe assets acquired in tbe right, of tbe corporation, individual creditors would be enforcing liabilities of persons not officers of tbe corporation who obtained property from it in fraud of its creditors. Tbe orderly way, and tbe only way consistent with our system, as the court has repeatedly declared, is to treat all who have, as to creditors, directly or indirectly obtained possession of corporate property wrongfully, as liable to account therefor as parties defendant, after tbe manner of trustees.

Some difficulty has seemed to exist in determining who are and who are not proper parties defendant in such a suit according to tbe foregoing doctrine, because of tbe use of tbe term in *Hurlbut v.*Marshall, “if the officers, directors or stockholders, or any one else have,” etc., conveyed or carried away any part of tbe trust fund; and tbe language in *Arthur v.*Willius, 44 Minn. 409, 413, 46 N. W. 861, “The proceedings are intended to be so elastic as to be susceptible of development during their successive stages of progress, as to reach not only all tbe corporate assets, but also all liabilities of stockholders and others so far as necessary for tbe payment of creditors.” That language was used in respect to the proper parties to bring into tbe litigation as defendants. No serious difficulty need be experienced when it is comprehended that tbe subject of tbe litigation in tbe whole is the gathering in of tbe parts of a trust fund and *the*administration of such fund,.and that tbe theory is that tbe fund is impressed with tbe trust for all purposes of tbe suit as soon, at least, as sequestration has been effected, and till tbe same is turned over to the court or its officers tbe holders *241thereof are in the nature of trustees and liable to account as such. This, of course, does not include mere debtors of the corporation. Neither the language in *Hurlbut v. Marshall,*nor that in *Arthur v. Willius,*was intended to be so understood. If it were otherwise, some evidence thereof would be found in subsequent cases. The result of the decisions on this branch of the case leads to the conclusion that, all the liabilities in this litigation are legitimately to be considered as parts of one trust fund held for’ the time being by many persons chargeable therewith as trustees,' the whole, when gathered into the control of the court, to be distributed among the creditors of the defendant corporation as *cestuis que trustent;*that none of the persons charged occupy the status of mere creditors of the corporation or of any one else.

We have now reached a point where it seems that when this litigation started and when it was reorganized into its present form, the subject to be dealt with in a physical sense was a trust fund. There was then a trust. There were trustees holding the trust fund subject to the order or decision of the court, — to that extent equitably, in any event, bound to execute the trust. There were creditors, a class of persons who were the equitable owners of the trust *property*— cestuis *que trustent*within well-settled principles — equally interested in the primary right to have the trust fully executed. Where was to be found the remedy to enforce that right? Unity of procedure was necessary to avoid a multiplicity of suits. The right was purely of an equitable character. Does it not follow, necessarily, that the only jurisdiction to cope adequately with the matter was that of equity *%*The doctrine is elementary, that where the remedial right is equitable the remedy is in equity and. nowhere else. So the administration of trusts was, as a rule, never entertained by courts of law. Their machinery and methods are entirely inadequate for the purpose. Equity jurisdiction is exclusive in such mat*242ters in the absence of any statutory regulation of the matter. 22 Ency. Pl. &Pr. 91; 1 Perry, Trusts, § 17.

“All actions for the establishment of the fiduciary relation, for the execution and enforcement of trusts, or of the obligations arising out of the trust relation, and for the investigation and adjustment of differences between the parties to a trust, are within the exclusive jurisdiction of equity,” except as modified by statute or special rules of court. “This rule includes, not only express trusts, but also trusts arising by implication of law/’ 2 Beach, Trusts and Trustees, § *150.*

It is not to be understood by the foregoing that no action can be maintained by a *cestui que trust*in any circumstances against a trustee of any sort except in equity. Such actions may be brought, are brought, under a very great variety of cases. The purpose thereof, though, is not to establish and administer or enforce a trust. That is a special field of jurisdictional activity which originated and took its form in courts of chancery and has always been deemed peculiarly a function of such courts. In 27 Am. & Eng. Ency. of Law (1st ed.) 271, the law on the subject, deduced from a multitude of authorities, is stated thus:

> “The execution and enforcement of trusts and trust obligations, the adjustment of disputed rights under them, the investigation and settlement of accounts between parties in confidential relations, the establishing of the existence of a fiduciary relationship, are questions which fall naturally within the primary and exclusive jurisdiction of chancery courts.”

What has been said would seem to conclusively answer in the affirmative the inquiry as to whether the subject of this action, in its entirety, must be classed as one governed by principles of equity, and be dealt with in the manner attempted, unless the long line of decisions of this court in respect to the matter, pertaining to winding-up suits, either were wrongly decided or do not extend to persons not officers *243■or stockholders of the corporation who, wrongfully as to creditors, have become possessed of the trust fund or some'part thereof so that they may be charged with liability therefor ■as defendants in the action; or unless bringing into the litigation, as defendants, the receiver and his alleged guilty participants in the wrongs complained of, as they were brought in, and the litigation of the alleged matters in respect to them, was a fatal invasion of a statutory proceeding or such a prejudicial departure from established methods of dealing with such matters as to require the court to condemn the proceedings as fatally tainted with jurisdictional error.

We have now arrived at a point where propositions suggested by counsel for appellants challenge special attention. The following are so dependent upon one of them that they can best be considered together:

A winding-up suit under the Code, with the sequestration feature, is a new remedy given by statute.

Being purely statutory and in derogation of the common law, the legislative enactment authorizing it should be strictly construed.

There is no power of sequestration independent of the statute. Such being the case, every feature of this suit for which justification cannot be found in the statute, evinces a jurisdictional defect.

If the first of such propositions falls, all must fall with it. True, without disclaiming judicial power in the matter, it is laid down by textwriters, and in many judicial opinions, that the general jurisdiction of courts of equity, independently of the statutes, does not extend to the sequestration of the property of a corporation, — its destruction, so to speak, as regards the exercise of its franchise. High, Eeceivers, § 288. But. the remedy by sequestration, as formerly understood, is not a suit, but a means in a suit, ancillary in character, of rendering the purposes of the litigation effective, like the remedy by attachment in an action at law; or it was a means *244to enforce a decree in equity, like an execution to enforce a judgment at law. Tbe instrument formerly used was tbe writ of sequestration. It lias been superseded or rendered useless, in most jurisdictions at least, in tbis country, by a statutory method of sequestration, but tbe name and tbe nature of tbe remedy have not been changed. It is not improbable that tbe old method of sequestration could yet be resorted to if necessary. Many courts in tbis country bave so held, and some bave held to tbe contrary. A full discussion of tbe subject may be found in tbe text and bote thereto in 19 Ency. Pl. & Pr. 542. We need not go into tbe question.. It is enough for tbe matter in band that tbe right of sequestration in a suit of tbis kind, either under tbe statute or independently thereof, according to tbe holdings of tbis court on tbe subject since 1860, at least, exists; that it goes only to ousting tbe corporation from tbe possession and control of its assets; and that tbe remedy is not necessary nor used in respect to any of tbe numerous liabilities to creditors in such an action, which tbe corporation itself could not enforce. No one on reflection, it would seem, would venture to assert that tbe rights of creditors of an insolvent corporation to treat its property as a trust fund primarily for their benefit, and to a remedy in equity to administer tbe trust, are dependent on tbe statutory remedy or any other remedy of sequestration. Tbe trust-fund doctrine itself is purely a judicial creation. 8 Thompson, Corp. § 2951. That author suggests, as tbe originator of it, Mr. Justice Stoet, and tbe occasion of its incorporation into tbe jurisprudence of tbis country, or tbe initiation thereof, tbe decision in *Wood v. Dummer,*8 Mason (U. S.) 308, decided in 1824.

Can there be any doubt that, if there were no statutory aid in tbe matter, courts of equity would bave power to deal with any kind of a trust fund, effectually protecting tbe interests of all parties therein, and in a single action bringing all of them before tbe court ? There is no such thing under *245tbe statute, nor was there at common law, as a suit or action, so to speak, of sequestration. There was and is a judicial remedy in equity to enforce a trust in favor of creditors respecting the property of an insolvent corporation, and in aid thereof we have the sequestration remedy afforded by the statute. This court early took most advanced ground on the subject of whether the equity power of the court in such matters was dependent upon the statute. *Adler v. Milwaukee P. B. Mfg. Co,*13 Wis. 57; *Nazro v. Merchants’ Mut. Ins. Co.*14 Wis. 295; *Coleman v. White,*14 Wis. 700; *Merchants’ Bank v. Chandler,*19 Wis. 434; *Terry v. Chandler,*23 Wis. 456. At the time of the early decisions the only suggestion in the statutes of a remedy to sequestrate the property of a corporation was by petition to the court in an action after the return of an execution, upon the judgment therein, unsatisfied. The statute read as follows:

> i

> “Whenever a judgment shall be obtained against any corporation incorporated under the laws of this state, and an execution issued thereon shall have been returned unsatisfied, in whole or in part, upon the petition of the person obtaining such judgment, or his representatives, the circuit court within the proper county may sequestrate the stock, property, things in action, and effects of such corporation, and may appoint a receiver of the same.” Sec. 18, ch. 148, R. S. 1858.

When *Adler v. Milwaukee P. B. Mfg. Co.*was before the court, it was insisted that the statutory method of obtaining sequestration was exclusive, and that it was not by action, but by petition. Some uncertainty existed as to whether the statute on the subject was sufficiently definite to be enforcible. This court, after a thorough review of the subject, held as indicated in the following language:

> “From this view of the general powers of courts of equity-to manage and control the affairs of failing and bankrupt corporations it becomes a matter of very little practical importance whether . . . sections 18 and 19 of chapter 148 *246of the revision, of 1858 [now sec. 3216, Stats. 1898] are operative or not. If operative they are in affirmance of the law as it was previously understood; if inoperative, no substantial change is occasioned. If they can be enforced, they only go to strengthen the powers which courts of equity heretofore possessed, to remove doubts, and to render the rules by which such proceedings are governed more stable and undeviating.”

Our statute was adopted verbatim from New York, and the-courts there early held that a bill in equity, according to the practice in vogue in this state since the decision of the case-to which we have referred, was proper, irrespective of the statute on the subject. The same difficulty was experienced there as here, in respect to the real purpose of the statute makers,, as will be found by reference to *Judson v. Rossie G. Co.*9 Paige, 598. In High, Receivers, § 298, the statutory remedy,, so called, of sequestration is referred to as a “right which is given by statute in many if not in most of the states; and it may be regarded as an extension or enlargement of the general jurisdiction of courts of equity.” It will be noted that in the early case decided in this state it was held that the statute did not give any right not possessed before. In *Hanson v.*Davison, 73 Minn. 454, 461, 76 N. W. 254, under a system the same as ours, the court referred to the statutes on the-subject in effect thus:

They indicate and regulate to some extent the remedy, leaving to the court the duty of making it effectual by an application of the principles of equity jurisprudence:

We should say in passing, that after the early decisions in this state were made, to which we have referred, the statute-was changed by adding the word “action” after the word “petition” so as to make the same conform to the judicial policy of the state.

Enough has been said on this subject to indicate clearly that it long since ceased to be an open question here, as to-whether the sequestration feature of our statutes in respect *247to insolvent corporations is anything more than an aid to the power previously possessed hv courts of equity, if even that. It has been common to speak of a winding-np suit as a statutory action, but that came about because of statutory features or aids: by no means because the remedy afforded creditors, to treat the property of an insolvent corporation and other liabilities as a trust fund for their benefit, was originated by statute.

Counsel for appellants say that the plaintiffs could act only in the right of the receiver, and as he could not pursue' the winding-up action they have not the capacity to do so. That proposition primarily goes to the legal capacity to sue, and would have been good ground, if true, for a demurrer to the amended complaint. Since no such demurrer was interposed, and the defect, if there be one, appears on the face of the complaint, it was of course waived. *Moir v.*Dodson, 14 Wis. 279; *Smith v.*Peckham, 39 Wis. 414; *Wood v. Union G. C. B.*Asso. 63 Wis. 9, 22 N. W. 756.

Viewing the proposition in its jurisdictional aspect — that of whether the reorganization of the action so as to permit it to proceed as it did was such a violation of established practice that it should be condemned on that ground alone — we are unable to perceive why respondents should not pursue the winding-up action because the receiver could not. Counsel cite to our attention authorities to the effect that a receiver cannot institute a winding-up action; that if a receiver sues in the progress of administering his trust, as he obviously may in many situations, he must use the same remedies as any other party. That is, if the cause of action is equitable he must sue in equity, and if at law he must institute a legal action; that a receiver cannot prosecute for the collection of a penalty upon an official bond of the person whose property he is appointed receiver of, because the creditors are not bem eficially interested in such a penalty, and that a winding-up suit must be brought by one entitled by statute to bring it. *248How any of those propositions, if correct, support the idea that because a receiver cannot prosecute a winding-up action the creditor cannot, is not perceived. The logic indulged in by counsel would seem to be that because a party not entitled to prosecute a particular suit is not entitled to do so, tbe party so entitled cannot. Certainly, we are not called upon at this late day to declare that creditors of an insolvent corporation may institute an action to administer its property primarily for their benefit, and use therein all the machinery provided by law to make such action effective, including that for sequestering the corporate property, — taking it from the corporate control into that of the court. The receiver never institutes such an action, nor does he prosecute it, except in the name of the creditors, by their consent, and under the order of the court. The action is the creditors’ action, when brought by them, from start to final judgment, the purpose thereof being to bring all the property of the corporation, and all property, whether belonging to the corporation or not, to which its creditors on the basis of equality have a right to look for the payment of their debts, into one fund, and to administer the same primarily for their benefit. It may, and necessarily must, be pursued to the end by the equitable owners of the fund. The fact that the receiver cannot pursue the action only argues that the creditors may and must. In their names the trust fund must be brought under the control of the court. If a judgment in the action for the recovery of property or its value be entered, it is to be executed in the names of the plaintiffs, not that of the receiver, the proceeds, however, remaining under the control of the court. The office of the receiver is administrative from beginning to end. *Lyman v. C. V. R. Co.*59 Vt. 167, 180, 10 Atl. 346. He can institute suits which appertain to such duties. The creditors cannot, without violating established practice, bring such suits. So it seems that the *cestuis que*trustent, the creditors, and the receiver, have separate and'well-defined spheres of *249action. All that appertain to tlie establishment and enforcement of the trust belong in that of the former; all that appertain to the mere administration thereof belong in that of the latter. So to say that because a receiver cannot institute or prosecute an action of this hind the creditor cannot, is clearly a *non sequiiur.*

Again it is said that a person colluding with the receiver in wasting the trust fund cannot be made a party to a suit originally commenced, and called to account in that way: (a) because there is no authority for such practice in the statutes; (b) because the receiver is not a trustee for creditors; (c) because only specific property could be followed in any event, and that, as shown by the complaint, not being attainable, there is no remedy. We will consider each of such propositions.

a. We have already shown that the statute is not a limitation upon the equity power of the court to enforce a trust where the subject of the trust is the property of the insolvent corporation. It is rather an extension of such power, if any were needed, so that, under general principles of equity jurisprudence, in a suit to establish a trust or to enforce it, every person holding any part of the trust fund in the capacity of a trustee in any legitimate sense, may be made a party defendant. We need not look into the statute for authority to do so.

b. The idea that the receiver is not a trustee for creditors seems to have no merit. It springs from the idea that a receiver is the agent of the court — “the arm of the court,” as the term is often used. But he is not the trustee for the court in any legitimate sense. Neither the court nor its receiver has any real interest in the property to be administered. The legal title which vests in the receiver is in trust, not for the court, but for those having the equitable title, who, in a case' of this kind, obviously, are primarily the creditors. So, while he represents the court in the sense that he derives his power from the court and acts for the court, he represents all the *250parties entitled, primarily or otherwise, to tbe trust fund, and is a trustee for them, and is so treated in all tbe authorities. *Atchison v.*Davidson, 2 Pin. 48; *Henning v.*Raymond, 35 Minn. 303, 29 N. W. 132; *Haxton v.*Bishop, 3 Wend. 13; *Curtis v.*Leavitt, 15 N. Y. 9, 44; *Libby v. Rosekrans,*55 Barb. 202; High, Receivers, § 314; Beach, Receivers, § 667; 23 Am. & Eng. Ency. of Law, 1065. The law on this question, as it is found generally laid down in the books, is not anywhere more tersely stated than in the early case decided in this court and above cited, where it is said: “The property, to all intents and purposes, is the property of the creditors; and the receiver holds the property and assets in trust for the' creditors, as the agent of the court.”

c. We fail to see how the doctrine — that when trust property has lost its identity as such and there is no property into which it can be traced and which can be said to presently include it, when there is no specific thing which can be pointed to as the subject of the trust, in a controversy between the' beneficiary and debtor of the trustee for the payment of his claim out of such debtor’s property, the trust must be deemed to have perished with the destruction of the identity of the' subject thereof — changes the status of such beneficiary as regards such property’to that of a mere creditor, as held in *Nonotuck S. Co. v.*Flanders, 87 Wis. 237, 58 N. W. 383; nor how the general doctrine, that when trust property has-changed in form so as to be impossible of identification the *cestui que trust*cannot claim any specific thing as forming the subject of the trust, — applies to this case, or leads to the-conclusion that a destruction of the subject of the trust terminates the trust-relation not only as to the property but as to the beneficiary. True the court, in the *Nonotuck Case,*quoted with approval from *Little v. Chadwick,*151 Mass. 110, 23 N. E. 1005, these words: “Wien trust money becomes so mixed up with the trustee’s individual funds that it is impossible to trace and identify it as entering into some *251specific property, the trust ceases. Tbe court will go as far as it can in thus tracing and following trust money; but when, as a matter of fact, it cannot be traced, the equitable right of the *cestui que trust*to follow it fails.” But the words “the trust ceases,” and the words, “the equitable right of the *cestui que trust*to follow it fails,” refer, not to the destruction of the trust relation when once established between the trustee and the *cestui que*trust, and disability of the latter to-compel the former to account, but to disability to claim any specific property as constituting the subject of the trust. The-trust fails only in respect to there being property impressed by a trust and recoverable *in specie.*It would be a strange doctrine to promulgate, that a trustee, by destroying the trust fund, could thereby terminate his trust in all respects and the-*cestui que trust*have neither a remedy to reach the specific-property, nor one to compel the trustee as such to account for the value thereof. We assume, when counsel say there is no -remedy, that they mean there is no remedy in equity. They cannot mean that there is no remedy at all. The mere statement of the matter would seem to so exhibit the infirmity of the proposition suggested as to leave little justification for further considering it. Property impressed with a trust retains its character in that regard in the hands of the trustee regardless of any change in form which leaves the identity of' it in any legitimate sense discoverable, and also in the hands of any other person claiming under the trustee, with notice of the trust, till such trust shall have been executed. 27 Am. & Eng. Ency. of Law (1st ed.) 262, and cases cited; Perry, Trusts, § 828. Trust relations once created, as regards the-personal element, survive the wrongful removal of the subject of the trust in any way beyond the reach of the beneficiary. The latter may, by judicial proceedings, enforce an accounting by the trustee for the full value of the property wasted or otherwise wrongfully converted. The uniform rule as to administrators, executors, receivers, and trustees, in> *252general, is to charge them with tbe trust fund and require .them to account for it or its value. *Barker v. Barker,*14 Wis. 131; *Williams v. Williams,*55 Wis. 300, 12 N. W. 465, 13 N. W. 274; *Simmons v. Oliver,*74 Wis. 633, 43 N. W. 561; *Oliver v. Piatt,*3 How. 333; *Lathrop v. Bampton,*31 Cal. 17. True, tbe liability of tbe trustee, when there is no trust property, is personal, and be may be sued at law. True, Also, there are authorities to the effect that the right is strictly legal and the remedy legal. *Lathrop v. Bampton, supra.*But the better rule, it seems, is that the *cestui que trust*may .always sue in equity for an accounting. Perry, Trusts, § 843. But, in any event, when the liability is germane to a principal •cause of action which is equitable, as in this case, it is en-forcible as a part of a single subject matter.

The point is made that the suit, as reorganized, was to remover upon a cause of action sounding in tort, and that such matters are not within equity jurisdiction. The conclusive answer to that is that the cause of action as to each of the parties here is for an accounting, not for damages. Whether the recoveries went beyond the cause of action does not go to 'the subject we now have under consideration. *Dunphy v. Kleinsmith,*11 Wall. 610, upon which counsel rely, supports, •so far as it goes, their claim that appellants may be made to restore to the trust fund whatever they wrongfully obtained from it.

Appellants put great confidence in the proposition that the 'creditors have no right of action against the receiver. Why the *cestuis que trustent*have not the same right to a suit in equity to enforce a trust when the receiver is the trustee and the court appointing permits or orders that he be proceeded against that way, as in case of any other trustee, is difficult to understand. Counsel upon neither side of the case have produced any authority directly upon the question. That authorities are difficult to find in respect to the matter is not to >be wondered at, since the remedy by summary proceedings *253before tbe court for an accounting, and an action thereafter upon tbe receiver’s bond, if necessary, are the usual methods adopted to redress a wrong committed by a receiver. While it is true that the court may compel the receiver to account-at any time,-and in any manner it sees fit, not transcending the limits of judicial discretion, and true that he is not a litigant in the action unless legitimately made so, — he is the agent of the court still, being trustee for the creditors as we have seen, and under the control of the court. Why may not the court, then, adopt the-method resorted to in this case under the peculiar circumstances disclosed in the complaint ? That it was within judicial power to do so, unless for some reason judicial discretion was abused, follows necessarily from the fact that the trial judge in such a matter is not limited to any particular method. The fact that the usual course-is to cite the receiver before the court without the use of any process, strictly so called, does not argue that he cannot^be compelled by such a process to appear, as he undoubtedly may be. The fact that the disputed matters upon the receiver’s account are usually tried by the court in a summary, way, or, if complicated, they are referred to a master and passed upon by the court upon the coming in of his report,, does not argue very strongly that the court might not cause issues to be framed in respect thereto and tried as ordinary-issues are tried before the court; and that even an advisory verdict of a jury might be taken if deemed proper by the court, cannot well be doubted. The dearth of decided cases as to such matters only evidences that the control of a court of equity over its receiver, and the manner in which he shall account, is so absolute that whatever proceeding may have been adopted from time to time in such matters, the instances are extremely rare where any one has ventured to question it, and in such instances, so far as we can discover, not successfully.

In *Akers v. Veal,*66 Ga. 302, it was held that the general *254power of a court of equity as to a receiver’s account extends to even requiring a formal trial of issues, but that the receiver is not entitled to a jury trial as a matter of right, in the absence of a special statute creating it. In 23 Am. & Eng. Ency. of Law, 1061, a rule is deduced from the authorities cited, and stated thus:

> *“A*receiver is directly responsible to the court by which he was appointed, and is accountable in such manner, or to such persons, as the court may directand such court “may) in its discretion, require him to account at any time.”

In *Schenck v.*Ingraham, 5 Hun, 397, the facts were these: In a suit to wind up a partnership, the partnership assets came into the possession of a receiver appointed for that purpose. In the settlement of his account, by false representations made to the court respecting the amount of labor performed by him and his attorneys in the administration of the trust fund, an order was obtained allowing them $6,218 ■out of a total fund of $8,415.04. The entire fund was distributed by order of the court. The creditors commenced an independent action in equity to annul the order upon the ground of fraud. Such creditors had not become parties to the original action. Issues were joined in the second action, and upon a trial thereof the complaint was dismissed upon the mei’its. The plaintiffs appealed. In the right of the plaintiffs in such action a motion was then made in the original suit to have the order set aside and vacated, and the motion was denied. An appeal was then taken from both the judgment in the creditors’ action and the order in the receivership action. On the appeal the judgment in the creditors’ action was affirmed on the merits, but it was held that, were the evidence sufficient to sustain the allegations of fraud, the judgment would be reversed. The appeal as to the order was successful. It was reversed upon the ground that sufficient was shown upon the motion to establish that it was fraudulently obtained. The court directed the appellants to *255be made parties to tbe proceedings in tbe receivership action, and that tbe order awarding to tbe receiver compensation for bis services and expense of legal assistance, and distributing tbe residue of tbe trust property and discharging him, should .be vacated. We do not find that this case has been disturbed in tbe courts of New York. It would indicate that an order ■obtained by fraudulent representations to tbe court, settling a receiver’s account and distributing tbe trust property, may, if tbe court having jurisdiction of tbe matter permits, be set aside in an equitable action brought in tbe same court by a person interested in such fund; and that in such action all 'the guilty participants in tbe fraud may be made to account. We need not apply the doctrine of that case further than' to bold that tbe action in which tbe receiver was appointed being still pending, and tbe jurisdiction of tbe court to vacate tbe order still perfect, it may be vacated on motion, and an issue then be raised in tbe action covering tbe matter of tbe .■account, and tried. Tbe particular manner of causing tbe issue to be formed being within tbe .discretion of tbe court, ■some serious prejudice to tbe rights of tbe adverse parties must needs be shown to warrant condemning tbe one adopted ;as jurisdictional error.

*Monitor F. Co. v.*Peters, 40 Ohio St. 575, is another instance of a court entertaining an independent action in equity do coerce its receiver to do bis duty. Tbe decision was grounded on the idea that creditors are entitled to have tbe trust fund out of which they are to obtain their pay, if at all, promptly administered, and that, though tbe ordinary method of enforcing that right is by proceeding in tbe receivership action, tbe discretionary power of tbe court over tbe matter is sufficient to permit such right to be vindicated in an independent action. Counsel seem to concede here that if such is tbe case, tbe power in that regard is broad enough to accomplish tbe same thing by making tbe defendant respond as a party in an action wherein he is accountable.

*256*Mills v. Ross,*57 N. Y. Supp. 680, is cited to our attention. Tbe facts there were these: A receiver, bj order of the court, paid out the fund in his hands. Persons claiming to be the real owners thereof, and that it was obtained from the receiver wrongfully, brought an independent action against the persons so acquiring it to recover the same, and it was held that the action was not maintainable; that the plaintiffs should have sought relief in the receivership action. We are unable to discover anything in the decision militating against the right of a court to allow its receiver to be proceeded against in the action in which he was appointed, if it sees fit.

*Clapp v. Clapp,*7 N. Y. Supp. 495, is cited to our attention as indicating that the practice adopted in this case was entirely wrong. A careful analysis of the case shows that it is rather against appellants’ position than in favor of it. The facts were these: A receiver having been guilty of misfeasance and nonfeasance to the prejudice of creditors, to whom the property he was appointed to take possession of and administer primarily belonged, was induced to resign his trust and surrender the property in his possession to a successor without any legal proceedings to that end. A successor was appointed. The order entered in respect to the matter designated a referee to state the predecessor’s accounts with the trust property and to ascertain what allowance should be awarded him for expenses and services, and what payments he had received. In advance of the coming in of the report he turned over to his successor all the trust property in hand. Tie made a claim for a balance due, of $15,995.15 for expenses, commissions, and services. On the hearing before the referee the creditors were parties and were fully heard. The referee allowed $9,762.62. Thereupon the new receiver paid $5,000 upon such allowance. There was proof before the referee of gross mismanagement of the trust, both by acts of commission and omission. The court upon the coming in *257of tbe report changed tbe conclusions of tbe referee in a' radical manner. One of tbe changes consisted in this: Upon tbe ground that tbe receiver failed to collect certain claims which be ought to have collected, and failed in other respects to perform ljis duty, to tbe great prejudice of tbe creditors, whereby greater loss to tbe trust fund was suffered .than tbe total amount due such creditors, be was peremptorily ordered to pay tbe claims of such creditors, aggregating over $12,000. Tbe idea entertained by tbe court was that tbe amount of tbe uncollected claims should be counted as loss regardless of tbe fact that tbe title to such claims passed to tbe new receiver upon bis appointment, and regardless of whether they were collectible by such receiver or not. There was no proof before tbe referee or tbe court as to tbe collectibility of such claims. Upon appeal it was held that tbe deposed receiver was liable to account for tbe full amount of all loss caused by bis mismanagement, but only upon proof being produced establishing tbe amount thereof; that since a new receiver was appointed, tbe liability was to him, tbe whole matter *to-be*worked out through that channel, and that be possessed title to tbe uncollected claims and title* to the liability of tbe old receiver to account for tbe loss caused by him. “It is to him,” said tbe court, “that be [tbe old receiver] has become accountable, inasmuch as tbe latter has been placed' in bis own relation to tbe creditors who are seeking payment, out of this estate, of tbe debts owing to them.” 1 N. Y. Supp. 926. Tbe order of tbe court below was reversed, with directions to such court to send tbe matter to a referee to determine tbe amount of loss to tbe estate caused by tbe misconduct of tbe ex-receiver, giving the creditors interested full opportunity to be beard, a final order to be entered upon tbe coming in of bis report in accordance with tbe opinion of tbe court.

Tbe foregoing history is not taken from 7 N. Y. Supp. 495, referred to by counsel. Tbe opinion there was delivered *258upon a reargument. It cannot well be understood without being read in connection with the. opinion given when the case was in fact decided. *Clapp v.*Clapp, 1 N. Y. Supp. 919. From such history it will be seen that the liabilities claimed against the receiver here are, in the main at least, within the principle of that decision. The idea advanced by counsel, with supporting authorities, that for whatever the receiver lost by negligence or fraud he is only personally liable to the creditors in an action at law, or that there is no liability at all because a destruction of the trust fund ends the trust, and the idea that the only liability for the breach of trust is on the receiver’s bond, do not seem to have occurred to or been appreciated by the learned court that made the decision. Every expression in the opinion, and every conclusion reached is in strict harmony with the liability of the receiver here as claimed upon the face of the complaint. The practice adopted there in settling the receiver’s account was by trial before the referee. Whether a trial in some other way would have been permissible is not adverted to in any respect. The practice adopted, of assuming that assets have been lost merely because not collected in money as they should have been by the ex-receiver, notwithstanding the title thereto has passed to the new receiver and notwithstanding they may be convertible into money by him, was condemned. There being a receiver, through whom the rights of the creditors could be worked out, the practice of requiring the old receiver to make good the loss caused by him by compensating the creditors directly, was condemned. The practice challenged here by counsel, as we have seen, that the unfaithful receiver is liable to respond to a trustee for the creditors to the extent of the full amount the trust property has by his mismanagement been diminished, was approved. The practice of forming and trying issues in that regard, giving to' creditors a full opportunity to be heard in respect thereto, they being deemed the real parties in interest, was ap*259proved. All these principles, on the reargument, were affirmed, the court using the language quoted by counsel as supporting their contention that the creditors have no cause of action and cannot have one in the circumstances of this case:

> “What-was left against the appellant [the old receiver, after he delivered to his successor the property on hand] was a liability to account for and pay over to his successor so much as the estate had been diminished or lost by his inattention, carelessness, or misconduct. And no authority has been found or cited imposing any greater degree of liability than this upon him. To that extent he should . . . indemnify this estate for the loss it has sustained through his mismanagement and misconduct. But before any further proceedings can be had for the payment of the loss so sustained, it must be ascertained by proof showing how far the assets diminished in value, or were lost, owing to the misconduct of appellant as receiver. The proceeding in the end, so far as he may be liable in case of his nonpayment of the amount in this manner to be proved against him, will be one for his punishment by way of contempt.”

The court, as will readily be seen, used the expression with reference to the proceedings in that case, that “before the court should compel the old receiver to pay any sum of money on account of the loss sustained by creditors through his mismanagement, the amount of the loss should be ascertained.” That is, of course, sound. The respondents proceeded here in harmony therewith. The court further said that, the amount of the receiver’s liability having been ascertained upon a trial of the issue before the referee, and the finding in that regard affirmed, and he having refused to pay the same, the proceeding to enforce payment is “one for his punishment by way of contempt.” That certainly is the usual way of enforcing a judicial order for the payment of money. It is an unwarranted conclusion to draw therefrom, however, that judicial power cannot be exercised in any other manner. The learned court did not say that it could not. *260We certainly cannot hold that a person, possessed of ample property within the reach of the court to pay a sum of money ordered by it to he paid by him, can successfully defy it to enforce its order other than by contempt proceedings. The constitutional power of circuit courts, as we have seen, extends to the use of any writ necessary to “carry into effect their orders, judgments and decrees.” It may use a writ of *fi. fa.,*or any other known to the law, which is appropriate, or even frame a new one if no old one is sufficient. Since the policy of our law is against imprisonment for debt, it would seem that no legitimate objection can be raised by the wrongdoer because his liability is enforced by a mere judgment for money collectible by execution instead of an order or judgment in form requiring payment of money, enforcible by contempt proceedings. So it seems, as indicated at the outset, that instead of *Clapp v. Clapp*sustaining counsel’s position that in the circumstances of this case there is not, and cannot be, any cause of action in favor, of creditors, it supports the very opposite, except as regards the mere matter of practice here adopted, of compelling the receiver and his associate wrongdoers to account to the court for the benefit of the creditors and at their suit as parties in the action; and that is not condemned in any way, so far as we can discover, since the holding that the account should be made to the new receiver as the representative of the creditors, instead of to them directly as a class, the money recovered to be paid into court and distributed according to the court’s order, is grounded on the fact that there was a receiver standing in the place of the creditors, to whom an accounting could be made. It is inferable from the court’s opinion that, if the amount of the liability had been properly established in the trial before the referee, the order for the payment thereof directly to the creditors in accordance with their respective equitable interests therein, instead of to the receiver for them, would not have been deemed a prejudicial *261departure from tbe regular order of judicial administration in such matters. We have spent much time on tbis case because of tbe great importance appellants’ counsel seem to attribute thereto in support of tbeir views, while, as indicated, to us it is more in harmony with tbe views of respondents’ counsel.

A number of cases are cited to our attention, bolding that proceedings must be bad in tbe receivership action to settle tbe receiver’s account before action is maintainable upon bis bond. We are unable to see bow tbe decisions or tbe expressions made therein throw any light on tbe point under discussion. Tbis quotation is made from Gluck & Becker, Ee-oeivers, 414:

> “If be owes a duty to a creditor of tbe corporation and be fails or omits to perform that duty, tbe trust estate will not be made chargeable for such neglect of duty if tbe loss has been sustained by tbe creditor, but tbe liability of tbe receiver will rest entirely upon bis personal undertaking, and can only be enforced in a court of law.”

Taking that literally, tbe absurdity of it is such that no comment thereon would seem to be necessary. Tbe idea that tbe only remedy of a creditor of a corporation, whose property is in tbe bands of a receiver, for misfeasance or non-feasance in bis office to tbe injury of such creditor, is an action at law, has no support in principle or authority. Tbe textwriter did not mean that, though bis language might well be taken that way, without careful consideration, as indicated by tbe use thereof by tbe learned counsel for appellants. Tbe author based tbe text on *Gaehle v.*Snowden, 56 Md. 345. Counsel cite tbe same case, and it seems without appreciating what is really there decided, which is that tbe violation of a purely personal obligation incurred by a receiver to a creditor — such as a failure by tbe former to file tbe latter’s claim left with him for that purpose, whereby tbe claim is lost — does not create any liability of tbe former as trustee, to be re*262dressed in equity or at all; that it is a mere negligent act, to be redressed, if at all, tbe same'as if committed by any other person to whom tbe claim might be intrusted for placing it on file. The court said it was the duty of the creditor to file his claim with the court, not with the receiver. It will be readily seen that the decision is sound, but very far removed from any question involved here.

The proposition of counsel, that there is no cause of action against a receiver in favor of the. creditors, pursuable in the winding-up action in the circumstances of this case, has better support in *Boyd v. Mut. F.*Asso. 116 Wis. 155, 90 N. W. 1086, 94 N. W. 171, than anywhere else, or than any authority cited to our attention by counsel, so far as appears, or any which we can discover. It is confidently asserted that such decision really rules this case on such proposition in favor of appellants, if adhered to. That action was reorganized very much as this was. The difference between the two is this: There a new receiver was appointed, who was by order of the court joined with the creditors, while here the action was ordered to proceed in the name of the creditors alone. The question there, as to whether the ex-receiver could be required to account by action, was not raised by counsel nor referred to in the opinion. It seems to have been taken for granted that he could be so required, if the court so ordered. It was held that a good cause of action was stated in the complaint against such ex-receiver in favor of his successor, but that it was solely the cause of action of the latter; that the creditors had no cause of action against him, while they did have a cause of action, well stated in the complaint, for winding up the corporation and administering its property as a trust fund for the benefit of creditors, in which all parties holding parts of such trust fund were properly made defendants in order to reduce all to the possession of the court, represented by its receiver, for the benefit of creditors. The liability of Smith was made up of *263two elements: $281.73 alleged to bave been fraudulently paid bim by tbe officers of tbe corporation before the receivership action was commenced, be being a guilty participant in tbe fraud; and $500 and other sums not specified, lost or wasted by bim through nonfeasance or misfeasance in tbe performance of bis duties as receiver. That tbe liability of tbe old receiver for whatever it was worth was an asset, so to speak, of tbe trust fund, was not and of course could not well be questioned. But as tbe court, — perhaps without that careful consideration of tbe matter that might bave been given thereto, that, however, not being apparent at tbe time of tbe decision, — held tbe title to tbe liability to be legal in character, to be vested in tbe new receiver and enforciblo only by bim in an action legal- or equitable in form, it was decided that tbe two causes of action — one in favor of tbe new receiver against tbe ex-receiver, and tbe creditors’ action against tbe other defendants — were improperly united. From tbe foregoing analysis of tbe situation it will be seen that tbe legal title to tbe right against tbe old receiver as such, and that against bim by reason of bis having obtained moneys of tbe corporation by fraud before bis appointment, were no more vested in tbe new receiver than tbe title to anything else forming a part of tbe corporate assets, and that tbe equitable right to such liability was in tbe creditors of the corporation tbe same as tbe right to any other of tbe numerous liabilities which they were entitled to bave mar-shalled into tbe possession of tbe court in tbe form of money for tbe payment of their debts. As to the $281.73, tbe old receiver, upon principles well established, might bave been made a defendant at tbe time tbe action was commenced. ITe was properly made a defendant as to that part of the trust fund which be came to tbe possession of after be was appointed receiver, and which be wrongfully retained, if any one so circumstanced was properly joinable, unless tbe fact that be was answerable to tbe court therefor in a sum*264mary way, after the maimer generally adopted for compelling receivers to account, was exclusive. If that feature of his case precluded the creditors from proceeding against him by action, so it did, likewise, the new receiver. The latter, in the performance of his administrative duties, had a right to institute proceedings to compel the old receiver to account. The creditors, as equitable owners of the property misappropriated by the old receiver, had the same right. In either case, money produced would form a part of the trust fund in the hands of the new receiver. Neither the receiver nor the creditors had a right, strictly speaking, to a remedy by action against the old receiver. Both had a right to the ordinary remedy against him. That either did not have a right to the extraordinary remedy in such cases of a civil action, if the court was willing or ordered its receiver to be charged in that way, unless to permit such a proceeding would be an abuse of judicial discretion, would be difficult to maintain. It seems that the creditors did have, as part ,of the primary purpose of that action, the right to join the old receiver and call him to account for the money fraudulently obtained by him before the receivership suit was commenced, without the permission of the court except as to time of bringing him in, and the right to join him as to the wrongful use of the trust fund, by the court’s permission, unless such practice, as before indicated, must be deemed so prejudicial to the rights of parties and the orderly conduct of judicial proceedings as to be regarded as jurisdictional error.

The conclusion from the foregoing is that, while it is true that creditors in the circumstances of those in this case have no right of action against the court’s receiver, using the term in the sense of a civil action pursuable as a matter of absolute right, they have a wrong to be redressed, either by a civil action or by a special proceeding to be instituted by them; and since the court has, within the boundaries of a *265broad discretionary authority, tbe right to say how such redress shall be accomplished, circumstances may justify a procedure in the form of a civil action, the parties being arranged according to their interests; and if the court orders that prbcedure to be adopted, then the creditors may be said to have a right of action against the receiver.

Counsel urge upon our attention these propositions: (a) The court has no pow.er to enter a judgment in a winding-up action against the receiver and those acting guiltily with him in diminishing the trust property, for the amount of the loss caused by them, (b) The statute does not authorize making the receiver, or any officer of the court, a party, (c) The word “trustees” in sec. 3237, Stats. 1898, does not include receivers, (d) The statutory right against officers has reference to such officers while acting in office for the corporation, (e) The power of the court is limited by the provisions of the statute, (f) No judgment can be entered in such an action as this, other than one specifically authorized by statute. They all proceed upon the theory that the statutes, sections 3216 to 3239, inclusive, give a new right and a new remedy, with appropriate procedure, and axe exclusive. That, as we have seen, is not the case. The statutes, generally speaking, are merely declaratory of the common law. *Gores v.*Day, 99 Wis. 276, 74 N. W. 787, is to that effect, so far as it was necessary to go in that case; while in *Adler v. Milwaukee P. B. Mfg. Co.*13 Wis. 57, as we have before seen, even as to the sequestration feature of the statutes, it was held to have added nothing to the power of the court which it did not possess independently thereof and was permitted to exercise when necessary; that “they [the statutes] only go to strengthen the powers which courts of equity heretofore possessed, to remove doubts, and to' render the rules by which such proceedings are governed more stable and undeviating;” that in any event they only govern the proceeding against the corporation itself “when *266a sequestration of its stock, property, things in action, and effects, and the appointment of a receiver, are sought.” The method of reaching others holding property to which such sections are applicable, so far as not specially prescribed, was left to be governed by the. usual practice in courts of equity.

Counsel for respondents on this branch of the case, contend that the word “trustees,” as used .in sec. 3237, Id., includes a receiver. We are unable to read the statute that way. It seems to plainly refer, as counsel for appellants contend, to a trustee in his capacity as an officer of a corporation, not to one acting for the corporation and others as agent of the court. The proposition that R. E. Rust was properly made a party defendant as a trastee of the corporation, cannot be approved.

*Clarke v. Banner & V. P. Co.*50 Wis. 416, 7 N. W. 309, is cited as indicating that in any event the making of Rust and his associates parties for any purpose except that of discovery, was improper. It is difficult to see how that case can have any bearing on any question raised here, except to condemn' the practice of making persons parties defendant who are alleged to have come into possession of assets of the corporation before sequestration proceedings were started, in fraud of creditors. It would be decisive against the respondents on that subject, if sound. That it is otherwise, tested by any or all of the numerous decisions made before and after its rendition, touching to some extent or entirely the subject involved, will appear obvious frpm a mere statement of what was there held- The gist of the decision is stated correctly in the syllabus thus:

> “In an action under secs. 3216-3228, R. S., . . . where it is not sought to hold the officers or stockholders personally liable under sec. 3221, the circuit court has power only to sequester the property, to appoint a receiver, and to compel the corporation to account.”

> *267“In respect to any person to whom it is alleged that any transfer of property of tbe insolvent corporation has- been made,” it can “merely compel such person To testify in relation thereto,5 55 under sec. 3228.

It will be seen that the court adopted the idea that the statute affords a new and exclusive remedy, and that, as it makes no provision for judgment against persons obtaining property of the corporation in fraud thereof or of its creditors, but does provide by sec. 3228 that such persons may be compelled to testify in relation to such property, and does provide by sec. 3219 that the receiver appointed in the action may sue for and recover property belonging to the corporation, the right of action is vested wholly in the receiver. The fact was overlooked that sec. 3219, as it has many times been construed, does not refer to persons holding the property of the corporation as trustees for it or for its creditors; also the fact that secs. 3237 and 3239 expressly provide that officers of corporations may be made to account in a suit by creditors for all loss caused by their mismanagement, and to render up an equivalent in money for such loss, and that guilty participants with them may also be made to account as parties and render up their ill-gotten gains. The further fact was overlooked that sec. 3228 prescribes only a rule of evidence, so that guilty parties may be made to testify in respect to their wrongful conduct regardless of the general rule that a person cannot be compelled to incriminate himself.' In *Hurlbut v. Marshall,*62 Wis. 590, 22 N. W. 852, decided a few years later, the doctrine of *Clarke v. Banner & V. P. Co.*50 Wis. 416, 7 N. W. 309, was entirely ignored, as it has been ever since the case was decided. We do not find it referred to in any subsequent case. It has been cited to the court’s attention in. briefs of counsel, but for some reason the opportunity has not been heretofore improved to record the fact that it does not state the law correctly — that it is entirely out of har*268■mony with tbe decisions of tbis court from *Adler v. Milwaukee P. B. Mfg. Co.*to *Hurlbut v. Marshall,*and was in the latter case in effect overruled.

From numerous authorities holding that a court of equity has no inherent power to dissolve a corporation, and that statutory power in that regard, “both as to the conditions upon which it may act and the judgment it may enter, must be strictly followed,” counsel for appellants deduce the con-clusión, seemingly, that such doctrine applies to the judicial power to sequester property of an insolvent corporation and to wind up its affairs so far as necessary to apply its assets in payment of its liabilities. The language of the proposition is borrowed from 22 Ency. PI. & Pr. 1236, but changed by substituting for the idea of dissolving the corporation, strictly so called, that of taking possession of corporate property and administering the same for the payment of its debts, 'The two are entirely distinct, and so far as they are referred to in the statutes are there so treated. Secs. 3216 to 3239 refer to the latter; secs. 3240 to 3251 to the former. The one, as we have seen, merely supplements the general equity jurisdiction of the court, no provision being made therein for a statutory judgment. If the proposition under discussion affected this and similar cases, no judgment could be rendered at all. The other not only gives the right of' action, but provides the procedure to be followed, including the judgment to be rendered, and being by its terms not cumulative, it is exclusive, upon familiar principles often proclaimed by this court. *May v. Blade, 77*Wis. 101, 45 N. W. 949; *Finney v. Guy,*106 Wis. 256, 265, 82 N. W. 595; *Pollard v. Bailey,*20 Wall. 520; *Fourth Nat. Bank v. Franklyn,*120 U. S. 747, 7 Sup. Ct. 757; *Huntington v. Attrill,*146 U. S. 657, 13 Sup. Ct. 224; *Patterson v. Lynde,*112 Ill. 196. Of course, if one confuses an action to dissolve a corporation with one to administer the property of .an insolvent corporation as a trust fund for the benefit of its *269creditors, lie will very readily fall into tlie error that a winding-np action, using the term with reference to the rights of creditors being primary, is a statutory action in all respects, and that the warrant for every step therein must be found in the statutes. There seems to be no need for such confusion, since it would be impossible to conduct such an action wholly according to specific statutory guides. Such an action is statutory only in that the statute indicates by implication that a suit in equity, covering all the matters directly and incidentally material to the interests of creditors, is the remedy to be resorted to. The statute contains-no complete system on the subject in any other sense, nor anything approaching one, and the practice of the court since *Adler v. Milwaukee P. B. Mfg. Co.*13 Wis. 57, has always-been in harmony with this idea.

We are referred to the principle that no creditor in a winding-up proceeding has a right to proceed against the receiver to obtain any part of the property in the custody of the law till it has been duly awarded to him by the order of' distribution. True, but this is not an action of that kind. It is one to accumulate *in custodia legis,*in the form of' money, the assets properly belonging to the trust fund, so-that an order of distribution may be made. An action to enforce a trust so as to put the court in possession of the-trust fund is one thing; and an action by a *cestui que trust*to obtain an equitable proportion of such trust fund is quite another.

The point is suggested that the creditors could not properly maintain this action because the legal title to the property recoverable is not in them. In support of that numerous decisions of the federal courts are mentioned, holding-that where an assignee in bankruptcy has been appointed, creditors cannot, during the pendency of the trust or after it has been closed, maintain an action to recover any liability for the benefit of creditors; that all such liabilities must *270be realized and distributed through the medium of the as-signee in whom the title thereto vests. We. are unable to see how such cases have anything to do with this class of cases. The procedure referred to is governed by the terms of the bankruptcy statute as construed by the federal courts. The procedure in this class of cases is governed by the general principles of equity jurisprudence, supplemented by such aids as the statute affords in the administration of a trust and the marshalling of all assets, whether at the time of the institution of the suit under the control of the corporation, or whether equitable or legal, possessed by persons in the capacity of trustees in any sense for creditors. The practice in respect thereto is entirely different from that under the national bankruptcy act. The creditors’ action reaches directly all assets of the nature referred to, not because they have any legal right thereto, but because they have an equitable right with an appropriate equitable remedy to enforce the same to the extent of reducing the possession thereof to that of the court for the satisfaction of their claims.

Many propositions are presented for consideration upon the theory that the property, whether consisting of tangible things or the mere personal liability of parties who have wrongfully converted the tangible property to their own use, or otherwise wrongfully lost it, must necessarily be recovered by a receiver. That is a mistake. Wlren the situation presented is that of a trustee who has squandered the trust property, and the *cestui que trust*only desires to make him account in money for the loss, an action for such accounting may be maintained in equity without any receiver. A receiver is necessary only where there is property to be protected and administered pending the suit, or to be taken possession of and converted into money in administering a trust, or there are wrongs which cannot be remedied without one. At the time this suit was reorganized and again made active, the trust property, as alleged in the complaint, had all been *271wrongfully lost in one way and another. As to the greater part of it, the only recourse for creditors was to hold the wrongdoers to their liability to account and make compensation for the loss they had caused. The only way to encompass the whole situation in one suit was by a proceeding of some sort in the one pending. It did not take a receiver to give the court jurisdiction of the subject matter. Hone was needed, because there was no property in the custody of the court, and none to come into such possession other than in the form of money as a result of the accounting and submission to the commands of the court. Where only .an accounting is required, a receiver is never deemed necessary. High, Receivers, §§ 34, 35. There are many instances in the books of creditors’ bills to enforce such liabilities without the use of a receiver. Of course, from the very nature of the remedy, no receiver can well be used till there is something to receive. *Gores v. Day,*99 Wis. 276, 74 N. W. 787; *Gores v. Murphy,*109 Wis. 408, 84 H W. 867, 85 H. W. 411; *Schenck v. Ingraham,*5 Hun, 397; *Chicago & A. B. Co. v. Fowler,*55 Kan. 17, 39 Pac. 727. In *Gores v. Day,*because there was an assignee, he was said to be a necessary party; but the maintenance of the action in the right of the creditors was sustained both under the statute and independently thereof. The common practice in creditors’ actions, so far as relates to those holding property forming the subject of the trust or some part thereof .as trustees, in a capacity hostile to the creditors or otherwise, is to charge them as defendants, making no use of .a receiver, necessarily, till one is needed to hold property as the agent of the court. It will be remembered that in *Clapp v. Clapp,*7 N. Y. Supp. 495, it was in effect held that if there was not a receiver standing as the representative of creditors as to property once *in custodia legis*and lost by the wrongdoing of the court’s agent, such agent could be compelled to account directly to the creditors at the instance *272of the injured beneficiaries, and made to compensate them directly for the amount of their loss.

It is said that the statutory action cannot be regarded as in any respect a suit commenced by creditors’ bill in analogy to the old equity practice, nor as a modification of it. The only authority cited in support of that is *Clarke v. Banner & V. P. Co.*50 Wis. 416, 7 N. W. 309. As we have seen, so far as it bears on counsel’s point it was wrongly decided and was in effect overruled in *Hurlbut v. Marshall,*62 Wis. 590, 22 N. W. 852, and subsequent cases. Further, as we have shown, the manner of administering the property of an insolvent corporation is not by a statutory action in any other sense than that it is by an equitable action with the ordinary incidents of such actions, supplemented by whatever aids the statute affords. That was early held in *Mann v. Pentz,*3 N. Y. 415, which was followed here in *Adler v. Milwaukee P. B. Mfg., Co.*13 Wis. 57. The same authorities hold that the complaint in such an action is to all intents and purposes a creditors’ bill. The authorities generally maintain that view.

> “It has become the settled law of this country that the assets of an insolvent corporation constitute a trust fund for the payment of its debts. ... A creditor’s remedy, by creditor’s bill, or proceeding in the nature of a creditor’s bill, against a corporation, its officers and stockholders, is firmly established.” Smith, Eq. Rem. of Cred. § 29.

To the same effect is *Ballin v. Loeb,*78 Wis. 404, 47 N. W. 516. The action was there called a statutory action, merely in the sense, however, that the sections of the statute for the administration of the assets of an insolvent corporation require that it shall constitute the subject matter of one suit to be commenced and carried on according to principles of equity. It seems almost a waste of energy to pursue this subject, as the authorities are uniform against counsel’s proposition. When we speak of a creditors’ bill *273under the Code, we mean, of course,' the Code substitute for the eommou-law pleading. It is only mere forms of action that are abolished by the Code. The substance survives. In place of the bill in equity of the old practice, we have the complaint in the civil action of the Code. Where the pleading is in an action to redress a wrong such as formerly was the subject of a suit in equity commenced by creditors’ bill, we often speak of it by its old name. The better way would be to speak of it as a complaint in the nature of a creditors’ bill, so as not to lose sight of the fact -that the Code, so far as forms of action are concerned, is a complete substitute for the old system, while so far as the,, real substance of things is concerned it remains substantially as before. *Kolloch v. Scribner,*98 Wis. 104, 73 N. W. 776; *Crowns v. Forest L. Co.*102 Wis. 97, 99, 78 N. W. 433. The prime essential of a creditors’ suit is the exhaustion of legal remedies. *Northwestern I. Co. v. Central T. Co.*90 Wis. 570, 63 N. W. 752, 64 N. W. 323; *Hughes v. Hunner,*91 Wis. 116, 120, 64 N. W. 887. A proceeding by a judgment debtor, after the return of an execution upon his judgment unsatisfied, to charge the unleviable property of an insolvent corporation with the payment of its debts and to wind up its business affairs as regards creditors, satisfies that essential and is probably the most common of any way of doing so in modern practice where equity jurisdiction is resorted to as formerly, respecting the remedy by creditors’ bill, but by the new form of action created by the Code. The pleading is a creditors’ bill, strictly so called, but under the Code name for the plaintiff’s first pleading. Speaking on the general subject of creditors’ bills, in 5 Ency. Pl. & Pr. 395, the; author uses this language:

> “A class of creditors’ bills constantly increasing in frequency, comprises bills brought by creditors of insolvent corporations for a ratable distribution of their assets, to reach property that has been misappropriated and misapplied, or to *274collect for tbe benefit of creditors unpaid stock subscriptions.”

So it is plain that the claim of counsel that it was not proper practice to bring in the new defendants and litigate the matters as to them, alleged in the complaint, in the manner common in suits in equity commenced by a general creditors’ bill, cannot be sustained.

But, say counsel, it is not permissible to bring in, by a supplemental complaint, a subject matter not existing at the commencement of the action. The answer to that is that no such subject was so brought in, in this case. The new matter was germane to and formed a part of the original subject. It is only new matter, constituting a new and independent cause of action,- that is necessarily excluded from a supplemental bill. That is the rule of the old practice (21 Ency. Pl.. & Pr. 28), and it is preserved by sec. 2687 of the Code in the following language:

> “The plaintiff and defendant, respectively, may be allowed, on motion and on such terms as may be just, to make a supplemental complaint, answer, or reply alleging facts material to the case occurring after the former complaint, answer, or reply, or of which the party was ignorant when his former pleading was made.”

The restriction thus indicated has always been distinctly recognized in the decisions of this court. *Noonan v. Orton,*21 Wis. 283, 293; *Ely v. Wilcox,*26 Wis. 91; *Orton v. Noonan,*29 Wis. 541, 544; *Orton v. Noonan,*30 Wis. 611, 613. The general practice in creditors’ actions, to reach the property under the control of an insolvent corporation, and other property, tangible and intangible, proper to be deemed parts of the trust fund for the payment of the corporate creditors, is to commence the same in a simple form. Great diligence, as a rule, is required in the initiatory step in order to effect an equitable levy upon the corporate assets before they can be dissipated or become incumbered. *275Danger in those respects baring been guarded against, upon those interested primarily in the success of the litigation becoming conversant with the full scope of the subject proper to be brought into the action, it is customary, with or without permission of the court, as the situation of the case may require, to serve an amended and .supplemental complaint covering the entire field as it existed at the time of the commencement of the action and as enlarged by subsequent •events. That has been repeatedly sanctioned by this court. The extent to which a complaint may thus be broadened out, the location of the original parties upon the record be changed, and the way new ones may be placed, so that, so far as practicable, those united in interest as creditors to woik out the trust, may appear as plaintiffs and all adverse parties appear as' defendants, is well illustrated in *Hurlbut v. Marshall,*62 Wis. 590, 22 N. W. 852; *Gager v. Marsden,*101 Wis. 598, 77 N. W. 922; and *Boyd v. Mut. F.*Asso. 116 Wis. 155, 90 N. W. 1086, 94 N. W. 171. The practice elsewhere, under systems similár to ours, is the same, and is indicated by the treatment of the subject in the able opinion by Mitchell, J., in *Arthur v. Willius,*44 Minn. 409, 412, 46 N. W. 851:

> “ ‘It is an action not proceeding in the ordinary way of actions at law by trial of simple issues, judgment, and execution, but by the exercise of powers peculiar to the former courts of chancery.’ The proeeédings are susceptible of being molded into almost any form necessary to accomplish their purpose of securing a full and final adjustment of the rights and liabilities of all parties growing out of the corporate business. During the progress of the proceedings new parties may be admitted or brought in, and new issues introduced from time to time, as they become necessary for the final winding up of the affairs of the corporation, and the enforcement of all the rights of creditors. The original complaint need not state more than a case for the sequestration of the corporate assets. Neither stockholders, directors, nor. creditors (save the one who institutes the suit), need be *276made parties in the first instance. Other creditors may subsequently come in or be brought in. Stockholders and directors may also be brought in for the purpose of enforcing, their individual liability. This may be done at the instance or upon the complaint of any creditor who has become a party to the proceedings. In short, the proceedings are intended to be so elastic as to be susceptible of development during their successive stages of progress, as to reach not only all the corporate assets, but also all liabilities of stockholders and others so far as necessary for the payment 6f creditors.”

The conclusion on this point must be that there is nothing subject to criticisrii in the practice adopted here, unless the fact that, though enforcing the liability of the receiver and his associates in wrongfully wasting or converting its property to their own use as alleged, is germane to the original purpose of the suit, the practice in the enforcement of such exceptional liabilities was so prejudicially departed from, as to constitute jurisdictional error.

Rut, it is said, if ch. 140, Stats. 1898, does not permit such an action as this, no other statute does, hence it cannot be maintained. In support of that counsel points (a) to the doctrine that the Code is a complete substitute for common-law forms of action and procedure both at law and in equity, and that it furnishes no form for a complaint or a judgment to fit this case; (b) that a cause of action not existing at the time of the commencement of the action cannot be brought in by amendment or supplemental complaint; (c) that the new cause of action here does not affect all the parties, hence is not joinable with the original cause of' action; (d) that the defect of misjoinder is not waived by not objecting on that ground; and (e) that the statutes, secs. 3217 to 3245, provide a form for a final order and a judgment, but that the former was not followed and the latter does not fit this case. Assuming, as we must, that all of such propositions are supposed by counsel to have merit in respect to. *277tbe controversy to be solved, we will consider them seriously.

a. Trne, the Code is a complete system. It took a long time for the bench and bar to thoroughly appreciate that,*» and it would now be a misfortune to say anything or render any decision which would cast a shadow of doubt upon it. But in order to maintain the integrity of the new system we must not confuse it with matters that have nothing to do-therewith. Much difficulty has been experienced since the inception of the reformed procedure in New York, by confusing the term “remedy,” as used in the statutes, with “procedure,” forms of action with the substance thereof, and procedure, as regards statutory essentials, with mere details of practice. In a strict statutory sense there are but two remedies known to our system to protect any right or redress any wrong. They are denominated “actions” and “special proceedings.” Sec. 2954, Stats. 1898. Every ordinary proceeding in a court of justice by which one party prosecutes another for the enforcement or protection of a right, the redress or prevention of a wrong, or the punishment of a public offense, is an action. Sec. 2595, Id. Every other remedy is a special proceeding. Sec. 2596. Every action for the enforcement or protection of private rights or the redress or prevention of private wrongs is a civil action. The distinction between actions at law and suits in equity, and the forms of such actions and suits, have been abolished. Sec. 2600. The persons having an interest in the subject of the action and in obtaining the relief demanded, other than in exceptional cases, are plaintiffs and joinable as such. Sec. 2602. All persons claiming an interest in the controversy adverse to the plaintiff, or who are necessary parties to a complete determination or settlement of the question involved, may be defendants. Sec. 2603. The first pleading, in the case is denominated the “complaint,” its general features only being.prescribed by statute. The central idea thereof is that it must deal only with facts constituting the *278cause of action. Sec. 2646. Tlie general features, only, of tlie judgment to be rendered are prescribed by statute. Sec. 2883 *et seq.*The Code, other than in exceptional cases, furnishes no form, strictly so called, either for the complaint or the judgment. The general requisites of both are pointed out, and fit a winding-up action as well as a simple action to* recover upon a promissory note.

b and e. These we. have answered. The error of counsel is in assuming that the new matter brought in constitutes a new subject of action. It was a part only of the original subject matter.

d. W'e cannot agree with counsel that a misjoinder of causes of action is not a subject of waiver. They overlook the-fact that sec. 2649 of the Code expressly provides that improper union of causes of action is ground for demurrer, and that see. -2654- expressly provides that a failure to object to such joinder in the manner pointed out by the statute waives the question.

e. True, where the Code furnishes a form for a judgment which is, expressly or by implication, exclusive, that form must be followed. But there is nothing in sec. 3217, or in sec. 3245, condemning the judgment here under that rule,, or condemning the procedure calling for such judgment, as-prejudicial error or error at all. Sec. 3217 does not deal with the matter of a judgment, but with an order closing a special proceeding instituted in an action where legal remedies for the collection of the judgment therein shall have been exhausted or an administrative order executed after a judgment rendered in an independent action. Sec. 3245 has no reference to an action of this kind at all. It refers only to-proceedings to dissolve corporations. An action to that end is in every sense statutory, and of course statutory requisites of the judgment must be followed.

This is stated for consideration: The recoveries against the receiver and his alleged guilty associates should be re*279versed because (a) the statute does not authorize them; (b) the proceeding is entirely unwarranted; (c) the complaint does not support them; (d) the receiver cannot be charged in. an incidental proceeding with liability for loss wrongfully caused or permitted by him.

a. This has already been answered. The statute does not prohibit redressing the wrongs in the manner resorted to. It indicates that a proceeding in the nature of a creditors' bill is the proper proceeding. It may add to, but does not take from, what might be brought into the action upon the general principles of equity jurisprudence. Those principles include making the liabilities of the parties available for creditors in the winding-up suit. Whether the particular. manner of accomplishing that adopted here was within the discretionary power of the court is the only question left.

b. Counsel base this on *Stahl v. Gotzenberger,*45 Wis. 121, where a statutory action — one to foreclose a mortgage, but with incidents showing that the trial was necessarily by the court — was tried before a jury and a judgment was entered by the clerk without the court’s- passing on the issues involved or even directing the entry of the judgment. Of course it has no relevancy whatever to the question to be determined here.

c. This is based on *Reynolds v. Stockton,*140 U. S. 254, 11 Sup. Ct. 773, where, in a creditors’ action commenced in New York to reach property in the possession of a receiver, and upon a complaint limited in its scope thereto, a judgment was rendered as if the action were brought to reach that and property in the hands of a receiver in an adjoining state as well. We are utterly unable to see any analogy between that and the ease in hand. The judgment here is responsive to the complaint in every particular.

d. This is based on *Mechanics’ Nat. Bank v. Landauer,*68 Wis. 44, 31 N. W. 160. That relates to an independent action against a receiver. Counsel used the term “incidental *280proceeding.” “Independent action” would have been more appropriate; as the one used tends to give a wrong idea of the* ease cited. The authority is in harmony with others cited in the course of this opinion, that a receiver may he made to account for loss sustained by creditors through his unfaithfulness, and that the manner of the accounting is within the absolute control of the court appointing him 'to the extent of sound judicial discretion, and that circumstances may justify even an independent action against the receiver. These words are quoted with approval from High, Receivers:

> “The more common practice, and that which has been generally commended by the courts, is to hear and determine all rights of action and demands against a receiver by petition in the cause in which he was appointed, without remitting the parties to a new and independent suit; and it rests wholly, within the discretion of the court to grant leave to bring an independent action against its receiver, or to determine the controversy upon petition in the original cause, directing, if necessary, an issue to be tried by a jury as to questions of fact or of damages.” Sec. *254b.*

The point is made that in no event can a receiver and his alleged guilty associates be legitimately charged in an equitable action with any greater liability than to respond, each for himself, for the amount of the trust property he received. That has very little, if anything, to do with the subject of jurisdiction. We say this in passing to prevent any misconception as to why it is noticed that counsel make the point. The charge in the complaint is that such alleged guilty parties fraudulently colluded together to appropriate to their own use the trust fund, and consummated their purpose. The facts found' support the charge and specify the amount in money so lost to the creditors. The judgment is based, as to them, upon their joint participation in the wrong. In siich circumstances all are liable as constructive cotrustees, and may be made to account in an equitable action. Every person who, through fraud of which he- is guilty or has guilty *281knowledge, obtains property of another, equity will convert into a trustee for such other and deal with him in many respects the same in redressing the wrong to such other as if he were a trustee of an express trust. 1 Perry, Trusts, §§ 166, 167. When the fraud is perpetrated by several acting in concert, all are equally trustees and are jointly liable. Neither can escape any part of the liability because of the fact that his co-conspirator was the real beneficiary. The property received by each is deemed to have been received by all, and to constitute the subject of a single trust, with all the liabilities incident to the trust relation. *Fountain S. P. Co. v. Roberts,*92 Wis. 345, 66 N. W. 399; *Pittsburg M. Co. v. Spooner,*74 Wis. 307, 42 N. W. 259; *Franey v.*Warner, 96 Wis. 222, 71 N. W. 81; *Zinc C. Co. v. First Nat. Bank,*103 Wis. 125, 79 N. W. 229; *Hebgen v. Koeffler,*97 Wis. 313, 72 N. W. 745. This subject, for the purpose of orderly treatment of the appeals, might better have been reserved for another branch thereof, — that which merely concerns whether the proper judgments were rendered.

The practice adopted violates the right of trial by jury, say the learned counsel. This is based upon two erroneous assumptions: (a) that the right to a sequestration remedy is a right of action; (b) that a statutory action is necessarily an action at law within the constitutional guaranty. The right' of sequestration, as we have seen, is a mere right to a special proceeding in an action.; A statutory action may or may not-be an action at law according as the statutory incidents conform to one or the other from a common-law standpoint. *Willer v.*Bergenthal, 50 Wis. 474, 7 N. W. 352; *Bentley v.*Davidson, 74 Wis. 420, 43 N. W. 139. The only right of trial by jury guaranteed by the constitution is the right as enjoyed at the time the constitution was adopted. There is no such right as regards a statutory action unless such action is coupled with statutory incidents indicating that it is strictly legal in character, or the remedy of trial by jury *282is expressly given by tbe statute. There is no such thing as-the right of trial by jury in suclí a case as this, because the action is not statutory in any sense, because all the statutory incidents of the action indicate that it is strictly of equitable-cognizance, and further, because it is strictly an equitable-action with statutory aids, and cannot properly be called a statutory action at all in any other sense than that the statutes, as the court has frequently held, indicate, as plainly as if they contained an express declaration on the subject, that the action is of the nature known only to courts of equity under the old system, to enforce a trust for the benefit of creditors; and because, if it were otherwise, there is-no suggestion in the statute of any right of trial by jury as to any of the issues, and all the statutory incidents point to-an action in equity as the only one that will encompass the whole situation. We must say in passing that we treat this feature of counsel’s argument only because it is suggested^ It is the first time, so far as any indications in the books show, that a court has been called upon to declare that there-is no such thing as a constitutional right of trial by jury in an action to marshal the assets of an insolvent corporation into a fund for the benefit of its creditors.

Respondents’ counsel suggest that it was proper to bring R. E. Rust and all the officers of the corporation into the litigation, and T. F. Frawley as well, both under the statute- and independently thereof, by reason of what was alleged on-good ground to have occurred before the receivership commenced, and which, though not found in all respects as alleged, was to such an extent as to warrant the court in retaining the case as to all of them and to redress the wrong of' which they were guilty as alleged, committed before as well as after the suit was commenced. That is entitled to a prominent place in our considerations.. It gives to the situation-to be dealt with an aspect not necessarily involving at all the question of whether a receiver, fairly appointed in a *283winding-up action, and those thereafter colluding with him' in wasting the trust fund placed in his charge, may be brought into such action as defendants and made to account as such for their wrongdoing.

It is alleged in the complaint that as early as January 1,, 1893, the directors of the corporation, which included substantially all of the appellants except T. E. Erawley, alleged to have been guilty participants with Eust, receiver, in the' wrongs committed by him as such, as alleged, knew that the corporation must necessarily go into liquidation, and that they then entered into an agreement between themselves te divert the corporate assets from their proper channel, — that of a trust fund for the creditors of the corporation, — to their own benefit, and that all the steps thereafter taken, which resulted in accomplishing that end, including the commencement of this action and the appointment of Eust as receiver,, were but steps in the execution of the fraudulent agreement entered into. It is further alleged that T. E. Erawley thereafter, with full knowledge of all the facts, became a co-conspirator with the others. The claim of the respondents, so> alleged, is consistent with the findings, with this exception: The date of the fraudulent agreement is placed between May 15 and May 18, 1893. It is sufficient for this discussion to-say that the agreement was found to have been entered into-before the commencement of the action, and that all of the wrongs for which redress is adjudged are found to have been committed in execution thereof. “The receivership,” the-court found, “from its inception on May 23, 1893, to its close on December 30, 1897, was managed by said receiver,, and by his attorney, T. E. Erawley, and his counsel, II. II. Hayden, for the sole interest and benefit of the said receiver and said attorney and counsel and said *Geo. T.*Thompson, *Fitch Gilbert,*and the said corporation, the *Chippewa Valley Bank,*in pursuance of said conspiracy to unlawfully appropriate the assets of said defendant company for the benefit *284•of said parties above named against the interests and rights -of the general creditors of the said defendant, the National Electric Manufacturing Company.” We have nothing to do at this point with the question of whether that severe indictment of, the appellants is borne out by the evidence. That will come later. It has nothing to do with the jurisdiction •of the court to entertain the case as it did. If it be true that the court was defrauded into selecting Rust as its receiver, •and that the scheme of appellants, entered into and carried • out, was as alleged, then the effect thereof, as contemplated -and in fact, was to leave the property of the corporation more •completely under the control of its officers than it would hav$ been had no receiver been appointed, and the receiver and his attorneys and counselors, the active participants in the fraud, cannot be considered in any other light than as agents -of the corporation or of its officers. Under the forms of law, •according to the complaint and the findings, the court was •used as a shield to protect the officers of the corporation and their attorneys from hostile attack, while they proceeded at their leisure to put the assets of the corporation into their •own pockets. Can it be possible that such things can be done in such a way, and yet the court that has been imposed upon is powerless, responding to. the appeals of creditors upon whom the loss has fallen, to treat the wrongdoers so mildly as 'to make them defendants in the suit commenced ostensibly for the benefit of creditors, and compel them to account the same as if no receiver had been appointed? Is it true, as claimed, that in such a suit as this the court can be imposed upon and made unconsciously to be the very source of power to commit a great wrong to creditors, and yet the order obtained by means of the imposition have such efficacy that when the whole scheme is exposed *prima facie*to the view of the court, showing that it had its inception before the action was commenced, and that such action was a step in the ■execution thereof, the fraudulent receiver can successfully *285claim to have rights by reason of his office, entitling him to-such a measnre of protection at the hands of the conrt that', with all the vast power it is said to possess, it cannot, if it sees fit, make him account in the manner adopted here, or, if necessary, treat the whole receivership proceeding as a- mere means of enabling the officers of the corporation to handle its property regardless of the rights of those equitably entitled' thereto, and.as such so far void that all parties concerned are-accountable as defendants the same as if the receivership order had never been made ? If a court, in an action commenced and pending before it, cannot treat an order, obtained, as the complaint alleges and the trial court found the one appointing Rust receiver was, and those obtained by him, alleged and found to have been fraudulently secured in the execution of a wicked purpose, as at least so far- void as to warrant making the guilty persons parties defendant in the action, either as original wrongdoers or as an efficient way of trying the ¿|sues in respect to the charges made against them, then the elementary principle that fraud vitiates everything, rendering that into which it enters void or voidable, and the-doetrine that a court with full chancery jurisdiction may compel its receiver to account to such persons and in such manner • and at such times as in the exercise of sound judicial discretion it may deem best, must have a very important exception.

In *Schenck v.*Ingraham, 5 Hun, 397, which we have before alluded to, where the receiver and his attorneys converted the trust fund to their own use very much as if is-said the receiver and his attorneys did in this case, it was held that upon the facts being established showing that the orders in question were obtained by fraud upon the court and in fraud of creditors, it was the “duty of the court to disregard them as a mere device or fraud, invented for misappropriating what justice required should be paid to the creditors-of the firm whose affairs it was the object of the action to settle.” The claim was made in that case, as here, that the order-*286•of the court furnished the receiver and bis co-conspirators -some measure of protection, and to that the court said:

> “The object of the law in allowing the court to take it in •charge, was to prevent it from being wasted, destroyed, or ■squandered, in order that a proper disposition of its proceeds ■ could be-made among the persons having lawful claims upon •them. That has been completely frustrated and defeated in the present instance. The fund designed for creditors and • others interested in the property producing it, in this in-stance, has been entirely exhausted by the claims allowed to the receiver and his counsel, and it is confidently claimed "that this court shall, after all that has been done, maintain 'the proceedings as valid through which that has been accom•plished. A result of that character would justly involve the ■administration of the law in the most unqualified and de- ■ served condemnation. Eor, under the forms of law, it would protect and sanction the most apparent injustice. No lapse ■of time less than that prescribed for the commencement of actions would either justify or excuse the court for a failure •to vacate and annul proceedings which appear to have been ■resorted to as, and successfully rendered, the means of such transparent injustice. Its power in this respect is ample, .■and it would be unworthy of the name of a court of justice if this distribution of the property put into the hands of its ■officer for preservation and protection should be permitted to •stand,”

It will sufficiently appear by the language quoted, that the holding was that the order obtained by a fraud upon the court was utterly void; that it was subject to be regarded as of no force whatever if properly challenged at any time within the period of the statute of limitations.

Looking only to the charges made against the appellants in the complaint and the findings in support thereof, the quoted language applies very fittingly here. If the findings are borne out by the evidence, then the property of the cor-' •poration never really passed out from under the control of its officers and their attorneys, except as it was divided up be"tween them as private property. The office of receiver was *287a mere cover behind which, in fancied security, such officers and attorneys, those who conspired together to defraud the creditors before the action was commenced, at a time when they were responsible to the creditors as trustees of the corporate property, used up the trust fund for their private benefit. It would seem that, upon the most familiar principles of equity jurisprudence, the court having jurisdiction of the parties and the subject matter could deal with such a situation as if the order obtained by fraud upon it were entirely effaced from the record, so far as operating to any extent to protect the guilty parties. If that be not so, then the tribunal supposed to be the embodiment of the accumulated wisdom of ages, and possessing jurisdiction greater than any other earthly tribunal ever created to the end that justice might prevail between man and man, may, by cunning and selfishness, be made the most efficient means of defeating justice, the court being induced, unconsciously, to tie its own hands, rendering fraud within the very temple of equity, in the very case in hand, a bar to its administration. We cannot indorse that doctrine.

In justice to the learned counsel for appellants, to whose industry and professional acumen we owe much, enabling us to elucidate the question submitted for reargument, we acquit them, as does the learned counsel for respondents,' of at least making prominent in defense óf their clients any claim that they can shield themselves behind the office of receiver, if the findings of the court are borne out by the evidence that the whole proceedings which resulted in the wrongs complained of were but the means resorted to to carry out a fraudulent conspiracy to defeat the rights of the creditors of the corporation, entered into before the action was commenced. True, one' of the counsel argues that Mr. Erawley was not properly made a party defendant because he was never an officer of the corporation, and that the act making him a party was jurisdictional error because the action was statutory and be*288cause there is uo provision in the statute for making other persons parties than officers. But other counsel appear to admit, inferentially, that Mr. Frawley was properly made a party if he was a participant in executing a fraudulent conspiracy to defraud creditors, entered into before the action was commenced. As we have before seen, the fact that he was not an officer of the corporation makes no difference with the power of the court in respect to him, if he in fact was a constructive trustee for creditors, of some part of the trust fund, as in effect alleged. Of course, all officers, and all colluding with them to defraud creditors before the action was commenced, were proper parties under sec. 3227, and on general principles of equity, as has been uniformly held in this class of cases, and as we have heretofore seen. In addition to the authorities we have heretofore cited to that, we will name the following, some of which are aptly referred to in the brief of the learned counsel for respondents: *Powers v. Hamilton P. Co.*60 Wis. 23, 18 N. W. 20; *South Bend C. P. Co. v. George C. Cribb Co.*105 Wis. 443, 81 N. W. 675; *Proctor v. Sidney S., B. & P. Co. 8*App. Div. 42, 40 N. Y. Supp. 454, 456; *Cummings v. Am. G. & S. Co.*87 Hun, 598, 34 N. Y. Supp. 541; *Wood v. Sidney S., B. & F. Co.*92 Hun, 22, 37 N. Y. Supp. 885; *Reed v. Stryker,*4 Abb. Dec. 26; *Randolph v. Daly,*16 N. J. Eq. 313; *Burns v. Beck & G. H. Co.*83 Ga. 471, 10 S. E. 121. A few quotations from the cited cases will emphasize what has been said. This from the opinion of PutNam;, J., in *Proctor v. Sidney S., B. & F. Co.,*is in harmony with judicial expressions generally on the subject:

> “I am inclined, therefore, to believe that this action, the object of which is to reach corporate assets, was properly brought, not only against the corporation, but also against those parties who have such corporate assets in their possession; that the complaint, which joined the corporation with those who had illegally obtained its property, claiming to recover that property for the benefit of creditors, contained but *289a single cause of action; that the -well-settled principles applicable to a creditor’s suit against an individual should be deemed to apply to this creditor’s action against a corporation.”

*Wood v. Sidney S., B. & F. Co.*was a creditor’s action in which there was a claim that the debtor’s property had been placed beyond the reach of the creditors pursuant to a fraudulent scheme. All parties concerned in the alleged wrongful transaction were made defendants. The court said in respect to the complaint:

> “The unlawful transfer, both through the sales under the judgments and the sale to Brooks, is treated as an act done in pursuance of one scheme, and the complaint is framed upon the theory that in equity a right existed on behalf of the plaintiffs to have anything that was done in pursuance of that scheme adjudged fraudulent and void, and to require all those who had received any property through it to account for the amount so received. All persons are therefore made parties who did in any manner participate in such transaction, and received anything through it.”

In *Reed v.*Stryker, the court said in respect to an analogous transaction, quoting with approval from a previously decided case:

> “The general right claimed by the bill is a due application of the property of John Fellows to the payment of the judgment. The subject of the bill and of the relief, and the only-matter in litigation, is the fraud charged in the management and disposition of that property, and in which charge all the defendants are implicated, though in different degrees and proportions. The defendants, therefore, have one common interest among them all, centering in the point in issue in the cause; and different matters of different natures are not demanded by the bill. It is one matter.”

The court further said, quoting from Chancellor Kent, in *Brinkerhoff v.*Brown, 6 Johns. Ch. 139:

> “There-was a series of acts on the part of the persons concerned in this company, all produced by the same fraudulent intent, and terminating in the deception and injury of the *290plaintiffs. The defendants performed different parts in the same drama; hut it was still one piece — one entire performance, marked by different scenes.”

The importance of the feature of this case, upon the complaint and findings, in determining the question under consideration, that Rust, receiver, was, though ostensibly the hand of the court, in fact the hand of the officers of the corporation defendant, and that Mr. Hayden and Mr. Frawley, though ostensibly the attorney and counsel of the court’s officer, were in reality in that capacity for the officers of the corporation, justifies us in some further discussion of it.

The conception of a receiver is some one to take manual possession, for the court, of property, — to take it out from the possession of others and hold it for the better security of those who may be ultimately entitled thereto. The proceedings are in their very nature adversary to those holding the property ¿nd controlling it at the time of the appointment. When the receiver acts, in a legal sense the court acts. It reaches out “its arm” so to speak, and does the work requiring physical action, directed by business judgment, by using that of its officer. Now when such officer secures his appointment in the interests of those as to whom, in form, the proceedings are adversary, by imposing upon the court; when he acts in form for the court but in fact by a preconceived plan for the very persons from the possession and control of Avhom the property involved was designed to be removed; when by reason of the fraud the officers of the corporation, as in this case alleged and found, instead of being ousted from the control of its property by an equitable levy for the benefit of creditors in the only way the court could accomplish that, judicial instrumentalities are turned into mere means of enabling the officers of the corporation, through their agent, in greater security than before, to control the corporate assets for their own benefit: — it seems that the receiver has no status whatever as an agent of the court; that his real position is *291that of an agent for the guilty parties who secured his appointment ; and that his possession is but a continuation of their possession. If there were no authorities to guide us on that, it would seem, on principle, that there would be no escaping the conclusion indicated. But we are not entirely without guides. The fact that there are but few does not cause doubt in our minds upon the soundness of the doctrine. It rather indicates that the instances are rare where any such imposition upon creditors and the court, as is alleged and found here, was successfully attempted, and perhaps still more rare where it has been exposed.

In *Taber v. Royal Ins. Co.*124 Ala. 681, 26 South. 252, the court had to deal, in a creditor’s- action, with an action previously commenced, in which a receiver was appointed as a result of collusive proceedings. It was said most emphatically that there can be but one administration of a trust fund, and that the court having, by the legitimate appointment of a receiver, really taken to itself such fund, other proceedings interfering therewith were necessarily superseded. But it was held that the appointment of the first receiver, ostensibly as the agent of the court but really as the agent of those already in possession of the trust fund, was not the commencement of an administrative proceeding by a-court in any legitimate sense, and a real taking of the trust fund into its possession for that purpose; that the property in the hands of •such receiver should be deemed not to be in the possession of the court, but in the possession of the corporation through its agent. -The receiver was so treated, the court saying of the situation, this:

> “We dismiss the consideration of the previous suit commenced by the absconding officers of the company, in which a receiver was improvidently appointed by the court, as having no bearing whatever in this case. It was collusive and fraudulent, and never amounted to a *Us pendens*in behalf of -creditors, nor was there any administrative decree rendered therein. . . . Though a receiver was nominally appointed, *292bis position could amount to nothing more than a custodian introduced by the corporation itself.”

The supreme court of Texas had occasion to speak of the same subject in *Texas & P. R. Co. v. Gay,*86 Tex. 571, 605, 26 S. W. 599, 613, and did so in these words:

> “The theory on which a receiver is held to be an officer of the court appointing him, and not the agent of the owner, whose property is placed in his possession, is that the property to be controlled is taken from the custody and management of its owner and made subject to the control of the court without his consent; but when the defendant owner asks the court to do this, he, in effect, asks the court to make an appointment for him, and it is but just that a receiver so appointed should be held to be his agent.

> “That a plaintiff collusively acts with a defendant for such a purpose only aggravates the case: for this enables the owner to impose upon the court, and such plaintiff has no ground for complaint if the receiver be held the agent of the owner in reference to every act out of which, in the management of the property, obligations to other persons may arise.”

That doctrine seems so reasonable and so in accord with principle, that we venture to say no court or reputable text-writer can be found to have said anything to the contrary. We find an express adoption of such doctrine in Beach, Receivers, §§ 206, 384; and find it referred to significantly in 23 Am. & Eng. Ency. of Law (2d ed.) 1040, subd. 10.

In view of the last foregoing discussion, the point made by respondents’ counsel, that it is expressly given to the court, if the power does not otherwise exist, by sec. 3239, Stats. 1898, to direct the liabilities sought to be enforced in this litigation to be treated as they were, is not without force. Sec. 3237 provides that:

> “The circuit court shall have jurisdiction over directors, managers, trustees and other officers of corporations: to coni' pel them to account for their official conduct in the management and disposition of the funds and property committed to their charge; ... to compel payment by them to the cor*293poration whom they represent and to its creditors of all sums of money and of the value of all property which they may have acquired to themselves or transferred to others, or may have lost or wasted by any violation of their duties as such directors, managers, trustees or other officers;” and “to set aside all alienations of property made by the directors, trustees or other officers of any corporation contrary to the provisions of law or for purposes foreign to the lawful business and objects of such corporation, in cases where the person receiving such alienation knew the purposes fo'r which it was made.”

Sec. 3239, Id., provides that jurisdiction to do all those-things “shall be exercised in an action ... by any creditor of such corporation” if the case may require it or the court so direct. Here E. E. Eust, as alleged by respondents and found by the court, was introduced into this litigation by fraud, to act as the agent of the corporation and its officers, and did so act, with the results complained of. If that be true, then the misappropriation of the trust property was to all intents and purposes the act of such persons, their agents, and other guilty participants, the same as if the semblance of a possession of such property by the court were entirely out of the case. That would present a plain case within the statute, authorizing the court to take jurisdiction of the matter at the suit of the injured creditors. The language of the statute is significant in that it is to the effect that the jurisdiction shall be exercised by either of several persons named, including creditors, as may be necessary or as the court may direct. It has heretofore been suggested that in so far as authority to instigate a suit of this nature is indicated by the statute it is a mere declaration of the common law. *Gores v. Day,*99 Wis. 276, 74 N. W. 787. To that we adhere. If there is any significance in the words of the statute, “as the case may require or as the court may direct,” it is in the indication that the court has absolute authority within the boundaries of judicial discretion, to determine who shall represent as plaintiffs the per*294sons primarily interested in redressing the wrongs referred to in sec. 3237. The courts have uniformly exercised that discretion, as we have before seen, to the extent of entirely rearranging the parties to the record in suits of this kind, making those who instituted the suit defendants, and substituting new parties as plaintiffs. The court exercised the same discretionary power here; and that brings us back to the point, at which we have several times arrived: Whether the court committed jurisdictional error or not depends upon whether discretionary power was abused, and under the circumstances of this case so abused that, after a trial upon the merits, this court should say that jurisdiction of the subject matter was not acquired.

We have now been over, point by point, specifically or generally, all except one of the reasons suggested for our consideration of why the practice in this case should be condemned as jurisdictionally infirm. Assuming, as we must, that each reason put forward by the learned counsel for appellants was thought by them to have merit, we have avoided ignoring any one of them, regardless of whether any seemed to us to be without significance. The result is that some subjects have-received as careful attention as if the case might turn thereon, which, we must say, are not really open to serious discussion from a judicial standpoint. How best to frame an opinion where a large number of points are presented by able counsel, with supporting authorities supposed to demonstrate the soundness of each and with reasons supposed to make the same applicable to some phase of the case in hand, is not always easy to determine. To consider and decide the vital questions only, which are usually few in number, and brush the rest aside, greatly economizes labor and space and furnishes all that is essential for the final decision to rest upon, and probably satisfies the strict measure of judicial duty; but it is liable sometimes to leave counsel more or less uncertain in mind as to whether their labor to aid the court has been appreciated and their labor to serve their clients not been in *295great part wasted, and whether the decision might not hare been different had the points treated, apparently, as so unimportant as not to call for more than a mere mention if even that, been carefully examined. Though it has entailed much labor upon the court, the broader method has been adopted in this case, of discussing to some extent every question presented, though it seemed to us in some instances that only elementary principles were involved, or questions not open to controversy in view of previous decisions of the court. Our references have been chiefly to points suggested by appellants’ counsel, because that seemed to be the logical way of treating the matter, and because the discussion of appellants’ points incidentally covered the grounds upon which respondents claim that an affirmative answer to the court’s question should be given. We will now proceed to consider the remaining proposition submitted by appellants’ counsel.

We may briefly state counsel’s proposition thus: The complicated character a suit may assume, as evidenced by the one before us, in the practice which an affirmative answer to the court’s question would establish, indicates the absurdity of such practice and condemns it utterly. . Numerous illustrations are given by the learned counsel, of their conception of the practice in these winding-up suits, extended, as it is supposed it would be, in order to cover the matters litigated in this suit. Viewing the practice as counsel treats it, we do not wonder that the exclamation is made: “Can it be claimed that the legislature ever intended such a result!” After all that has been written, endeavoring to make the scope of this class of suits easily determinable, it is evident by the illustrations given by counsel that if this one falls within the rule a very erroneous idea of such scope is yet liable to be entertained by the profession. That suggests further effort to mark the boundaries of the principles involved. This is the result which counsel apprehend might follow stamping the practice in question as proper:

If, subsequent to the commencement of an administration *296suit and the sequestration of the assets possessed by or under the control of the debtor, these liabilities should be incurred, the parties responsible could, by supplemental bill, be brought into the litigation and the wrongs redressed:

A tenant of some part of the trust property, liable to an action of unlawful detainer.

A hostile claimant of some part of the land belonging to the trust property, so circumstanced as to be liable under ordinary conditions to an action of ejectment.

A person, so circumstanced, as to land belonging to the trust, as ordinarily to be liable to an action to remove a cloud upon title.

A. person takes some part of the trust property under claim of title in such circumstances as commonly to render him liable at the suit of the rightful owner to an action of replevin.

A person in the employ of the receiver embezzles some part of the trust fund.

One commits a trespass upon realty belonging to the trust.

Now, so far as the legislature, has spoken on the subject of the administration of the property of an insolvent corporation for the benefit of its creditors, as we have heretofore seen, it has merely indicated by implication, though as plainly as if it were done expressly, that it shall be after the manner of suits in equity commenced by general creditors’ bill. Such a bill is properly filed against every person as defendant, possessed of any part of the trust fund in the capacity of trustee for creditors, and also against any person who should be made a defendant for his due protection and to prevent multiplicity of suits. He is liable to the creditors as a class, but upon grounds rendering the liability not enforcihle except so far as necessary. There is the test of the scope of the subject matter of the suit. That it does not include any such matters as those suggested in counsel’s illustrations, or any claim involving merely the relation of debtor and creditor, or any liability of an officer of the corporation purely personal to a particular creditor, as explained in *Killen v.**297Barnes, 106 Wis. 546, 82 N. W. 536, seems plain. .That it does include all claims, statutory or otherwise, against officers and stockholders of the corporation as such, whether considered as assets of the corporation and so a part of the trust fund proper, or liabilities to the creditors as a class to he enforced only so far as necessary to pay them, and forming a part of the trust to that extent, and all liabilities against persons occupying the position of constructive trustees for the creditors by reason of their having obtained the property of the corporation in fraud of creditors, has often, in terms or in effect, been heretofore declared, the most recent instance being *Williams v. Brewster,*117 Wis. 370, 93 N. W. 479. The trust relation to creditors, within these rules, of all the defendants brought into this litigation by amendment, has heretofore, it seems, been clearly demonstrated. While it does not appear especially difficult to apply the proper test and determine what matters may he and what may not be brought into a winding-up suit without violating established practice, in view of the difficulties experienced in the administration of the remedy, as indicated by the recurrence of controversies in respect to the matter, since the court many years ago recorded its judgment in respect thereto in *Hurlbut v. Marshall,*62 Wis. 590, 22 N. W. 852, where, after explaining in detail the scope of the remedy in harmony with the foregoing, the court said, “all of the principles involved are elementary and not at all abstruse,” — something further, it seems, should he said. The declaration that all of the principles involved are elementary and not at all abstruse does not necessarily mean that there may not he many situations where difficulties may legitimately exist after applying established principles, in determining whether a person is liable to account as trustee, within the broad meaning of that term, to the creditors, but only in case of clear error in that regard should the ruling in respect thereto, by the court charged with thé duty of supervising the administration of a trust, be disturbed.

It has been common to point to the supposed complicated *298character of these administration suits, as counsel have done in this case, as a reason for restricting their scope, or as a reason why some particular matter involved should not he deemed a legitimate part of the subject matter of the action. In many cases that has been done apparently without appreciating the dominating principle involved. A good instance of that is *Gager v.*Marsden, 101 Wis. 598, 71 N. W. 922, where, as in this case, the appellant’s counsel mistook mere parts of one subject matter for distinct causes of action, and confused the relation between the trustee and the *cestui que trust*with that between debtor and creditor, and liabilities purely personal to one with liabilities to a class and only contingently enforcible; and so misconceiving the true boundaries of an administration suit referred to the practice in such cases, as this court has been constrained to outline it, as “confusing and complicated to a degree entirely inconsistent with a safe and reasonably convenient administration of justice.”

Of course, nothing new was declared in *Hurlbut v. Marshall*as to the legitimate scope of a suit in equity to administer the trust fund. The whole subject involved was covered by the doctrine that the liabilities referred to were to be deemed a trust fund and treated as such. The case only went to the extent of holding, perhaps more plainly than before, that the legislature intended, by secs. 3216 to 3239, inclusive, Stats. 1898, that a creditors’ action against an insolvent corporation should be commenced and prosecuted according to principles of equity for the judicial administration of a trust, all the beneficiaries thereof being proper plaintiffs and all holders of property in the capacity of trustees for them in any sense, or liable to them as a class, by virtue of the statute being considered as legitimate parts of the trust fund to be administered, being defendants. The principles of the judicial administration of a trust fund for creditors had long been theretofore established. There can be but one such administra*299tion. The court first acquiring jurisdiction by the filing of a proper bill and the commencement of a proper suit, whether all of the necessary parties are first brought in or not, retains it to the end. *Northwestern I. Co. v. Land & R. I. Co.*92 Wis. 487, 66 N. W. 515. All actions theretofore commenced •affecting the trust property are adjourned, so to speak, there-into, and all subsequent actions interfering with the trust property are thereby barred. The whole subject matter is necessarily encompassed by the one suit, and nothing can be legitimately allowed to judicially occur that will impair its unity. One of the purposes of such unity is to avoid multiplicity of suits. The dominating idea is that equality is equity, that it should exist as to benefits and burdens, and that such end can only be accomplished by participation of all persons standing in the relation of *cestuis que trustent*and trustee, and all affected by extraordinary liabilities not to be enforced except upon equitable principles, so far as necessary to meet the demands of the creditors contingently and equally, should be brought into the litigation. The principles involved mark the boundaries of the subject matter to be administered. So far as the boundaries are thus set courts should not endeavor to restrict them because they include a great number of issues of different sorts between plaintiffs and defendants, and different equities as to one class of plaintiffs from those of others, all to be worked out in one omnibus proceeding. It is not infrequent that the profession and the bench feel like revolting at the magnitude of such an undertaking, and yet one of the most valuable features of equitable remedies is the opportunity they afford the court to lay hold of a subject matter, however large, made up of a single primary right and all rights germane thereto, however numerous, or several such subject matters under certain circumstances, bring all parties directly interested before the court, with all parties necessary to be there for their due protection, and settle the entire controversy by a single decree in a single administration proceed*300ing, giving to each party his just measure of relief or protection, and each his just measure of punishment, forever closing the primary dispute and all so connected therewith as to be legitimately considered a part thereof. It would he a backward step in the administration of justice to let the magnitude and complexities of a single subject matter lead to a sacrifice of one iota of such principle.

If the mere magnitude of the work, the number of parties and issues, and variety of relief demanded, legitimately included within a single subject matter, would furnish any justification for failing to vindicate the established practice to its full extent, this case — with its record» of between 6,000 and 7,000 pages, and requiring, after all the industry of counsel had been exhausted in condensing such a vast amount of material into as small a compass as practicable, about 3,400 pages of printed matter to present it — would accomplish that result; but it does not. Principles do not change with the magnitude and difficulties of cases. Of course, there is no danger of such liabilities as the learned counsel suggests in his illustrations being included within the subject matter of an administration suit. They, like any other mere thing in action, pass to the receiver and become a part of the trust property in his possession, to he converted into money at his suit if necessary, while the liabilities of trustee defendants and of those whose responsibilities are only enforcihle upon equitable principles, are to he marshaled into the trust.fund in money by direct proceedings in the main suit. The dividing line, go far as the principles involved are concerned, is plain. Probably, except for the bar that established practice has set up in the matter, the liabilities enforcihle for beneficiaries of the trust fund in a winding-up suit might he very much extended, as intimated in *Peck v. Elliott,*79 Fed. 10, cited by respondents’ counsel. There the federal court held that its authority extended to gathering mere dues from creditors of the corporation defendant into the trust fund in *301money, by independent suits in the name of its receiver, or by making the debtors defendants in the winding-up suit. That is in harmony with what we have said to the effect that the power of the court in such matters is plenary except so far as it is limited by sound judicial discretion. It is so effectually limited here that the making of mere debtors parties defendant in the original suit would be deemed most serious error.

The final conclusions that must be drawn from the foregoing seem clear.

All of the alleged liabilities made a part of the subject.matter of this suit by the supplemental bill, either were unknown to the creditors when the suit was commenced, or they thereafter accrued. They are all material to the original purpose of the action, — the one subject thereof. Had they existed at the origin of the litigation, they could have been made a part of the plaintiff’s cause of action. Unless the receivership feature is a bar, it is within the discretionary authority of the court to permit them to be made a part thereof by the supplemental bill. While the general practice in settling a receiver’s account, and the amount for which he is liable for breach of trust is by special proceedings in the action wherein he was appointed, issues being made up and tried before the court or referee or otherwise as to the court may seem best, the beneficiaries having full opportunity to be heard in the matter, and the general way of enforcing payment of whatever sum the receiver may in such proceedings be adjudged liable for is by way of contempt proceedings, — that method is not exclusive. The whole subject is under the control of the court within the boundaries of sound judicial discretion. It might in exceptional circumstances permit an independent action to be brought against its receiver by the beneficiaries of the trust; or, if the original suit were yet open, permit him to be made a defendant therein and the matter involved be closed by the general decree.

*302If it is alleged as to a receiver, that during tbe course of bis administration be pursued a systematic course hostile to tbe primary beneficiaries, concealing bis conduct from the knowledge of tbe court till tbe trust fund was, by him and those fraudulently colluding with him, wasted or put beyond tbe reach of such beneficiaries, except so far as tbe same could be recovered by judicial proceedings, and there is probable ground for believing that tbe charge is true, and tbe issues raised in tbe action in respect to tbe trust are still open, it is competent for tbe court, on such showing, to permit tbe claim on behalf of tbe creditors, against tbe receiver and bis alleged guilty participants, to be treated as a part of tbe original subject of tbe action, and to be brought into it for trial by supplemental bill.

If an action is commenced ostensibly to administer tbe assets of an insolvent corporation, but really pursuant to a fraudulent agreement between its officers or its officers and others, to enable them to control tbe corporate assets for their own benefit, and in execution of such fraudulent scheme those controlling tbe suit induce tbe court, by false pretenses, to appoint as receiver one of their own number who will use bis office to enable them to effect their wrongful purpose, and be does so use it, the court may, upon being satisfied of a probability that such fraud has been committed, for tbe purpose of having tbe truth of tbe matter judicially determined, permit tbe creditors to treat such receiver as having been tbe agent of tbe corporation and its officers, and tbe assets of the corporation to have been by bis aid continued under their control, though being ostensibly under tbe control of tbe court. In such circumstances it is eminently proper for tbe court— tbe condition of tbe suit being such that under any circumstances a supplemental complaint might be made — to allow such officers and such agent to be made parties defendant and charged as trustees for creditors, as to tbe property of tbe corporation still in their bands, and tbe value of all wrongfully *303•appropriated by tbem or otherwise lost through their wrongful conduct, or that of either of them, in execution of the original fraudulent design. To bring such parties into the ■suit as defendants on either of the contingencies mentioned, it is believed, would not be a stretch of judicial discretion, and on the last one mentioned would be a very wise exercise ■of judicial power.

Upon a review of the whole situation, we can see no legitimate ground for appellants to complain. They had as full an opportunity to be heard in their defense as they would have had if any other method, adequate under the circumstances to meet the case, had been adopted. Certainly, no ■good ground exists for the court to hold that the practice adopted was such an abuse of judicial power as to constitute jurisdictional error. On the contrary, in view of the feature of the case as to Eust being really the arm of the corporation defendant and its officers, instead of that of the ■court, the practice adopted meets with our approval.

III.

Appeals.

We have now reached the merits of the appeals. There are many questions to be considered in respect thereto. If we were to discuss each appeal at length as regards matters of evidence, and the legal principles applicable thereto as well, this opinion would unavoidably be extended to such length that it seems best not to take such course, but to confine what we may say mainly to conclusions reached on minor and ultimate questions. The details involved have been studied with nil the care that could reasonably be devoted thereto, having regard to the important interests involved. Notwithstanding the great length of the record, we trust nothing has been overlooked. The importance of fully understanding the evidence *304in all its bearings, in view of the extraordinary character of the findings, could not well be overestimated. By such findings a score or more of men of the foremost in professional and business life in the community in which they resided, as appears, and whose integrity in their relations with their fellow-men we must assume was above reproach, are condemned as having been guilty of conceiving and executing one of the most far-reaching and dangerous frauds of which we have any history in the records of judicial investigations; a fraud that required in its consummation the services of the agents of one of the highest judicial tribunals known to our láw, and which obtained that aid; a fraud, if we must take the findings as right, so manifest in the various steps in its consummation, as they were brought before the court, that it could not have escaped the notice of the judicial head having charge of the matter, without such inattention thereto as to make him, morally at least, a party to the wrong. Nothing equal to it has before come to our attention in experience or research. The characters of these prominent men, in business, professional, and official life, stand condemned before the bar of justice, and condemned so severely as to blacken their reputations beyond reasonable hope of the cloud being lifted, if the indictment be found to be justified by the law and the evidence. Eour of the most prominent figures in this picture, and the three most prominent of them, have, as the record shows, since the action was commenced, entered upon that journey from which there is no return. If the conclusions reached by the trial judge are warranted by the evidence and the law, the judgment complained of comes far short of fully remedying the wrongs these men were guilty of, as regards the parties plaintiff directly interested; much less the administration of justice which they abused and in effect corrupted. If the conclusions of fact were reached by the trial court by overlooking material evidence or disregarding it, or drawing unwarranted inferences, and by misconceiving the rules of law *305applicable to tbe case, a wrong has been done to these men, under the sanction of the law, and by distinguished and conscientious administration of it in the court whose judgment we are to review, of such a nature that, after the jurisdiction of this court shall have been exhausted to remedy it, the living parties now resting under the condemnation and those who stand for and feel the load of the absent participants will still be sufferers. These considerations are all entitled to, and will, receive attention in determining the scope of what should be said in order to vindicate the justice of the judgment complained of, if it is right; and vindicate the integrity of the condemned parties, so far as the evidence and the law will warrant, if the conclusions of the trial court and the judgment based thereon are found to be unjust.

A few questions are common to all the appeals. We will give attention to them at the outset.

A demurrer *ore terms*was interposed as to each defendant. This seems to have been done upon the theory «that it was not permissible to bring the matter litigated before the court by a supplemental bill or by proceedings in the way attempted, as to the receiver and his alleged co-wrongdoers; or upon the ground that a creditors’ action against an insolvent corporation is wholly statutory and that no warrant is found in secs. 3216 to 3239, inclusive, Stats. 1898, covering the subject, for including the matters charged against the appellants; or because the supplemental complaint did not show that the condition precedent to the right to commence a creditors’ action — the issuance of an execution to enforce a money judgment against the corporation and return thereof unsatisfied— had been fulfilled; or because the facts pleaded show inexcusable laches; or because damages caused by an actionable fraud cannot be recovered in an equitable action, and particularly not as part of a trust fund in a winding-up proceeding of this sort. We are left somewhat in the dark as to just what counsel did rely upon. Errors are assigned as to each appeal, *306because the demurrer was overruled, but very little is said by counsel in respect thereto. Most of the reasons we have mentioned as likely to have been in the mind of counsel as a basis for their position have been treated in discussing the jurisdictional question. There, incidentally, it seems, enough was said to indicate that none of the suggested reasons can be successfully urged in support of the alleged insufficiency. The pleader stated in the complaint but one cause of action, and in that charged each defendant with a degree of responsibility fatally involving him in the wrong complained of. In other words, if there is a cause of action against one, it is against all.

True, as counsel suggest, it is essential to a cause of action in equity by creditors, to administer the property of an insolvent corporation for their benefit, by statutory regulation and otherwise, that it be alleged that all legal remedies for the collection of the moving creditor’s claim have been exhausted by the establishment thereof at law, the issuance of an execution thereon in a good-faith-attempt to collect the same, and a return of such execution unsatisfied. *Hinckley v. Pfister,*83 Wis. 64, 82, 53 N. W. 21; *State ex rel. Fowler v. Circuit Court,*98 Wis. 143, 151, 73 N. W. 788; *Davelaar v. Blue Mound I. Co.*110 Wis. 470, 474, 86 N. W. 185; sec. 3216, Stats. 1898. Respondents’ counsel, answering that proposition, suggest, in effect, that the rule laid down in *Hinckley v. Pfister,*that a defect in the complaint in regard to such essential cannot be raised by demurrer *ore tenus,*has been overruled, citing *Hoff v. Olson,*101 Wis. 118, 76 N. W. 1121, and *Johnson v. Huber,*106 Wis. 282, 284, 82 N. W. 137. *Meyer v. Garthwaite,*92 Wis. 571, 66 N. W. 704; *Bigelow v. Washburn,*98 Wis. 553, 74 N. W. 362; *Post v. Campbell,*110 Wis. 378, 384, 85 N. W. 1032, and many other such cases, might have been added. They are only to the point that an objection to the sufficiency of a complaint in equity, that it shows the plaintiff has an adequate remedy at law, is *307waived unless raised by demurrer on tbat ground. That does not reach tbe question of whether the essential to a cause of notion in a creditors’ suit, where sequestration is sought, that all legal remedies shall have been exhausted in the manner before indicated, not being stated in the complaint, the defect eanhe raised by demurrer *ore terms.*A defect of that character does not involve a mere matter of practice, such as whether the proper forum for the plaintiff to invoke is that •of law or that of equity, as in the cases cited by counsel for respondents *(Martin v. Martin,*112 Wis. 314, 317, 87 N. W. 232, 88 N. W. 215), but whether there is any cause of action -at all. However, we are unable to discover that there is any -such defect in the complaint in this case. It shows by appropriate allegations that a judgment was duly rendered at law in favor of H. H. Hayden against the insolvent corporation; that execution was duly issued on such judgment, and was •duly returned unsatisfied; that thereafter the judgment creditors commenced an action which by due proceedings assumed the form of, and is in fact, the action in which the judgment •complained of was rendered. Because, in the supplemental •complaint, Mr. Hayden was made a defendant, so that it did not appear that any plaintiff, as the parties appeared upon the record at the trial, was so circumstanced as to be competent to commence such an action, is not material.. The court having legitimately become possessed of the subject matter involved, the place thereafter occupied on the record by the person invoking the jurisdiction of the court at the start, whether plaintiff or defendant, or whether he dropped out of the litigation altogether, the fact still appearing by the complaint that the jurisdiction of the. court was properly invoked, could make no difference. The mere arrangement of parties on the record in an equity case, in order that those united in interest may appear as plaintiffs and those adverse thereto may appear as defendants, the former standing for the subject mat-iter of the action upon sufficient facts alleged, pertains to mere *308judicial administration and is under the supreme control of the court within the boundaries of sound judicial discretion.

The point that the complaint shows the conduct of plaintiffs respecting the matters of controversy presented by the supplemental complaint was fatally tainted with laches, does not appear to have support. The complaint contains specific allegations to the effect that none of the facts alleged, upon which the liability of appellants is predicated, came to the knowledge of the respondents till shortly before the application was made for a reopening of the litigation and leave to bring in the new matter and new parties. No situation is disclosed indicating that respondents were guilty of negligence in not earlier discovering the facts so that, by the rules on that subject, they should be denied judicial aid. *Bostwick v. Mut. L. Ins. Co.*116 Wis. 392, 421, 89 N. W. 538, 92 N. W. 246. It is fairly inferable from the complaint as a whole that the circumstances which moved respondents to action, resulting in their appeal to the court to reopen the case, occurred at the time of and within a short period before the final closing-up of the receivership matter, and that nothing occurred prior to such period, known to plaintiffs or which they could reasonably be charged with knowledge of, so tending to suggest unfaithfulness on the part of the receiver that the respondents should have discovered, earlier than they did, the evidence of wrongdoing if it existed. In any event, there being no element of estoppel to be dealt with, and no fatal negligence on the part of the respondents, and no difficulty as regards the subject matter of the supplemental complaint, except as regards the time of bringing such matter to the attention of the court, whether the facts justified the court in permitting such complaint or not, does not go to the cause of action. It was a mere practice matter, addressed to the sound discretion of the court.

A point is made that the consolidation of the action commenced by *James T. Barber*and another, and the one com-*309meneed by H. H. Hayden, into one, and tbe allowance of a supplemental complaint as if only a single action remained, was an unwarranted proceeding. Counsel suggest, seemingly with confidence, that consolidation of actions means only consolidation of trials; that is, a trial of several actions together, not the trial of one action instead of several actions. Counsel •cite authorities supposed to support that view. We do not feel justified in taking time to discuss them. In our judgment their import has been overlooked by counsel, and they have further overlooked the statute, sec. 2192, Stats. 1898, which expressly indicates, as o'f course the fact is, that consolidation of actions means the creation of one out of two or more that might reasonably have been brought as one. That power, as to actions formerly cognizable only in equity, exists independently of the statute. *Biron v. Edwards,*77 Wis. 477, 46 N. W. 813. This was eminently a proper ease for the exercise of such power. There could not be, without violating established practice, more than one action allowed to administer the property of the corporation and, incidently, ether liabilities for the benefit of its creditors. Necessarily, the first one properly commenced superseded the other. Such other, since both were commenced in the same court, and judicial consent was given, became adjourned, so to speak, into the properly commenced action, as a matter of course, and the entry of the formal order in that regard only recorded the fact. From the time of the commencement of the Hayden action and the proceedings thereafter recognizing the status of the first action and affirming what had been done therein, there was really but one action to proceed.

The complaint charged that, as early as January 1, 1893, appellants *Thompson, Gilbert, Owen,*and *Barber,*and the deceased persons, Rust, Hayden, and Moon, all of whom were officers and stockholders of the corporation, knew that it was hopelessly insolvent, and then entered into a conspiracy to appropriate to their own use its assets in fraud of general *310creditors, and that in pursuance thereof, prior to May 18,. 1893, they caused to be hypothecated to themselves and to-corporations in which they were interested, for the purpose of securing previously contracted debts of the insolvent to themselves and such corporations, a large amount of the insolvent’s-assets. Acts, in great detail, were alleged to have occurred pursuant to such conspiracy, all of which were covered, favorably to the respondents, with lite detail in the findings, followed by a conclusion to the effect that all of such hypotheca-tions were legitimately made, and that no such conspiracy as that alleged, or any other, prejudicial to the creditors of the insolvent, was formed by the alleged guilty parties prior to May 15, 1893. None of the-acts on the part of such persons,, alleged to have occurred to the wrongful prejudice of creditors prior to that time, were so found, and none before the-commencement of the first receivership, May 23, 1893, except one, viz., the giving of the Brookville mortgage May 18, 1893,. which will be considered in appeal No. 5; but it was found' that some time after May 15, 1893, and before the commencement of the *Barber*action, the alleged guilty persons formed a conspiracy to place the property of the corporation, with a court receiver, and to cause it to be administered by him, acting ostensibly as agent of the court but really as their agent, so as, in the end, under the forms of law, to appropriate such property to their own use. That finding, as indicated, was not based upon any direct or circumstantial evidence showing wrongdoing as to any occurrence before the date of the supposed conspiracy. Up to that time, which, as has been seen,. was on the eve of the commencement of the receivership action,- all of the alleged guilty parties-stand forth wholly innocent of the indictment against them-contained in the complaint. The hypothecations alleged to-have been made were in fact made, but all but one of them, as found by the court, and that iñ legal effect, as we shall see-hereafter, were made for a sufficient consideration while the-*311corporation was a going concern and its assets were free from any impress of a trust for the benefit of creditors. *Slack v. N. W. Nat. Bank,*103 Wis. 57, 79 N. W. 51. The law in that regard in this state, when the supplemental complaint was made, was not so well settled as it was later when the cause was tried.

It seems quite evident from the complaint that it was framed upon the theory that the mere fact that the corporation was insolvent, if such were the fact, at the time the hy-pothecations were made, notwithstanding it was a going concern and might, so far as then known, continue in business indefinitely, impressed its assets with a trust for creditors, disabling its officers from dealing therewith, as to creditors, by taking security for debts due from it to them or those due to others secured by their responsibilities. Facts were alleged in great array, as regards occurrences long prior to the commencement of the action, which at the outset, it seems, were supposed to point conclusively to a precedent agreement and to its consummation, the legal effect of which, whether the occurrence took place by concert of action or not, would be a fraud upon creditors. However, in harmony with the settled principles as understood at the time of the trial, the court held, in the end, that no fraud was inferable therefrom as a fact, nor resulted therefrom as a matter of law. Up to this point the learned court, in reaching minor conclusions, followed the order adopted in the complaint. The evidentiary facts were first found, upon which the ultimate facts and conclusion of law claimed depended. When that was reached the alleged guilty parties were exonerated, not condemned. The findings were framed in an orderly and logical way, since the truth of the matter which the court was in quest of was to be disclosed if at all by circumstances. From that point on, the order seems to have been reversed. Instead of finding the existence of facts from which fraud might reasonably be inferred,, if inferable at all, followed by the ultimate con-*312elusion in respect thereto which the circumstances seemed to call for, the conclusion was reached at the outset and from that standpoint the actions of the parties thereafter — which in the main at least, if found wrongful at all, would under ordinary circumstances have been attributable and attributed to error of judgment from a business standpoint, or mistake of law, in the absence of some very clear indication to the contrary — were found to be successive steps in consummating the original design. The structural features of the findings, which the learned court which tried the case doubtless adopted at the suggestion of the learned counsel for the prevailing parties, are not entirely without significance in determining whether the evidentiary circumstances were found from the proper standpoint, and in determining whether fraud should or should not be inferred therefrom, which is in the main the basis for the judgment complained of.

The question of whether the findings of fact are supported by the evidence in the light of correct principles of law, is common to all the appeals. We are constrained in our considerations not to review at the outset the finding as to the alleged guilty parties having entered into the fraudulent combination held to have been made, but to consider the eviden-tiary circumstances as found, and after passing upon the exceptions to the findings in that regard, to then consider whether what remains of such findings supports the conclusion of fact as to the fraudulent conspiracy or not.

In considering the exceptions to the findings, these familiar principles will be recognized and applied. They are mentioned here to avoid referring to them in detail as the review of the case proceeds:

1. ‘Since the circuit judge who tried this issue had the benefit and advantage of a personal examination of the witnesses, and was better qualified to judge of the weight to be given to their testimony by the usual tests of credibility, than this court can be, his finding of the main facts ought not to be dis*313turbed without sucb a clear and palpable preponderance of the evidence against it as will create a positive conviction in our minds that he erred in his conclusion.’ *Rice v. Jerenson,*54 Wis. 248, 251, 11 N. W. 549; *Zoesch v. Thielman,*105 Wis. 117, 80 N. W. 1107; *Vilas v. Bundy,*106 Wis. 168, 81 N. W. 812; *Johnson v. Goult,*106 Wis. 247, 82 N. W. 139; *Wyss v. Grunert,*108 Wis. 38, 83 N. W. 1095; *Wussow v. Hase,*108 Wis. 382, 84 N. W. 433; *Remington v. Eastern R. Co.*109 Wis. 154, 190, 84 N. W. 898, 85 N. W. 321; *Endress v. Shove,*110 Wis. 141, 85 N. W. 651; *Hill v. Am. Surety Co.*112 Wis. 627, 88 N. W. 642.

2. The foregoing rule requires, in order to warrant the disturbance of a trial court’s findings of fact upon appeal, that such findings shall appear so plainly against the preponderance of the evidence as to be explainable only by want of proper consideration of the evidence, mistake in overlooking material portions thereof, or prejudice, or some other improper cause. *Wyss v. Grunert,*108 Wis. 44, 83 N. W. 1095.

3. The burden of proof is on him who alleges fraud to establish the same by clear and satisfactory evidence, — not to that degree of certainty which is said to be beyond a reasonable doubt, but by a preponderance of the evidence so clear and satisfactory as to establish the fact found with reasonable certainty, giving due weight to the presumption that human actions in business relations are characterized by good faith, at least as regards responsibilities of which the law takes notice. *"Odiosa et inhonesta non sunt in lege prcesu-menda; et in facto quod se habet ad bonum et malum, magis de bono quam de malo prcesumenda est.”*(Odious and dishonest things are not to be presumed in law; and in an act which partakes both of good and bad, the presumption should be more in favor of what is good than what is bad.) Co. Litt. 78; *Rice v. Jerenson, supra; F. Dohmen Co. v. Niagara F. Ins. Co.*96 Wis. 38, 52, 71 N. W. 69; Jones, Ev. § 190; 14 Am. & Eng. Ency. of Law (2d ed.) 190.

*3144. Tbe first rule mentioned does not apply where it is manifest that tbe findings were based upon a mistaken view of tbe law. *Milwaukee Co. v. Pabst,*70 Wis. 352, 35 N. W. 337.

5. Tbe first and second rules mentioned apply with more or less force according as tbe record discloses tbe existence or nonexistence of those elements upon which it is based. So far as tbe ultimate facts are dependent upon inferences from undisputed evidentiary matters fully appearing upon tbe record, tbe supposed better opportunity for tbe trial court to discover tbe proper inference is not to be overcome upon appeal by greater clearness in tbe evidentiary effect of such circumstances than would be required in viewing tbe same from an original standpoint.

6. Tbe admission and consideration of improper evidence is deemed immaterial upon appeal in considering tbe question of whether findings made by tbe court are supported by tbe evidence, unless it clearly appears that otherwise tbe findings would have been different. *Hill v. Am. Surety Co. supra; Duncan v. Duncan,*111 Wis. 75, 86 N. W. 562. Tbe rejection of proper evidence is deemed immaterial in tbe circumstances mentioned in tbe foregoing rule, unless it appears that bad it not been for such rejection tbe findings might probably have been materially different.

7. It is presumed in viewing a trial court’s finding that improper evidence taken under objection was given no weight in reaching tbe final conclusion, unless the contrary appears. *Rozek v. Redzinski,*87 Wis. 525, 58 N. W. 262; *Farr v. Semple,*81 Wis. 230, 51 N. W. 319.

While from tbe wording of tbe notices of appeal as regards sec. 3052, Stats. 1898, we were compelled to bold that nineteen distinct appeals were taken, appellants are united in interest according as their names appear in tbe several instruments by which tbe appeals were taken, except in one case, where there are two appellants, but two distinct interests as regards costs. That is to say, testing tbe appeals by tbe in*315terests to be dealt with, we have but eight parties appellant. We will treat them that way.

All questions that will how be treated should be understood to have been raised by proper exceptions. Except where necessary we shall not undertake to mention exceptions or assignments of error.

*Appeal No. 1.*

Appeal by W. A', and *'A. J. Bust,*as personal representatives of R. E. Rust, deceased.

The facts found by the trial court in respect to this matter appear in detail in the statement preceding the opinion in findings 175 to 181 inclusive. The following history of the matter appears wholly or substantially undisputed in the evidence as we view it. Many of the features are embodied in the findings, though those omitted have a material and perhaps controlling bearing.

The National Electric Manufacturing Company, some three years before the commencement of the first receivership action, which for convenience we will hereafter call the *Barber*action, installed an electric lighting plant at Asheville, North Carolina, on lands owned by J. A. Lyman, it being understood then or some time thereafter, and prior to May 5, 1891, that he would take $1,000 in bonds secured upon the property, for such land. The local company which owned the plant, and the debtor of the electric company, was the People’s Light, Heat & Power Company, which we will hereafter call the proprietor company. Prior to May 5, 1891, such company plaeed a trust deed on the electric plant and the land upon which it was situated, to secure thirty-four $500 bonds, which were to be used, in the main at least, to pay the electric company on construction account. On the day named' the latter company opened an account with this bond matter by a debit item of $17,000, and a memorandum that the bonds were received and delivered to George B. Shaw. On *316tbe same date the account was credited with numbers 1 and 2 of the bonds, $1,000, with a memorandum explaining that *they were left with Gobb & Merriman,*attorneys at Asheville, to pay Mr. Lyman for the land upon which the electric plant was situated; and was also credited with numbers 10 to 14 inclusive of the bonds, $2,500, with a memorandum indicating that the same had been delivered to J. A. Lyman. For what purpose the latter delivery was made does not appear, but it does appear that the electric company did not at any time own the bonds so delivered, after May 5, 1891. The $1,000 in bonds “were left with Cobb & Merriman” pursuant to some arrangement to which the proprietor company was a party. Whether the electric company at any time was the owner of such bonds, or controlled them for any purpose, except to deposit the same with Cobb & Merriman for the uáe of Mr. Lyman, does not appear. The indications are that it did not, and that they were never taken from Asheville by the electric company or its receiver, or any one acting for either to the knowledge of the latter. It never had possession of the bonds, if at all, subsequent to May 5, 1891, the day, so far as indicated, when it first had dealings with the bond matter. In addition we find in the record, in the form of an agree-menton the trial: “It is conceded that the amount owned by the receiver was $2,500.” That must have been overlooked in drawing the findings. The deposit with Cobb & Merriman was made by the electric company and the proprietor company for the special purpose of paying Mr. Lyman.

Default, was early made in the payment of interest upon the bonds, only the first six months’ interest being paid. Prior to January 1, 1893, and while it was competent to do so, twelve of the bonds were turned out by the electric company to the *Chippewa Valley Bank*of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, as collateral security, and ten of the bonds were likewise turned out to M. G-. Shaw of Eau Claire, five bonds, of $2,500 only, remaining under the control of the electric company. The *317facts in that -regard were duly entered on the company’s boohs. Thereafter, and before January 1, 1893, the *Chippewa Valley Bank*took charge of the matter of protecting the interests of the Ean Claire bondholders, itself, M. G. Shaw, and the electric company, employing H. B. Walmsley and H. H. Hayden, attorneys of Ean Claire, Wisconsin, in respect thereto. Snch attorneys, from first to last, the period reaching down to the trial of this action, looked to the bank as their employer and were paid by it. In all of the transactions by such attorneys as to the matter Mr. Walmsley was the active man, spending considerable time in respect thereto in Asheville.

About January, 1893, Mr. Walmsley discovered that Cobb & Merriman had possession of $1,000 of the bonds for the purpose before indicated, and that Mr. Lyman would not accept the same for the real estate upon which the electric plant was located. Some time thereafter, and long prior to the commencement of the receivership, he obtained possession of such bonds, acting in the interests of all the bondholders he represented. At this time, and at all times thereafter, the $2,500 of bonds sent to Lyman as aforesaid were owned, $1,500 by him, and $1,000 by William Mi Barnard, both of Asheville.

Mr. Walmsley took such measures to enforce payment of the bonds, by authority of all the Eau Claire bondholders, but looking to the bank as his employer, that some time prior to the commencement of the *Barber*action he caused the trust deed securing them to be foreclosed and the property to be sold, being himself compelled to bid in the same for the protection of his clients, which he did for $5,001. Lyman and Barnard would not participate as purchasers, and demanded their pro rata share of the $5,001. To settle with them, and with Mr. Lyman for the realty, and pay the trustee’s fees upon the foreclosure'sale, $1,835 was required. Mr. Wahns-ley arranged all the matters in that regard at Asheville, mak*318•ing a draft upon tbe *G hip pew a Valley Bank*for tbe amount required less tbe trustee’s fees.

About tbe time tbe draft arrived at Eau Olaire tbe *Barter*.action was commenced, tbe property of tbe electric company being placed in tbe bands of R. E. Rust as receiver. The ■books of tbe insolvent then showed but $2,500 of Asheville bonds controlled by it. Tbe receiver thereafter dealt with tbe matter in all transactions in regard thereto upon the basis of bis bolding, in some capacity, five twenty-sevenths, or $2,500 ■only, of tbe bonds represented by Walmsley, tbe others so represented being those held by tbe *OMppewa Valley Bank*.and M. G-. Shaw.

Aside from some doubtful liabilities of stockholders and -officers of tbe proprietor company, tbe bonds were valueless ■except so far as money could be realized out of tbe property acquired at tbe foreclosure sale. Eive twenty-sevenths of the money necessary to protect tbe title to such property in Walmsley and make tbe same available for tbe Eau Olaire bondholders was a valid charge thereon. No one could have acquired any interest therein under tbe circumstances, on account of tbe receivership bonds, except by paying five twenty-sevenths of such money. In that situation Mr. Rust was applied to by Mr. Walmsley, or some other agent of tbe *Chippewa Valley Bank,*for bis share of tbe $1,835. He complied, using bis private funds. He did not deem it proper, without permission of tbe court, to risk receivership money in tbe matter, but was willing to take tbe risk personally ■rather than to forego all opportunity to realize on tbe bonds.

Before doing as above indicated, Rust caused tbe whole situation to be presented to tbe circuit judge by bis attorney, for tbe purpose of obtaining judicial authority to participate in tbe proceedings to acquire tbe Asheville plant and enforce collection of tbe bonds at tbe expense of tbe trust fund, with tbe result that such authority was refused. Tbe evidence is -so undisputed and conclusive on this point that it must be *319taken as true unless all rules for weighing evidence are to be set aside.. There is much evidence on the subject, and many circumstances, all in harmony. Counsel for respondents, on ■cross-examination, asked Mr. Erawley: “Why did the court decline to authorize the expenditure, while he authorized the expenditure in the Bucyrus and other matters ?” to which the answer was given, “The matter was presented to the court, — ” to which counsel said: “I know that,” when the witness continued : “I will simply tell you what he said: He said he did not think anything would ever be realized out of it, and did not think it would be good business judgment to put in any money down there, — did not think anything would be realized.”

Thereafter, during the whole time of the receivership, except as to $524.26 which will be'hereafter referred to, when money was required to be advanced on account of the Ashe-ville matter as to the receivership bonds, Mr. Eust paid the same out of his private funds, or assumed liability to do so, as between himself, the *Chippewa Valley Bank,*or *George T. Thompson*as its representative, and M. G. Shaw.

Eust had no knowledge of the $1,000 of bonds before mentioned other than what appeared upon the books as they came into his possession as receiver. He made no account thereof, and though he made some effort to discover their location and ownership, it does not appear that he succeeded. He made inquiry of Mr. Walmsley while the latter was at Asheville about one year after the receivership commenced, but it does not appear to have been made from any supposed value in the bonds, or ownership in himself as. receiver, but in order that he might have a complete record of the entire issue of $17,000. Mr. Walmsley, upon the trial, explained his silence as to the $1,000 of bonds by saying that he understood they were deposited by the proprietor company and the electric oompany to pay Lyman for the realty, and that upon his being compelled, representing the Eau 'Claire bondholders, *320to pay money in lien of tbe bonds, be regarded tbe same as belonging to those wbo advanced sncb money. In all tbe transactions by Rust as receiver, whether with bis associates *Thompson*and Shaw, of otherwise, no account was taken of bonds owned by tbe electric company at tbe time of tbe commencement of tbe *Barber*action, except tbe $2,500.

After tbe title to tbe Asheville plant was perfected in Mr. Walmsley for tbe Eau Claire bondholders, they believing— and with good reasons therefor — that tbe best way to realize thereon in money was to disorganize tbe plant and sell tbe wreckage, shipping tbe major part thereof to Eau Claire for that purpose, that course was taken. There is nothing in tbe record to impeach tbe good faith of this proceeding, or tbe judgment which dictated it. Tbe amount thus realized was $4,482.30, out of which Mr. Rust bandied $1,452.02, which was accounted for between him,’ tbe *Chippewa Valley*Bank, and M. G. Shaw. Tbe amount paid out in respect to tbe matter, including tbe first payment of $1,835, and exclusive of attorney’s fees, was not less than $2,934.45. We make it from tbe evidence somewhat more, but as that is all counsel claim we will adopt their figures. Mr. Rust personally, directly or indirectly, paid five twenty-sevenths of tbe $2,934.45, or became liable therefor. There was left, out of tbe sum realized from tbe property acquired at tbe foreclosure sale, not more than $1,548.45 — somewhat less, it seems — to pay tbe expenses of tbe attorneys and to apply upon tbe bonds. Expenses were incurred in connection with disorganizing tbe Asheville plant and turning tbe same into money, in addition to tbe above, to tbe amount of $524.26. These expenses were incurred largely by tbe regular agent of tbe receiver, and were paid by tbe latter out of receivership moneys, be charging tbe same to himself, Thompson, and Shaw.

After tbe foreclosure of tbe trust deed Walmsley and Hayden continued in tbe employ of tbe *Ghippewa Valley Bank**321in respect to the collection of the Asheville bonds, Mr. Walms-ley spending much time at Asheville for that purpose. In his judgment there were certain liabilities of stockholders and officers of the proprietor company enforcible for the payment of the bonds. TJpon his advice several suits were commenced, some in the state court and some in the federal court, in North Carolina, to enforce such liabilities. The litigation in that regard was commenced in 1894 and was still pending at the time of the trial of this action, there then being no reasonable hope of recovering anything for bondholders, and nothing having been theretofore recovered. At first Mr. Rust’s name as receiver was used with those of other Eau Claire bondholders, in the prosecution of the suits referred to, but upon that fact being brought to his_ attention he promptly demanded that his name should not appear in that way, as he claimed the $2,500 of bonds personally. The demand was made and reason given therefor by letter. A few days subsequent thereto he again wrote Mr. Walmsley on the subject, explaining that he claimed ownership of the bonds personally because the court would not permit him to represent them in the litigation as receiver, — would not allow any receivership money to be risked in the matter, and that he had to treat the bonds as his own. He directed reports to be made to him as receiver, as the bonds, or the proceeds, might ultimately revert to the trust fund. Seasonably after receiving such letters Mr. Walmsley caused Mr. Rust to appear in the litigation in his personal capacity instead of as receiver. He did not thereafter, as receiver, in any way participate in the litigation.

The entire expenses of the litigation, including those of local attorneys and the amounts paid Hayden and Walmsley for services and expenses, were about $4,000, about $3,000 of which was paid to Hayden and Walmsley, the greater part being paid prior to July 20, 1894. The entire expenditures made in the enforcement of the Asheville bonds, including *322tbe $2,934.45 aforesaid, were $6,970.33, not counting tbe $524.26 paid by Bust, receiver. Tbe net result of tbe matter,' leaving out tbe $524.26, was a loss of $2,488.03, five twenty-seventbs of wbicb Mr. Bust paid or became liable for personally. Tbe account witb tbe matter, as to bim, should be stated thus:

> 

Thus, if tbe liabilities adjudged as to Bust for tbe $524.26 and tbe bonds stand, tbe trust fund will be relieved from all tbe burdens of bis participating in tbe Asheville matter, and will be enriched by $1,000 and interest, while a loss of $945.07 and interest will fall on bis personal representatives.

In May, 1897, nothing was left to be done»to close up tbe receivership matter, except to close out a large amount of book accounts supposed to be of little or no value, and other accounts where moneys were paid out by tbe receiver in enforcing hypothecated matters and charged to the holders of the security, to sell some few articles of tangible property, to pass upon the receiver’s account, and to distribute the remaining funds in his hands according as the court might order. About this time Mr. Bust’s relation to the $2,500 of bonds as stated, and to the suits pending at Asheville, was such that be desired to acquire title to such bonds, and he so informed his attorney, Mr. Erawley, asking him to bring that about. The absolute passing of the title to the bonds to any one without recognizing the equitable claim for the outlay made by him in efforts to collect the same, would have left him without any opportunity whatever to retrieve his loss, and at the same time introduce a person into the pending litigation that might not act in harmony witb those wbo had risked much in pursuing the same. Bust verified his final account *323May 28, 1897, and thereafter filed the same in the office of tbe clerk of tbe circuit court for Eau Claire county. The aforesaid worthless book accounts were therein plainly scheduled, and.also the other accounts of the moneys paid out of the trust fund and charged to holders of the collateral. The so-called worthless accounts included the bond account of $2,500. In respect thereto a memorandum was made to the effect that .a suit was pending at Asheville, the outcome of which was doubtful. On the day the account was verified, a petition was also prepared and verified for presentation to the court, to obtain authority to dispose of the so-called worthless accounts in the discretion of -the receiver. An order was entered accordingly. Later a second order was entered in respect to the same matter, particularly directing the time and manner of disposing of the accounts and authorizing, also, the sale of all personal property still on hand. The order was duly executed, the sale being made at public auction. De Alton S. Thomas purchased the accounts for $53, the face of the same being upwards of $22,000.

Before the sale took place notice was publicly given that certain of the accounts had been adjusted by order of the court, including the account of $524.26 against Thompson, •Shaw, and Rust, and that such accounts would be withdrawn from the sale; that an account against *John S. Owen*had been paid and would be withdrawn; that a claim against the Bucyrus Steam Shovel & Dredge Company was involved in a suit pending in the circuit court for Milwaukee county, *John S.*Owen, D. R. Moon, *J. T. Barter, Fitch*Gilbert, and *George T. Thompson*having advanced upwards of $5,000 in respect thereto; that “Asheville bond account, face value $2,500,” with like bonds owned by the *Ghippewa Talley*Bank, were in suit in North Carolina; that the court, upon application for directions as to the course the receiver should pursue in reference thereto, had declined to permit him to -expend trust funds in the matter; that substantially $1,000 *324bad been advanced in tbe litigation by tbe bondholders interested, and tbat such amount would have to be paid before any sum realized out of tbe litigation or upon tbe bonds could be made available for the purchaser at tbe sale. Further notice was given tbat all accounts noted in tbe schedule as assigned or hypothecated would be sold subject to tbe rights of tbe assignees or those to whom tbe hypothecations bad been made. Mr. Thomas bid off tbe accounts for $53, subject to tbe conditions indicated. After tbe sale a report of the same was made to tbe court; stating particularly tbe circumstances thereof, including tbe notice given as regards tbe Asheville bond account. Eeport was further made tbat tbe purchaser desired not to take tbe incumbered accounts, but to have them transferred directly to tbe parties bolding tbe incumbrances. Am order was prayed for confirming tbe sale, and for authority to transfer tbe accounts in tbe manner indicated. An order to tbat effect was thereupon entered.

Tbe disposition of tbe account against Eust, Thompson, and Shaw, of $524.26, will be considered in the next appeal. Suffice it to say here tbat there is nothing in respect thereto which materially affects the merits of this appeal.

We have studied tbe foregoing history in vain for a well-grounded suspicion that Eust converted $3,500, or any other amount of receivership bonds to bis own use, fraudulently or otherwise, or tbat tbe bonds tbat came to bis bands could have been of any value to tbe trust fund, or for any definite indication tbat more than $2,500 of tbe bonds ever belonged to such fund. We cannot set aside tbe positive testimony of un-impeached witnesses, and find contrary thereto upon conjecture. Tbe material parts of tbe findings, 175 to 181 inclusive,, upon which tbe judgment is based, as regards tbe Asheville-bonds, cannot be sustained.

Finding 175, to tbe effect tbat tbe insolvent held $3,500 of bonds at tbe time of Eust’s appointment as receiver, is contrary to tbe plain evidence tbat $1,000 thereof were set aside-*325by tbe proprietor company in connection with the electric company, representing all parties interested in the bonds, for a particular purpose, and that such $1,000 did not thereafter come to the possession of the insolvent or its receiver. It seems that the position taken by Mr. Walmsley, — that the Eau Claire bondholders having contributed the money necessary to take the place of the bonds, they thereby became the owners thereof, inasmuch as the bondholders in the whole, subject to the rights of the proprietor company, owned the escrow, — is not without force. How the conclusion was reached, recorded in the 175th finding, that the electric company received $14,500 of the bonds on construction account, instead of $13,500, we cannot discover, since the evidence shows, as before indicated, that it received for some purpose the entire $17,000 of bonds. That it was a mere conduit, however, for the transmission of $1,000 of the bonds to Cobb *&*Merriman, all the remaining bonds to be in effect a lien thereon, the same as it was a conduit for the transmission of $2,500 of bonds to Mr. Lyman, which the court found, ultimately, belonged $1,500 to him and $1,000 to Barnard, seems plain. The proof is just as clear that it was the owner of the $2,500 in bonds as that it was the owner of the $1,000. We venture to say that there can be no reasonable doubt on that question.

Einding 176, to the effect that $1,000 of the bonds were sent to Asheville for use in purchasing the real estate of Lyman shortly before the receivership commenced, must be seen from what has been said, to be clearly unsupported. Those 'bonds were never out of Asheville till long after the receiver was appointed, if at all.

Einding 178, to the effect that the receiver never had nor ■asked for judicial direction as to the Asheville matter, must he wrong, because the direct evidence, and substantially all evidentiary circumstances as well, are to the contrary. Mr. Erawley, with all the directness, clearness, and fairness, so *326far as appears from the record, that could he expected of one called upon to give in detail the history of a transaction many years after its occurrence, testified, in effect, that shortly after Rust was appointed receiver he, Frawley, prepared a petition for such receiver to present to the court for the purpose of obtaining judicial advice in such matter, setting forth therein the whole situation, that such petition was presented’ to the court, permission being asked therein for the receiver to participate in such matter at the expense of the trust fund,, and that such permission was refused.- No one testified to the-contrary. Mr. Walmsley testified that Mr. Rust informed him that such was the attitude of the court. Mr. Rust’s letters to Walmsley, while the latter was at Asheville, written in 1894, indicate the same, and further that the receiver expected, if he realized anything net out of the Asheville matter, to account therefor. *'Mr.*Thompson, who, as agent for the *Ohippewa Valley Bank,*disbursed most of the money used in the endeavors to realize upon the Asheville property, testified that he dealt with Mr. Rust, personally, from first to last, understanding that the court would not permit the trust funds to be used. Rone were used at any time, except the $524.26. Rust’s personal participation in the matter was brought particularly to the attention of the court, with the reasons therefor, in the petition presented for confirmation of the sale of the bond and other accounts to Thomas, and then received judicial sanction. The testimony is undisputed that the circuit judge was fully conversant with Rust’s conduct in-respect to the bonds when that order was entered. Other circumstances of a significant character might be mentioned, in-harmony with those stated. The only one on the other side-is the feature that the written petition which Mr. Frawley testified was presented to the court in May, 1893, asking for permission for the receiver to participate as such in the Ashe-ville matters, was not on file or produced. Give it all the significance it will reasonably bear, and it comes far short, under *327tbe rules governing tbe subject, of being sufficient to warrant this court in finding that Mr. Erawley, and tbe other witnesses as well, all testified falsely, and that tbe circuit judge gave bis judicial sanction to a statement of facts that was untrue.

Einding 179, as to Éust’s dealing with tbe Asheville bonds in a capacity adverse to tbe trust, cannot be sustained for tbe reasons before indicated. It is wrong as to bis having failed to disclose tbe ownership of tbe $1,000 of bonds designed to be used in paying Mr. Lyman for tbe land upon which tbe electric plant at Asheville was situated, and representing to tbe court that there were but $2,500 in receivership bonds,, well knowing that tbe amount was $3,500. That is sufficiently indicated by what has been said. It is wrong as to bis having wrongfully failed to disclose to tbe court receipt by him of $1,400 from sales of machinery taken from tbe Asheville plant. Tbe finding is framed so as to indicate that Mr. Eust made a profit of $1,400 out of tbe Asheville matter and concealed tbe same from tbe court, when tbe facts in respect thereto, as we have stated, were these: Mr. Eust went into tbe matter in good faith after informing tbe court of tbe situation. He came out with a serious loss, even if matters were left where tbe circuit judge who passed bis account left them. Tbe other parts of finding 179, as to fraudulent or any conduct on tbe part of tbe receiver to tbe prejudice of bis trust, we find not to be supported by tbe evidence.

Tbe final conclusion of fact, No. 181, that tbe receiver fraudulently converted to bis own use $3,500 of Asheville bonds of tbe value of $1,000, and tbe conclusion of law that bis personal representatives, W. A. and *A. J. Bust*as executors of bis last will and testament, are liable for tbe $1,000 and interest, is clearly wrong, as we have seen. In tbe circumstances tbe bonds were in at tbe time be was appointed receiver, they were of no value. Tbe court displayed good *328judgment in not allowing receivership money to be jeopardized by investing the same in the Asheville matter. If it had taken a different course and allowed Rust to burden the trust fund with a proportionate share of the expenses of trying to realize on the bonds, such fund would have been depleted, and the greater the amount of bonds owned by the trust the greater the depletion would havq been. It does not appear that Rust at any time purposed making a profit to himself in this matter. He advanced his own money when the court would not permit him to use the trust funds. He was entitled, clearly, under the circumstances, to reimburse himself out of the avails of the Asheville property for the money so advanced, before accounting for any part of it to the trust fund. Aside from the $524.26 which will be considered later, his conduct respecting the bonds, from first to last, in any view we can take of the evidence, was without prejudice to respondents.

The circumstance that, before the proceedings were taken to obtain authority to sell the bonds with other worthless matters, the receiver requested his attorney to have the bond account transferred to him and that his wish was accomplished in the manner indicated, which is pressed upon our attention as quite conclusive evidence of fraud, and presumably greatly influenced the learned trial judge, seems, under the circumstances, to’ indicate to the contrary. Its influence upon the mind may be various, according to whether viewed through the coloring of a belief, more or less firmly fixed, that there was a fraudulent purpose ruling all the proceedings of the receiver and his attorneys, or viewed from the standpoint of judicial rules, the presumption of innocence being in the balance on the one side, and the searcher after truth looking for evidence of fraud outweighing such presumption and its supports. The bonds were necessarily to go into the hands of some one if the receivership matter was to be closed up. No person would take them and reimburse Rust for his outlay in trying to collect them. There was a faint hope that something *329might yet be realized out of the pending litigation. How natural it was that Mr. Eust should desire to possess the bonds, and how appropriate it was that his desire should prevail if the rights of the creditors were in no wise prejudiced!' The worthless securities, with other worthless matters, were sold at public vendue by order of the court in the ordinary way of disposing of such property preparatory to closing up a, trust for creditors, whether in bankruptcy, in a receivership administration, or in an ordinary assignment for the benefit of creditors. At the sale the situation of the bonds was fairly stated and the sale fairly made. So far as appears there is no claim that can be seriously made, that the bonds were then of any considerable value. After the sale, with a full ■explanation to the court, it was confirmed, and the receiver, by permission of the purchaser, authorized to turn the bonds ever to the party equitably interested therein, whose rights were protected at the sale. That such person was Mr. Eust, it seems the learned court must have understood. True, Mr. Eust in this way possessed himself of the bonds, but he did it, in effect, after they had passed by a fair sale to Mr. Thomas. If it were trüe that the learned circuit judge was induced to allow such course to be taken because he was deceived, the case might be different. But it seems clear that he must have understood the situation, as Mr. Frawley testified. We cannot look at the failure to call him as a witness, ■■as it seems the learned trial court did. Counsel for respondents now argue with confidence, that since appellants were ■charged with fraud, it was up to them to call the circuit judge ■and use all means within their reach to exonerate themselves. We cannot think so. The fact that appellants were charged with fraud did not call upon them to disprove it. They rested their case, on the subject of the knowledge of the circuit judge, on the positive evidence of Mr. Frawley; and numerous circumstances corroborated the same, with substantially nothing to impeach it. To call in the former circuit judge *330under the circumstances was not necessary from their standpoint, but was highly important from that of respondents. The latter’s attitude indicates that it was deemed immaterial whether the judge acted under standingly or not. If the latter, the evidence of Mr. Frawley was false or the judge was-inexcusably inattentive to what was occurring almost under-his eyes. If the former, so much the worse for the judge.

In reaching the foregoing conclusion we fully appreciate-that a person, acting in a fiduciary capacity, whether he is a guardian, administrator, receiver, or other trustee, can at the best obtain but a voidable title by purchasing the subject of the trust of himself, whether he acts directly or indirectly in the matter. We are not disposed to look with any favor whatever upon any act which has the appearance of violating that salutary doctrine. *In re Taylor Orphan Asylum,*36 Wis. 534; *Pittsburg M. Co. v. Spooner,*74 Wis. 320, 42 N. W. 259; *Hutson v. Jenson,*110 Wis. 26, 40, 85 N. W. 689; *Ludington v. Patton,*111 Wis. 208, 239, 86 N. W. 571; *Heyl v. Goelz,*97 Wis. 327, 72 N. W. 626; *McCrubb v. Bray,*36 Wis. 333; *Melms v. Pabst B. Co.*93 Wis. 153, 66 N. W. 518. However, it does not apply where the trustee has a legitimate interest of his own to protect and his course upon full explanation to the court has been approved. *Scholle v. Scholle,*101 N. Y. 167, 4 N. E. 334. Nor does it prevent the trustee from purchasing from his vendee, there being no understanding in that regard prior to the sale. *Welch v. McGrath,*59 Iowa, 519, 10 N. W. 810, 13 N. W. 638; *West v. Waddill,*33 Ark. 575, 585; 1 Perry, Trusts, § 195; 2 Woerner, Am. Law of Adm’n, 1086. Furthermore, where the trustee has a legitimate interest in the property as in this case, having in good faith and properly advanced money thereon before the> sale, the rule is not so stringent as to permit the sale to stand and at the same time punish the purchaser by compelling him to pay for the property to the *cestuis que trusbent*regardless of his equity. *Elliott v. Pool,*59 N. C. (6 Jones Eq.) 42.

*331*Appeal No.*A

Appeal of tbe *Chippewa YaMey Bank,*W. A. and *A. J. Busl,*executors, and *George T. Thompson.*Three distinct matters are involved. We will designate them, for convenience, a, b, and c.

a. Tbe trial court’s view as to tbis is indicated in subdivisions 175 to 183 inclusive, and 195 to 200 inclusive, as to facts, and 12 as to law, in tbe statement preceding tbis opinion. Tbe general result, in addition to that stated in Appeal No. 1, is that tbe receiver, in collusion with tbe bank and: *George T. Thompson,*its agent, used $52426 for tbeir own benefit in handling tbe Asheville matter, tbe receiver charging tbe same to himself, Shaw, and *Thompson*in tbe first place with tbe knowledge, consent, and connivance of bis associate, *Thompson,*who was tbe bank’s agent, all concerned knowing that tbe interests of tbe trust were not involved, and in tbe end by falsely representing tbe character of tbe account to tbe court, obtaining an order authorizing tbe asset to be charged off to expense or loss account.

Tbe facts as to bow tbe receiver came* to deal with tbe Ashe-ville matter personally, as heretofore determined, will be considered verities for tbe purposes of tbis appeal. We find nothing in tbe evidence warranting tbe finding of tbe court that there was a fraudulent conspiracy in respect to tbe matter. The bank bad no connection with it except through *Mr. Thompson,*and be bad no connection with it except as tbe bank’s representative. There is no reason that we can perceive, according to tbe principles governing judicial investigations, why *Mr. Thompson’s*positive evidence on tbis point should not be believed. It is corroborated by tbe circumstances in tbe cáse, and not impeached so far as we can discover. According thereto be did not deal with Mr. Eust as receiver in respect to tbe Asheville matter; be dealt with him personally, with tbe understanding that tbe court would not *332permit trust funds to be invested, and that he was not a party to any such use in a representative capacity or otherwise. The circumstances substantially all corroborate that. As a general thing, all the money expended in the Asheville matter was advanced by the bank through *Mr. Thompson*and subsequently prorated between the bank, or himself as its representative, Mr. Shaw, and Mr. Rust, the latter being understood to represent five twenty-sevenths of the bonds.

The particulars of how the money in question came to be paid by Mr. Rust and charged as before indicated, in addition to what has been stated, appear to be these: The account covers the period from August 3, 1893, to July 30, 1895. Excepting the first charge of $25, and the last four charges aggregating $19.36 it consists of wages and expenses of W. E. Smith covering a period for some three months prior to July 5, 1894. He was the receiver’s employee, looking after receivership matters in various parts of the country and otherwise assisting in the performance of the receiver’s duties. He was especially familiar with the Asheville matter. He paid attention thereto to a considerable extent while the plant was being disorganized and the machinery disposed of, rendering his bills for wages and expenses to the receiver as his regular employer. Some money was advanced to him by *Mr. Thompson*as the agent of the bank, which was returned by Mr. Rust.

August 6, 1894, which was prior to the receipt by Mr. Rust of any money out of the Asheville matter, he separated the expense accounts rendered him by Mr. Smith into that pertaining to the Asheville matter from the balance, being $479.90, and charged the same in four items, with full explanation thereof, to himself, *Thompson,*and Rust. That, with the $25, and $19.36 aforesaid, likewise charged, makes the $524.26.

At the time of the aforesaid occurrences the receiver, as such, was interested in nearly all the Asheville bonds. He held $2,500 of them absolutely, and was the owner of the *333$11,000 beld by the bank and Mr. Shaw, subject to their claims thereon. The indebtedness to Shaw and the bank, secured by the collateral, was provable against the trust fund regardless of the security, as we shall hereafter see. Five twenty-sevenths of all that could be obtained out of the results of the foreclosure, over and above the expenditures in realizing, and the same proportion of all the sums collected out of the supposed personal liabilities of the officers and stockholders of the proprietor company at Asheville, after reimbursing Mr. Rust for his personal outlay, belonged in equity to the trust fund, and Rust so understood it. Suits were pending to enforce such liabilities, with hopes of success based on the advice of eminent counsel. Under all these circumstances the expenditure might well have been authorized by the court out of the trust fund. If, without authorization, under ordinary conditions, it had been charged to the receivership expense account subject to the approval or disapproval of the court when the matter should be brought .to its attention, there would have been in the transaction no evidence of fraud, nor evidence, even, of bad judgment. The fact that these matters, which came to the receiver mixed up with others which were unquestionably chargeable to the expense account, were paid before he received any money from the Asheville matters, and were carefully separated from such other matters and spread upon the books as an asset, is inconsistent with the finding of fraud when correct legal principles are applied thereto. Unless the circumstances characterizing the subsequent turning of such asset into a liability are sufficient to warrant such finding, or, looking backward at all the circumstances shown by the record as they will appear at the end of our considerations, it shall appear that the finding of fraud is sustained, it cannot be. The fact, if it were a fact, that the receiver, when he made the expenditure, expected that he would ultimately make the same a charge against the trust funds, without reasonable ground to expect that it would *334■be balanced, by money received into the fund or through, bis assuming personal responsibility in pursuing such matters, ■would not of itself necessarily indicate fraud. The idea of •the law entertained by the learned tidal court on this point, which doubtless was largely a controlling factor in reaching the conclusion attacked, cannot be approved, but we will speak •of that at length later.

The circumstances characterizing the conversion of the asset into a liability are these: As before seen, on May 28, 1897, the preliminary report of the receiver, looking to a final closing-up of his trust, was verified, and a few days later it was placed on file. It showed a large amount of accounts receivable, most of which came -to the receiver from the National Electric Company, which were of little or no value, but which it was necessary to dispose of in some way in order to close the trust. In addition, there was a class of accounts receivable created by the expenditure of moneys, sometimes under" the •direction or with the consent of the court and sometimes not, in the completion of contracts for the installation of electric machinery made by the electric company, which contracts were properly hypothecated by it before any trust for creditors was impressed thereon, and which contracts were unfinished at the time the receivership commenced, and the expenditure of money in other ways by the direction of the court or otherwise, in collecting hypothecated accounts, — and charging such expenditures to the holders of the collateral, but without any relations between the receiver and such holders rendering the latter liable to pay the same. Charges were so made, as it would appear in some cases, as a method of keeping account with the transactions, the amount being deemed •a preferred claim upon any money that might be realized out •of the collaterals, and in others because of doubt as to whether the sum was proper receivership expense, but in no case be•cause of a request, express or implied, by the persons charged, to make the expenditure for them. One of such accounts was ••■the $524.26.

*335It was necessary in order to close np the receivership to ■dispose of such accounts by making a sale thereof, or by collecting the same, or by charging the same to expense or loss and gain account. They were not collectible, nor was it proper to sell them for the reasons stated. They were either ■chargeable to the receiver or to his expense or loss and gain account. He went through the form of demanding payment of the apparent debtors, but payment was refused, as was evidently expected. The proceedings in that regard seem to have been taken, and not improperly, to create proof that the accounts did not represent legal liabilities though such in form. Thereafter, when the general situation was familiar to the court, a petition was prepared by the receiver’s attorney, Mr. Erawley, verified by the former, and presented to the court, for an order authorizing the closing out of such accounts by treating the same as matters of receivership expense or loss. The number of such matters was quite large. The manner adopted in presenting the subject to the court was to-■describe several of them, six in all, including the one in question, and to ask for authority to charge the same off as expense or loss, and to treat all similar accounts in that way. The representation made in the petition as to the $524.26 was this:

> “Prior to the appointment of said receiver as aforesaid, the National Electric Manufacturing Company had a contract to install certain electrical machinery at Asheville, North Carolina, and the same has been assigned to Messrs. Thompson> Shaw, and Rust, as collateral security for moneys loaned and advanced to said National Electric Manufacturing Company; in moving the machinery from Asheville, and minor details of said plant, the sum of $524.26 was expended necessarily.”

In respect to the claims generally, this was said:

> “None of the parties against whom said accounts exist, and to whom they are charged . . . received any benefit directly, but were incidentally and indirectly benefited, in that the expenditures enabled them to realize some *amount of their collateral;*but that the items of expense were small as com*336pare’d with eacb of tbe amounts evidenced by tbe contracts existing therefor, and at tbe time such expenses were so incurred it was believed *that some margin might he*obtained, and tbat, in addition to paying tbe indebtedness due to said several parties, *a surplus would he obtained to the estate.”*

> “Said several parties insist tbat such items are not justly chargeable to tbem, but tbat each should be paid out of tbe surplus *that might or may he received upon the said several*matters, and tbat it was for the benefit of your petitioner’s estate tbat eacb be so paid.”

> “Each of said claims should be adjusted and settled with said parties, so tbat tbe said individuals aforesaid be released from all liábility, and tbat said items be by him charged up to expense or other suitable account.”

An order was entered in accordance with tbe receiver’s suggestion. Of course it was not true tbat an indebtedness on contract, growing out of tbe installation of tbe Asheville plant, was assigned to Bust, Shaw, and *Thompson*as collateral to ‘a loan made by tbem before tbe receivership commenced. It was true tbat an indebtedness accrued on contract for such installation, and was covered into bonds secured upon tbe Asheville plant, and was then, in tbe main, so turned over to Shaw and tbe *Ohippewa Valley Barite,*which *Mr. Thompson*represented. It was true tbat by reason of tbe facts heretofore stated, at tbe time tbe expenditures were made, Bust was united in interest with Mr. Shaw and *Mr. Thompson*as tbe representative of tbe bank, to tbe extent of bis personal expenditures to recover upon tbe bonds. He bad a legitimate interest in tbe bonds under tbe circumstances. He was to tbat extent in substantially tbe stone position as *Thompson*and Shaw, and they were in substantially tbe same situation as they would have been bad they held as collateral tbe original contract liability for tbe installation of the Ashe-ville plant instead of tbe bonds which were substituted therefor some two years before tbe receivership commenced. Tbe $524.26 was expended necessarily for tbe purpose stated in tbe petition; tbat is, as regards realizing on tbe indebtedness *337created bj the original Asheville contract in its form as an indebtedness upon the Asheville bonds; not necessarily in the sense that it was necessary to take the money from the trust fund — and that is not the fair interpretation of the language of the petition when considered in all its parts — but necessary in the .sense of what was required to conserve the interests of all who were concerned in the indebtedness held by the parties as collateral. In effect, when the expenditure was made, the three parties, as regards the trust, had a status the same as that of the other persons named in the petition, and as described. The person who drew the petition was negligent. That conclusion we cannot escape. But we see no good reason thus far, under all the circumstances, to hold that he or the receiver were guilty of any greater fault, or that the *Chippewa Valley Bank*or its agent, *Thompson,*was concerned in the matter at all.

The record, at and about the date of the order, showed that the Asheville indebtedness was on bonds, not on contract. Mr. Erawley was not so stupid as to intentionally present three petitions to the court substantially at the same time, followed by a carefully drawn report of a sale a few days thereafter, speaking of the Asheville indebtedness as being on. bonds in three of the presentations, and bringing the matter so sharply before the court that it could not well' have failed to be appreciated, and in the other speaking of such, indebtedness as existing on contract. Nor can we believe the-court was so blind as to sign two orders on the same day, and probably at the same time, one mentioning the Asheville indebtedness as existing on bonds and the other on contract at the time the receivership commenced, appreciating that indebtedness in the one was the indebtedness named in the -.other, and a few days afterwards to sign another order inconsistent with those two. The burden of the petition related to expenditures in respect to hypothecated choses in action of a particular kind, — indebtedness upon contract. That was *338the subject undoubtedly in tbe mind of tbe person drafting it. Tbe $524.26, except for one circumstance, was governed substantially by tbe same principles as tbe others spoken of in tbe petition. That they should all have been put in tbe same class is at least excusable. That tbe one should have been so misdescribed, while indicative of negligence, is not to be wondered at when we see in tbe deliberate finding of tbe conscientious court, in dealing with a multitude of matters, mistakes quite as bad. True, if tbe receiver bad kept from tbe knowledge of bis judicial director tbe true amount of the bonds, as was here found, but with which we cannot agree, and made a profit of $1,400 in dealing therewith, as also found but for which we find no support, tbe matter would look different.

This language in tbe petition seems to have bad much influence with tbe trial court in finding tbe element of fraud:

> “Said several parties insist that such items are not justly chargeable to them, but that each should be paid out of tbe surplus that might or may be received upon the said several matters, and that it was for tbe benefit of your petitioner’s estate that each be so paid.”

We are asked to believe that tbe attorney who drew tbe petition, and tbe receiver who verified it, intended by that language to convey tbe idea that tbe parties against whom the accounts appeared claimed that tbe same should be paid out of tbe surplus to be yet received out of tbe hypothecated matters, notwithstanding tbe petition informed tbe court that tbe “said several matters” bad been entirely closed out or were worthless. Tbe indications are that tbe learned trial court gave weight to that idea to a considerable degree. We cannot do so. Tbe meaning of tbe language is obscure; but with its context, when we apply tbe whole to the subject under consideration, it seems clear that tbe idea intended to be expressed is that, when tbe expenditure was made it was believed a surplus would be realized for tbe trust fund *339and that the parties interested thought they were not justly ■chargeable and that the items should be paid as originally intended, or, if there were no surplus, that they should take the proper course in such cases, and that in the judgment of the receiver such idea should prevail. If we can get any sense out of the language it is not that which is pressed upon our attention. The idea that the petitioner intended the court •to understand that it was for the interests of the estate that •the items should be paid out of the surplus that had been realized or might be realized from the collateral, which the petition showed was in fact of little value at any time, and at the time of making the petition of no value at all, does not strike us as even possible.

Our conclusion is that the court may probably have been misled as to the character of the account in question, and that otherwise he probably would have denied the petition as to the matter in question, compelling the receiver to charge himself therewith and take his chances of reimbursement from the source he was dependent upon as to other moneys he had advanced in the Asheville matter; that his account should be surcharged to that extent; but that *Thompson*and the bank are in no way liable; that looking at this matter by itself, relief should not go further; that the evidence, so far, will not sustain the finding of fraud; and that, unless a general view of the whole case will change the situation, neither the bank nor *Mr. Thompson*is liable.

The idea advanced by counsel — that, the charge against Bust and his associates being that they fraudulently appropriated receivership money, the cause of action must fall with failure to establish fraud — cannot prevail. The real cause of action is to administer all property for the benefit of the •creditors of the National Electric Company properly applicable thereto. The element of fraud has no significance except to raise a trust by construction. Constructive fraud is as effective as actual fraud. Again, a court of equity having *340jurisdiction of tbe whole matter upon a sufficient complaint made in good faith, if the proof fails to show a liability tO' account on the particular grounds alleged, but does show that the party charged has money or property that should be accounted for to the trust fund, it will not send the parties out of court or let the defendant go free, but will enforce his liability by the proper order or judgment. *Gates v.*Paul, 117 Wis. 170, 94 N. W. 55.

The further idea advanced by appellants’ counsel, that by the death of Mr. Rust the action as to him abated, cannot prevail. The claim against the personal representatives, in any view of it, is not a mere action for damages disassociated from property. In one sense it is for the recovery of personal property or for damages to personal estate, and survivable under sec. 4253, Stats. 1898. *John V. Farwell Co. v. Wolf,*96 Wis. 10, 70 N. W. 289, 71 N. W. 109; *Lane v. Frawley,*102 Wis. 373, 78 N. W. 593. In the proper aspect the cause of action is for an accounting, which survives at common law and is enforcible against the personal representative. *Whittemore*v. Hamilton, 51 Conn. 153; *Wilby v. Phinney,*15 Mass. 116; *Hazard v. Durant,*19 Fed. 471; *Reyburn v. Mitchell, 106*Mo. 365, 16 S. W. 592; *Hook v. Dyer,*47 Mo. 214; Hill, Trustees, *303. The general rule is that the maxim, *Actio personalis moritur cum persona*(A personal action dies with the person), where property is involved, does not apply in cases of equitable cognizance, and that remedies in that regard which would exist against a decedent if he were living, exist against his personal representatives. *Schley v. Dixon,*24 Ga. 273; *Reed v. Copeland,*50 Conn. 488; 3 Redfield, Wills, ch. 10, § 40.

Many of such actions are covered by'our statute, sec. 4253, Stats. 1898, which is supplementary to common-law survivor-ships. It may safely be stated as a rule without exception, that whenever an action would lie against a trustee if he were living-to account for the subject of the trust, his personal rep*341resentatives may be beld if they bave come into the possession of tbe trust fund or property out of wbicb it could be satisfied if the trustee were in being.

b. The next matter involved in this appeal is $184.97. The facts, as found by the court, are contained in findings 191 to 192 of the statement, and are to this effect: Prior to the commencement of the receivership, when it was competent to do so, the National Electric Company assigned to the *Chippewa Valley Bank*as collateral security, an indebtedness to it of $9,000, and an account against the National Electric Manufacturing *&*Construction Company of New York of some $6,000, and during the receivership, with knowledge that nothing could be collected thereon which would come into the trust fund, the receiver expended $184.97 in attempting to collect the same. On the theory running all through the case, that expenditure under such circumstances must necessarily be fraudulent, and that the persons holding the collateral, knowing of such expenditure and consenting thereto by not objecting, were necessarily guilty participants,, the conclusion was reached that the receiver, the *Chippewa Valley Bank,*and *Mr. Thompson,*were liable jointly.

In this matter the learned trial court made as grave a mistake as to the facts as was made in the petition we have just reviewed; and also seriously erred in applying the law to the facts as found.

The undisputed evidence as to the expenditure in question is to this effect: The account against the construction company was validly assigned to the *Chippewa Valley Bank*as collateral. While efforts were being made to collect the account, in the right of the debtor, whose property was in the hands of a receiver, the latter became a party to the proceedings against the National Electric Company by filing a claim therein for $29,746.78. It became necessary to obtain evidence in New York, in the form of depositions, to be used in resisting such claim. The expenditure in question was *342made for that purpose. The depositions were duly filed. A trial was had in respect to the claim, the *Chippeiua Valley Banlc,*as an interested party, taking part in the proceedings, which were all conducted, however, upon the part of the receiver, by his attorney, Mr. Erawley. The depositions so filed were used on the trial, and the result was a decision and judgment in favor of Mr. Rust for costs. The record shows the filing of the claim December 18, 1893, seasonable filing of objections by the receiver, subsequent entry of an order for formal pleadings, filing of an answer by the receiver in accordance therewith, it being entitled in the receivership action and signed by T. E. Erawley, attorney for the defendant and receiver, a reply thereto in due form, by the claimant, proceedings for bringing the issues thus formed to a trial, a trial before the court in March, 1895, and a judgment on the 12th day of such month, deciding the issues and decreeing judgment as before stated. Evidence was given, explaining the items, making the $184.97, the same being $157.73 for services of Countryman & Deboys, and $27.24 fees of Sea-more & Hopkins; and that when the matter of paying the same was brought to the attention of the receiver, because of the interests of the *Chippewa Valley Bank*in the matter he declined to pay the charges, and paid them only after referring the matter to his attorney.

It needs no argument to show that the outlay was proper receivership expenses. We cannot believe that the learned trial court considerately found otherwise. It could not well be understandingly found that expense of resisting a claim against the trust fund under the eye of thé court, expense that he could not have avoided without abuse of trust, was fraudulently or wi’ongfully paid out of the trust fund because the *Chippewa Valley Bank*was also interested in the matter. This matter, we apprehend, was confused in the judicial mind, by the dealings with a multitude of things in the final closing-up of this case, in another class of expend!-*343tures, receiving much, attention during tbe trial, and necessarily so, witb tbe court’s view of tbe matter, in framing tbe findings.

But if tbe facts were that tbe expenditure under consideration was made to enforce tbe collateral witb knowledge that no surplus would come out of tbe same to be added to the trust fund, it would by no means follow that it was wrongful. "We do not understand tbe law to be that a receiver must abandon all assets belonging to tbe trust because be only bolds a right thereto subject to tbe claim of a creditor So large as to exhaust it. Such a rule would lead to tbe greatest confusion in tbe administration of trusts of this character. If a receiver must entirely abandon a chose in action because it is incumbered by a mortgage, so to speak, to secure an indebtedness of tbe insolvent, be must do tbe same witb any other kind of property. If a horse or any other tangible thing comes into bis possession or control, subject to such an in-cumbrance, be cannot take any proceedings at tbe expense of tbe trust fund to tbe end that tbe full value of tbe security may be realized, without being liable to be charged witb a fraudulent expenditure of trust funds. Tbe mere statement of tbe proposition, and its unavoidable consequences, shows its utter absurdity.

Tbe trial court reached tbe conclusion we must condemn, evidently upon tbe theory that only tbe amount of a secured claim against a trust estate in tbe bands of a receiver, less tbe value of tbe security, concerns tbe receiver. Even that would not necessarily condemn as fraudulent, or wrongful, expenditure from tbe trust fund in tbe interest of securing as great a reduction of tbe secured debt by tbe collateral as possible; because tbe bolder thereof is not bound to have bis collateral valued and applied upon bis claim, nor is be bound to exhaust bis collateral and confine bis claim against tbe trust fund to tbe balance. True, there is some conflict in tbe authorities on this, but tbe better rule, it seems, and tbe only *344one that can be enforced without trespassing upon the constitutional right of property, is that every creditor of an insolvent, whose property is in the hands of a court receiver for the benefit of creditors, has an equal right with every other creditor in any general distribution that may be made of the trust fund. His right in that regard becomes vested when the creditor relation is established. Every contract right includes, by implication, the law for its enforcement, existing at the time of its inception. *Peninsular L. & C. Works v. Union O. & P. Co.*100 Wis. 488, 76 N. W. 359; *Bronson v.*Kinzie, 1 How. 311. A creditor, having a vested right to the property of his debtor generally for. the collection of his claim, does not lose or impair it by taking security. Having such right, he does not lose or impair it by the circumstance that a receiver stands in the place of his debtor. He may prove his claim to the full amount and share with all other creditors on the basis of the face thereof in every general distribution of trust funds, till such time as, with the dividends received and the proceeds of his security, he shall have received full payment; and if there is then anything left of his security, it will belong to the trust fund. He is entitled to all the advantages of his position as a general creditor, and all the advantages accruing out of holding security, because such was the contract with the debtor.

The general equitable doctrine stated in *Speiser v. Merchants' Exch. Bank,*110 Wis. 506, 86 N. W. 243, does not militate against what has been said; nor does the doctrine, rightly understood, that when a creditor has two funds of his debtor available for the payment of his claim, while to a general creditor only one of them is available, equity will compel resort by the first creditor in the first instance to the fund in which his right is exclusive, — since such principle is not applicable to situations that will prejudicially affect his contract rights. This court has spoken most decidedly upon that subject. *In re Meyer,*78 Wis. 615, 623, 48 N. W. 55. A *345misapprehension of snob principle and a failure to take note that tbe restriction npon the right of secured creditors in bankruptcy proceedings, as to participating with general creditors in the distribution of the trust fund, is statutory, has led to most of the decisions to the effect that, in the settlement of the affairs of an insolvent through proceedings under a creditors’ bill,, secured creditors can prove their entire elaims and share in the distribution of the fund on that basis only upon surrendering the security. The general rule is to the contrary, as the following authorities will amply show: *In re Meyer, supra; People v. Remington,*121 N. Y. 328, 24 N. E. 793; *Allen v. Danielson,*15 R. I. 480, 8 Atl. 705; *West v. Bank of Rutland,*19 Vt. 403; *Findlay v. Hosmer,*2 Conn. 350; *Logan v. Anderson,*18 B. Mon. 114; *Citizens’ Bank v. Patterson,*78 Ky. 291; *Miller’s Appeal,*35 Pa. St. 481; *Patten's Appeal,*45 Pa. St. 151; *Brough’s Estate,*71 Pa. St. 460; *Smith’s Appeal,*74 Pa. St. 191; *Graeff’s Appeal,*79 Pa. St. 148; *Jamison’s Estate,*163 Pa. St. 143, 29 Atl. 1001; *Moses v. Ranlet,*2 N. H. 488; *Drew v. McDaniel,*60 N. H. 481; *Bank Comm’rs v. Security T. Co.*70 N. H. 536, 49 Atl. 113; *In re Bates,*118 Ill. 524, 9 N. E. 257; *Furness v. Union Nat. Bank,*147 Ill. 570, 573, 35 N. E. 624; *First Nat. Bank v. Comm. Nat. Bank,*151 Ill. 308, 37 N. E. 1019; *Levy v. Chicago Nat. Bank,*158 Ill. 88, 42 N. E. 129; *Friedlander v. Fenton,*180 Ill. 312, 54 N. E. 329; *Lewis v. United States,*92 U. S. 618; *Merrill v. Nat. Bank,*173 U. S. 131, 19 Sup. Ct. 360; *Aldrich v. Chemical Nat. Bank,*176 U. S. 619, 20 Sup. Ct. 498; *In re Crystal Springs Bottling Co.*96 Fed. 945.

An examination of the authorities cited will show plainly that the few exceptions to the rule here adopted grew out of cither a misconception of the proper application to be made cf the equitable rule as to the rights of parties in a fund where two have a legal right thereto as security and one has also another security; or the adoption of the bankruptcy rule, *346either by special statute, or in. failing in tbe beginning to comprehend that the latter rule is wholly statutory. As to the-equitable rule mentioned, the Illinois court said in *Friedlander v. Fenton, supra:*“It will not be enforced where it operates to the prejudice of the party holding the double interest.”

The Ehode Island court at first, through mistake, adopted the bankruptcy rule, but in *Allen v. Danielson, supra,*acknowledged the error and held that in a general trust for creditors their rights, regardless of security held by them, are measured by their respective claims at the time of the creation of the trust, and that so long as the relation of debtor and' creditor exists they are entitled to participate on the basis of the face of their claims in the distribution of the fund. The rule was stated in *People v. Remington, supra,*after a-, full review of the authorities, thus:

> “The creditor is entitled to prove against the estate for-what is due to him, and to receive a dividend upon that amount. If the collateral securities are more than sufficient to satisfy any deficiency in the payment of the debt from the-dividends, the personal representatives may redeem them for the benefit of the estate.”

In *Merrill v. Nat. Bank, supra,*in a masterly opinion by Mr. Justice Field, in which the leading authorities in this-country and England were reviewed, the rule thus stated was adopted. It was said to be the chancery rule, and that the-other rule was wholly a creation of bankruptcy legislation. The prevailing rule in the absence of such regulations, or .some statute, was stated thus:

> “The secured creditor is a creditor to the full amount due him, when the insolvency is declared, just as much as the unsecured creditor is, and cannot be subjected to a different rule. And as the basis on which all creditors are to draw dividends is the amount of their claims at the time of the declaration of insolvency, it necessarily results, for the purpose of fixing that basis, that it is immaterial what collateral any par*347ticular creditor may have. The secured creditor cannot be-charged with tbe estimated value of the collateral, or be compelled to exhaust it before enforcing his direct remedies-against the debtor, or to surrender it as a condition thereto, though the receiver may redeem or be subrogated as circumstances may require.”

> “When secured creditors have received payment in full,, their right to dividends, and their right to retain their securities cease, but collections therefrom are not otherwise material. Insolvency gives unsecured creditors no greater rights-than they had before, though through redemption or subrogation or the realization of a surplus they may be benefited.”

We must adopt that rule. It does not appear that this-court has spoken very decidedly on the subject. The principle involved, though, was fully recognized in *In re Meyer, supra,*— In *re Bates*and other cases here cited being referred to.

c. The court’s view of the evidence as to the third matter in this appeal is contained in subdivision 188 of the findings- and 15 of the law appearing in the statement. In short it is-this: The receiver, the *Ohippewa Yalley Bank',*and *Oeorge T. Thompson,*its managing, agent, fraudulently converted to-their own use $161.11, because the receiver, with knowledge of such agent, expended that sum in the collection of a collateral claim validly hypothecated by the electric company to-such bank as collateral-to the former’s indebtedness thereto, all parties knowing at the time of such expenditure that no-surplus could be obtained out of the collection for general creditors. The statement of the matter, in view of what has been said, shows without argument that the court’s conclusion was reached by a misapprehension of the law. The disbursement appears to have been ordinary receivership expense,— expense of a kind that would be expected, under ordinary conditions, to be allowed by the court in passing his receiver’s account, as a matter of course. The collateral claim exceeded to some extent — small, it is true — the principal debt. The-*348■claim was large, however, being $1,800. It was against a perfectly responsible party, and was collectible to the full amount, as the receiver was bound to regard it, in advance, .at least, of a full investigation and reasonable efforts being made by some one to collect it. The bolder of the collateral bad a right to throw the burden thereof onto the receiver by refusing to incur any expense in the matter and looking wholly to the trust fund, though still retaining the security.

The consideration for the collateral claim was electrical ■machinery. Complaints with reference thereto needed careful attention by some one familiar therewith in order to enable the parties interested in the collection of the claim to .have any standing in regard thereto. In such circumstances the receiver sent his regular agent to look after the matter, and his wages and expenses constitute the expenditure in -question. Had the receiver not done as he did, even without any order of the court to protect him, he might have been •chargeable with breach of duty. Nevertheless he took the .precaution to charge the expenses to the holder of the collateral and leave it that way till authorized by the court to -charge the same to expense account. The charge to the holder ■of the collateral was not authorized by it. Neither the bank nor *Mr. Thompson,*so far as the evidence goes, when *correct*rules are applied thereto, had any connection with the matter rendering them or either of them liable.

*Appeal No. 8.*

Appeal of *Filch Gilbert, John 8. Owen,*the' personal rep-resentatives of E. E. Bust, and those of D. E. Moon. This involves the question of whether appellants are liable for $2,642.24 expended in completing an assigned contract, and $187.90 for expenses incurred in endeavors to collect the same and an unincumbered claim against the debtor. The -view taken of the matter by the trial court will be found in •subdivisions 157 to 173 as to facts, and 11 as to law in the *349statement. In short, tbe undisputed material facts are these At the time the receivership commenced the electric company was in default on a contract to install an electrical plant for-the Bucyrus Steam Shovel & Dredge Company, which it agreed to complete by December 15, 1892, and was under-bond, with sureties, to do so or suffer a penalty of $50 per-day, the sureties being E. E. Eust, *George T.*Thompson, and C. A. Daigh. The direct primary benefits to flow to the electric company were held by *George T.*Thompson, *John S.Owen, Fitch*Gilbert, and D. E. Moon, to secure them against loss by reason of their having indorsed a note of the electric-company to the National Exchange Bank of Milwaukee for $12,000. The amount of the contract was about $4,750, and. there had been expended thereon at the time the receivership commenced nearly $1,000 in excess thereof. Independently of such contract the Bucyrus Company owned the electric company $1,195.34. So far as appears, during the period covered by the expenditure in question, the contract claim, and the other claim mentioned were collectible contingent upon the. completion of such contract. .The material for such completion, largely in a manufactured state, designed by the-electric company for use in that regard, was on hand with the receiver. Substantially the only thing required, as was supposed, was a generator rated at $2,500. Mr. Eust, after his appointment, was importuned to complete the contract, by the holders of the collateral claim, they offering to become-responsible for any expenditure in that regard for which they would be justly liable. The situation in regard to the contract was thereupon presented to the court by the receiver for-advice, the value of the generator being placed at $1,500 and no statement being made that he was interested by reason of ‘ his position as surety for the completion of the contract. The result was that he was advised to ship the generator, to collect what was due upon the contract for the benefit of the-holders of the collateral, except $1,500, and to retain that sub*350ject to tbe further order of the court. The generator was thereupon shipped, and thereafter, in efforts to satisfy the . Bucyrus Company in respect to the plant, so that it would be willing to pay the amount due upon the contract, prior to November 16, 1893, other, expenses were incurred, which, with •the value of the generator, aggregated $2,642.24.

There came to the receiver from the insolvent a number of unfinished contracts and partly constructed electrical appliances, and some manufacturer’s stock. He was ordered to continue the manufacturing business for a time for the purpose of enabling him to convert the partly manufactured electrical appliances and the manufacturer’s stock on hand into money to the best advantage, and, impliedly, to finish outstanding contracts where the interests of the trust required it.

Prior to February 7, 1894, the Bucyrus contract was completed. There was then due from such company all that was •collectible out of an expenditure of $5,710.09 made by the •electric company, and $2,646.24 made by the receiver, and an indebtedness otherwise of $1,195.34, all of which it refused to pay, rendering judicial proceedings necessary to collect the same. This situation was brought to the attention of •the court and authority asked for the receiver to proceed to -collect the entire indebtedness, the claim of the holders of the •collateral to be transferred therefrom to the proceeds thereof, -they consenting. Authority was so granted. Appropriate proceedings were then taken by the receiver through his attorney, to collect all of said indebtedness, a lien being filed in that regard. Such proceedings were, with due discretion, so far as appears, pursued with effect so far as possible, and at the expense of the trust; but the claim proved entirely uncol-lectible.

When the generator was used, as aforesaid, it was charged -to Thompson, Owen, and Moon, and was one of the matters -charged off to loss and gain account pursuant to the order of June 2, 1897, aforesaid. The court, in the petition upon *351which the order was granted, was truthfully informed of the facts as to the charge, showing that it did not constitute a legal or equitable liability against the apparent dehors.

We are unable to discover in this history anything to warrant an inference of fraud or wrongdoing of any kind, when correct rules of law are applied thereto. The court found that all parties knew that nothing could be realized out of the Bueyrus indebtedness for general creditors when the expenditures were made to complete the contract and to make the collection. That seems highly inconsistent with the un■disputed facts, that a large proportion of the indebtedness at the start belonged absolutely to the trust property, and that in the end about one half of all that could be collected under any circumstances so belonged, and that there was no evidence that the debtor would not or could not pay because of ■insolvency.

The court found, in effect, that the proceedings whereby the receiver took upon himself the burden of collecting all of the Bueyrus indebtedness in one proceeding was a scheme to which *Gilbert, Thompson,*Owen, and Moon were parties, in •order to make the expense of collecting the collateral claim a burden upon the trust fund. The evidence seems plain that the course adopted was the only one to avoid two suits; one on the. collateral, in which the trust was indirectly interested to a large amount and indirectly interested otherwise, and one on the claim for $1,195.34. The only orderly way was the one resorted to. The court would doubtless have directed proceedings to be so taken upon being fully advised, even against the protest of the owners of the collateral, so long as ■their rights were preserved.

The trial court viewed the situation as if any expenditure by the receiver to collect the collateral was necessarily fraudulent, both as to the receiver and the other parties interested in and consenting thereto. That was error, as we have seen.

The court further assumed that the expenditure of any *352sum in tbe completion of tbe contract, in excess of tbat involved in tbe generator, was unwarranted, and under tbe circumstances fraudulent as to all concerned. Tbat was clearly a misconception. Tbe general order under wbicb tbe receiver operated must bave contemplated tbat be was to complete unfinished contracts where, in bis judgment, tbe interests of tbe trust would best be subserved thereby. Tbat suggested reasonably, in some cases, a moderate outlay without expectation of any direct addition thereby to tbe trust fund. In other cases it reasonably suggested the propriety of an expenditure to complete a contract, tbe outlay being treated as a proper claim upon tbe proceeds to be collected. Both of these situations were presented to tbe receiver for action, and bis decision is not to be condemned merely because in tbe end tbe outlay led to a loss, especially when his. action was approved by bis judicial director and was as directed. We must test it by what might bave been deemed reasonable at tbe time tbe expenditure was made, resolving fair doubts in favor of tbe receiver rather than against him. He was called upon to deal with many perplexing business propositions in getting something like order out of tbe confusion of things tbat came to bis bands, and to determine whether there was any real substance therein for general creditors.

A receiver in tbe position occupied by Mr. Bust is by no means expected to abandon as a matter of course unfinished contracts. While be is not bound to finish -them, or warranted in doing so where property of tbe trust fund would not be otherwise jeopardized, be is bound to investigate them, to pass judgment upon what is for tbe best interests of bis trust under all tbe circumstances, or to act upon such judgment and take tbe chances of judicial approval, or take tbe advice of bis principal in advance in respect thereto, and follow it. Wait, Insolv. Corp. § 214; Gluck & Becker, Beceivers, 316; Smith, Beceiverships, § 35; Beach, Beceivers, § 378; *Florence G. E. L. & P. Co. v. Hanby,*101 Ala. 15, 13 South. 343; *353*Blake Crusher Co. v. New Haven,*46 Conn. 473; *Cooke v.*Orange, 48 Conn. 409; *Sager Mfg. Co. v.*Smith, 60 N. Y. Supp. 849. Ordinarily a receiver would take serious risks in completing a contract of the insolvent at tbe expense of the trust where no property was to be saved thereby, because the court, as will be seen by the authorities, in such cases is not bound to approve even if it appears that such completion was for the best interests of the trust. But in case of a manufacturing industry like the one in question, where a general order is made for its temporary continuance for the very purpose, among other things, of finishing uncompleted contracts, where the interests of the trust seem to require it, it is expected that the details of executing the order will be passed upon by the receiver, other than in exceptional cases. Mere mistakes of judgment as to such details will not work to his loss, much less subject him to the charge of fraud, and his attorneys and all parties concerned with him as well.

Here there was not only an implied direction to complete .unfinished contracts where it seemed for the interests of the trust to do so, which would have authorized finishing a contract under some circumstances where no property was to be saved thereby, but it particularly applied to cases where property belonging to the trust was incumbered, as in the case in hand, and the completion of the contract was necessary to save such property. In such cases a receiver might be guilty of a serious breach of trust by failing to give attention to the matter, especially in a situation where, as in this case, there was a special order to expend money to the amount of $1,500, which, of course, would necessarily be lost unless further expenditures were made so far as necessary to complete the contract and render the $1,500 collectible. In this Bucyrus matter, in 1893, when the expenditure was made, the receiver had a right to believe that the whole amount was collectible and that at the closing of his trust there would be a considerable dividend for creditors, and that the entire indebtedness *354secured by tbe collateral might be represented in tbe distribution regardless of tbe value of tbe security, and tbe loss of tbe collateral be wholly attributable to him. He knew, if be was correctly advised as to this, and it seems that be was, that tbe holders of tbe collateral were not compelled to look to it primarily for their pay, or to do anything in regard thereto, except not to allow tbe same to be lost through their negligence.

We see no indication of fraud or negligence in tbe completion of tbe contract. Putting tbe generator in at $1,500 that bad been rated at $2,500 has no significance. We speak of that particularly because counsel refer to it as a strong indication of fraud, and probably tbe trial court so viewed tbe matter. It is quite easy to understand bow an electric generator, with tbe usual guaranty that goes with one, when put out by a going concern might be rated at $2,500 and be worth that, and tbe same machine, in tbe bankrupt stock of a concern not expected to resume operations, — an article of a sort that no other manufacturer would care to supply extras for or keep in repair, or would otherwise be interested in except to condemn it, — might not be worth $1,500. It is more than probable that tbe machine in question was not salable at that sum for cash when tbe petition was made upon which tbe order was entered, authorizing it to be used in completing tbe Bueyrus contract. Many other circumstances pointed to as indicating fraud might be referred to with like effect. Suffice it to say that there are none which we can discover, when properly analyzed and correct principles of law applied thereto, that change the situation above indicated.

*Appeal No.*

Appeal of *Fitch*Gilbert, *James T.*Barber; and the personal representatives of R. E. Rust. For the trial court’s history of this matter, in the main, we refer to subdivisions 187, 198, and 199 as to the facts and 16 as to the law, in our *355statement. Tbe further circumstances found by tbe court or appearing in evidence are contained in tbe following summary :

February 13, 1893, Gilbert, *Barber,*and Eust indorsed a note of $2,800 for tbe electric company, taking as security tbe liability of tbe St. Louis Light, Heat & Power Company for $3,000 upon a contract for tbe installation of some electrical machinery. Such liability matured only upon tbe full completion of tbe contract by tbe machinery being put in successful operation. Tbe indorsers were compelled to pay tbe note. When tbe receiver was appointed tbe expense of installing tbe machinery, as was supposed, bad all been incurred, except that of putting tbe same in successful operation. At tbe request of tbe purchaser tbe receiver sent an electrician to demonstrate the competency of tbe machinery to satisfy tbe terms of tbe contract. Before bis efforts in tbat regard were completed tbe armature of tbe electrical machine burned out. The purchaser was a responsible party, and tbe collection of the $3,000 claim only awaited upon a satisfactory operation of tbe machinery. Tbe receiver, about August 3, 1893, furnished a new armature, rated at $800, and incurred expense in regard thereto of $53.80 for freight. After tbe new armature was in place tbe machinery was not made to operate satisfactorily to tbe purchaser, tbe result being that, without fault on tbe part of tbe receiver, tbe entire original expenditure, and tbat for tbe new armature and freight were lost. The price of tbe new armature and tbe freight bill in regard to tbe same were charged by the receiver to tbe holders- of the collateral. *Barber*and *Gilbert*did not authorize the same or tbe expense. In tbe petition upon which tbe order of June 2, 1897, referred to in previous appeals, was granted, tbe whole matter in respect to tbe $853.40- was explained to the court so far as it was material to do so, and an order was entered authorizing tbe account to be charged-to loss and gain account.

Tbe court found tbat when tbe expenditure was made Eust, *356*Gilbert,*and *Barber*were all parties to it; that it was for tbeir sole benefit; that they knew at that time that nothing could be realized for general creditors, and were guilty of a fraudulent appropriation of trust property. Those conclusions seem to be clearly against the law, as we have heretofore declared the same, and against the evidence. Why the positive evidence of *Mr. Barber*and *Mr. Gilbert*that they had nothing to do with the expenditure in question, unimpeached by any circumstance to the contrary, should have been ignored, is not perceived. It is equally difficult to perceive how the conclusion could have been reached that the purpose of the expenditure was for" the sole benefit of the holders of the collateral, when the collateral in fact exceeded the principal debt, its collectibility, as it appeared at the time the expenditure was made, was dependent only upon the completion of the contract, the whole of the principal debt was provable in the receivership proceedings regardless of the security, and the expenditure was made in the early .history of the receivership when it was reasonable to expect a substantial sum for distribution among creditors. It is equally difficult to understand how the conclusion could have been reached, that when the expenditure was made it was not expected that any benefit, would grow out of the transaction for general creditors, when, from the standpoint of the receiver when the expense was incurred, both direct and indirect benefits to general creditors-were apparent. It seems that a wrong conclusion was arrived at by overlooking or ignoring material credible evidence, the drawing of unwarranted inferences from undisputed facts, and a misconception of legal principles which we have heretofore discussed. There is no need to say more in respect to-this matter.

*Appeal No. 5.*

Appeal of *Fitch*Gilbert, *George T.*Thompson, and the personal representatives of R. E. Rust. This involves six dis-*357tinet matters, •wRicli will be treated, under the heads of a, b, c, d, e, and f.

a. The idea of the trial court as to this, in the main, will be found in subdivisions 129 to 133 as to facts, and 6 as to •law, in the statement. The following appear to be the undisputed facts: May 16, 1892, *Gilbert,*Thompson, and Rust indorsed a note of $8,000 for the electric company to the National Exchange Bank of Milwaukee, which was renewed with the same indorsers January 1, 1893, such indorsers taking as security an instrument whereby an attempt was made by the electric company to pledge to them as security an electric plant at Brookville, Indiana, said plant consisting of land and buildings and machinery therein, so circumstanced that all was real estate. The instrument was so executed as to show clearly the purpose thereof, but not so as to legally convey an interest in the property under the laws of Indiana ■or so as to be entitled to record under such laws. It was not recorded. May 18, 1893, the insolvent, without any.new consideration, and upon the. eve of its suspension to the knowledge of all parties concerned, made a mortgage in due form in place of the defective instrument, such mortgage being thereafter duly recorded. The mortgagees were compelled to pay the indorsed note about May 24, 1893, $8,164 being required for that purpose.

July 12th after the receiver was appointed, the history of the matter above referred to was brought to the attention of the court by petition, with information that the mortgage was about to be foreclosed; that the property was nonproductive ■and noninsurable; and that it was for the interest of the trust that it should be sold. That was accompanied by proof that the holders of the mortgage concurred in the judgment of the receiver, and consented to the sale as prayed for by him. An •order of sale was thereupon entered, the receiver being directed to dispose of the property at public vendue in manner specified, unless at private sale the full amount of the mort*358gage indebtedness could be obtained. That was equal to tbe full value of tbe property. Subsequently a private sale was made in accordance with tbe order, ostensibly to *George T. Thompson,*for $8,287.30 in tbe form of a release of tbe indebtedness. A deed was made accordingly, and thereafter tbe sale was duly reported to tbe circuit court and confirmed. *Thompson*in fact bought tbe property in tbe interests of all tbe mortgagees, taking tbe title with tbe understanding that it was to be conveyed to a corporation to be formed, tbe stock to be distributed between tbe mortgagees according to their respective interests. That was subsequently done.

Upon such facts and others not necessary to be detailed, tbe court held that tbe attempted mortgaging or pledging of tbe property January 18, 1893, was *wholly*ineffective; that tbe instrument then executed was *wholly*invalid; that tbe one of May 18, 1893, was *wholly*without consideration, was made when all tbe property of tbe mortgagor was impressed with a trust for its creditors, and for the purpose of giving, and received for tbe purpose of obtaining, an unlawful preference over tbe general creditors of tbe mortgagor; that tbe subsequent proceedings were in furtherance of this fraud and a general fraudulent purpose as to tbe creditors of tbe electric company, and that by reason of tbe facts tbe persons so obtaining possession of tbe property became liable to such creditors for tbe full value thereof.

Many questions suggested as to this matter need not be discussed. It is not contended by appellants’ counsel but that tbe secret interest of Mr. Rust in tbe purchase of tbe property was .sufficient to invalidate it at tbe election of creditors; but it is contended by them that it was not permissible to treat tbe sale as valid and recover more of tbe receiver, or of him and those participating with him, than tbe actual damages which tbe creditors sustained, if any. That is elementary. Tbe undisputed evidence is that they did not suffer any damage if tbe mortgage was a valid security, since tbe mort*359gage indebtedness was equal to tbe full value of tbe property. Tbe result is this. If tbe mortgage was valid, tben tbe judgment on tbis matter is wholly wrong.

Tbe trial court’s conclusion as to tbe validity of tbe mortgage rests on tbe finding that it was without consideration and taken for tbe purpose of obtaining an unlawful preference ; and that rests on tbe finding that tbe attempted mortgaging of tbe property January 18, 1893, was *wholly*ineffective, and that tbe character of tbe second transaction was to be determined *wholly*by tbe circumstances existing at its date. In that serious error was committed.

Tbe instrument of January 18th was made upon a sufficient consideration, and when it was perfectly competent for tbe electric company to mortgage tbe property as it attempted to do. That is not questioned. It was not a mortgage good at law, but was clearly an attempt to make such a mortgage, or to pledge tbe property as security. That is clear beyond reasonable controversy. It contained no unexplainable ambiguity as to tbe property intended to be mortgaged, or tbe debt or liability intended to be secured, or tbe parties. That made a good mortgage in equity. It could -have been foreclosed as such, or perhaps regarded as a good contract to make a mortgage valid at law, and specific performance enforced. It was, tben, a good consideration and justification for tbe mortgage of May 18, 1893. The latter act is no more than a court of equity would have compelled, if necessary, to protect tbe rights of tbe mortgagees. Tbe instrument of May 18th related back to that of January 18th, taking effect in equity as of tbe earlier date. Tbe fact that tbe first paper was not recorded when tbe receiver was appointed or tbe suspension of tbe electric company occurred, has no significance, since, of course, neither tbe creditors nor tbe receiver for them could take any better right to tbe property involved than tbe electric company bad. Tbe receiver did not stand in tbe position of a *bona fide*purchaser. An equitable mortgage is *360as good as any as regards tlie mortgagor and every person dealing with him with notice of the facts, or any person claiming under him having no superior equities.

It follows that the rights of Rust, *Thompson,*and *Gilbert*are not referred, necessarily, to the instrument of May 18th, hut to the attempt to make a mortgage January 18th prior thereto. It was on the latter as well as the former that the sale was ordered by the court, and it might as well have been ordered if the instrument of the later date had been entirely omitted from the proceedings. Thus it is seen that the foundation upon which the learned trial court rested the judgment as to the wrongful appropriation of the Brookville property is wholly wanting. The learned judge failed to appreciate that an attempt to make a mortgage, both parties intending to accomplish that result, sufficient being done in that regard, upon a valuable consideration, to enable a court of equity to discover with certainty the purpose of the parties, the terms of their contract, and the property involved, so as to deal with the matter, is a good mortgage in equity, — is just as good as any mortgage, so long as there are no superior intervening equities.

The law on this subject is well settled, as the following authorities will show: *Mowry v. Wood,*12 Wis. 413; *Jarvis v. Dutcher,*16 Wis. 307; *Dreutzer v. Lawrence,*58 Wis. 594, 17 R. W. 423; *Dreutzer v. Baker,*60 Wis. 179, 18 N. W. 776; *Flagg v. Mann,*2 Sumn. 486; *Talieferro v. Barnett,*37 Ark. 511; *Waddell v. Carlock,*41 Ark. 523; *Bell v. Pelt,*51 Ark. 433, 11 S. W. 684; *Peers v. McLaughlin,*88 Cal. 294, 26 Pac. 119; *Daggett v. Rankin,*31 Cal. 321; *Love v. Sierra Nevada, L. W. & M. Co.*32 Cal. 639; *Remington v. Higgins,*54 Cal. 620; *Higgins v. Manson,*126 Cal. 467, 58 Pac. 907; *Gardner v. McClure,*6 Minn. 250; *Howard v. Iron & L. Co.*62 Minn. 298, 64 R. W. 896; *Payne v. Wilson,*74 N. Y. 348; *Hale v. Omaha Nat. Bank,*64 N. Y. 550; *Perry v. Board of Missions,*102 N. Y. 99, 6 N. E. 116; *Sprague v.**361*Cochran,*144 N. Y. 104, 38 N. E. 1000; *Hamilton T. Co. v. Clemes,*163 N. Y. 423, 57 N. E. 614; *In re Howe,*1 Paige, 125; *Knott v. Mfg. Co.*30 W. Va. 790, 5 S. E. 266; *White Water Valley C. 30. v. Vallette,*21 How. 414; *Watkins v. Vrooman,*51 Hun, 175, 5 N. Y. Supp. 172; *Burdick v. Jackson,*7 Hun, 488; *Price v. Cutts,*29 Ga. 142; *Courtney v. Scott,*Litt. Sel. Cas. 457; Pingrey, Mortgages, 278; Tones, Mortgages, §§ 163-168; 3 Pomeroy, Eq. Jur. § 1237; Miller’s Eq. Mortgages (45 Law Library) 1, 2, 216; Jones, Corporate Bonds & Mortgages (2d ed.) §§ 33-38.

We quote verbatim or in effect from tbe above authorities, showing how plainly the law as here declared governs the facts of this case:

> “If a transaction resolve itself into a security, 'whatever may be its form, and whatever name the parties may choose to give it, it is in equity a mortgage.” Judge Stoet, in *Flagg v. Mann, supra.*

> The recital in a promissory ¿ote given for land, “This note is to stand as a lien on said land until fully paid,” held to create a mortgage. *Waddell v. Carlock, supra.*

> “An attempt to create a security in legal form having-failed, equity will give effect to the intention of the parties and enforce the lien as an equitable mortgage. Any agreement that shows an intention to create a lien is in equity a mortgage.” *Bell v. Pelt,*51 Ark. 438, 11 S. W. 685.

> “An imperfect attempt to create a mortgage upon specific property for the purpose of securing a debt, will create a specific lien upon the property so intended to be mortgaged.” *Peers v. McLaughlin,*88 Cal. 297, 26 Pac. 119.

> “Every express agreement in writing, whereby the party clearly indicates an intention to make some particular property therein described a security for a debt, creates an equitable lien upon the property, which is enforcible. The form of the writing is not important, provided it sufficiently appears it was thereby intended to create a security. If that intention appears, it will create a mortgage in equity, or a specific lien on the property so intended to be mortgaged.” *Howard v. Iron & L. Co., supra.*

> *362“An agreement based upon a valuable consideration to give-a mortgage, will be treated in equity as a mortgage.”

So an agreement or transaction good as an equitable mortgage, the transaction between the parties occurring when, as regards the rights of creditors of the mortgagor, a mortgage-good at law might be given, is a sufficient support for the-giving of a mortgage good in law within the time when disability would otherwise exist in regard thereto under the-bankrupt act. The second transaction will take effect by relation as of the date of the equitable mortgage. The assignee-in bankruptcy will take the property subject to the incum-brance. *Burdick v.*Jackson, *supra.*

The principle “is of frequent application under the bankrupt laws, where it operates to make valid a mortgage given to a creditor shortly before the filing of a petition in bankruptcy by the mortgagor, when this is done in pursuance of' an agreement made at a time when the giving of the mortgage would not have been a fraudulent preference.” 1 Jones,, Mortgages, § 163.

> “An equitable mortgage may be constituted by any writing from which the intention so to do may be gathered, and' an attempt to make a legal mortgage, which fails for the want of some solemnity, is valid in equity; and ... an agreement for a mortgage is, in equity, a specific lien upon the land; and an equitable mortgage thus created is entitled to-a preference over subsequent judgment creditors.” Judge Eolgeb, in *Payne v.*Wilson, 74 N. Y. 348.

The law as thus indicated prevails without exception in-this country and England. Equity holds parties to their mutual intentions, when supported by a valuable consideration and sufficient definiteness that such intentions may be-understood and the matter dealt with by equity jurisdiction. Therefore, an imperfect attempt to give a mortgage, which creates a good mortgage in equity, if perfected by the acts of" the parties at a time when, by reason of the rights of the creditors, a good mortgage could not be made, will constitute a. *363mortgage good at law; and if not perfected till sucb time, equity will nevertheless regard the rights of the intended, mortgagee as superior to those of creditors. So the learned, court’s decision that the paper made to E. E. Enst and his associates January 18, 1893, was not a valid mortgage in law, should not have led to the holding that it was of no force whatever and rendered all proceedings in regard to the mortgage given in lieu thereof May 18, 1893, fraudulent, and the result a fraudulent appropriation of property.

As before indicated, the participation by the receiver, as a purchaser at his own sale, however innocent it may have been — and we are constrained to believe thát no wrong was in fact intended — rendered the sale voidable, and it might have been decreed void in this litigation, and such proceedings, taken as seemed best to protect the rights of the respondents. But such rights only extended to the value of the property involved over and above the amount of the mortgage indebtedness, which, as it seems, was not worth seeking after. True, the rule cannot be stated too broadly or enforced too firmly,that a trustee can at best obtain but a voidable title by purchasing the subject of his trust at his own sale. Such a proceeding is voidable, as before indicated, at the election of the *cestuis que trustent*if they move seasonably, and that is so whether the sale was really injurious to them or not. The rule is established on those broad lines for the purpose of rendering inquiry into the real motives of the purchaser, or whether there was any real injury to the *cestuis que trustent*or not, unnecessary. It is one of absolute disability at the election of the adverse parties if they move seasonably. Gluck & Becker, Receivers, 284; *Heyl v. Goelz,*97 Wis. 327, 72 N. W. 626; Perry, Trusts, 195. In this case the court might have treated the sale of the property as void and restored the-former situation,- or caused the property to be sold free from, the incumbrance, using the proceeds to pay off the same and turning the surplus, if any, over to the trust fund, or treated! *364■the holders of the title as trustees for the creditors and caused tbe property to be redeemed, or taken other courses that might be suggested, to protect the legal and equitable interests of the respondents. But, as whatever course that might have been chosen would have resulted, or that might now be chosen would result, in expense to both sides for the mere satisfaction of going through the form of compelling appellants to realize on their security legitimately, without adding anything to the trust fund, the better way, it seems, is to let the matter rest where the trial court found it.

b. Eor the trial court’s idea of this, see 136 to 148 inclusive •of the facts, and 8 as to the law, in our statement. It bears such close relation to the subject last treated that many of the facts in regard to it do not need to be restated. This is •a fair summary, as the court viewed the matter:

At the time of the sale of the Brookville plant to *Thompson,*representing himself, Rust, and Gilbert, there stood, when corrected, charged on the books of the electric company in the receiver’s hands against Charles B. Searrin, who had managed the property from the start for the electric company, $1,160.30. At the time of the sale Rust and *Gilbert*were familiar with this account, and had reason to believe that it represented a considerable sum of money belonging to the trust fund, that was obtainable. After the sale to Thompson> Searrin continued to operate the plant for the new owners, treating the old accounts as belonging to his new employer. Tie collected $862.37 out of such accounts, $305.87 of which was used for attorney’s fees chargeable to the receiver, and the balance was knowingly appropriated by Rust, Thompson, and *Gilbert*to their own use in meeting the expenses of the Brookville business. The account on the receiver’s books was included in the sale to Thomas, made under the order of June 2d, heretofore referred to, the entire account being lost to the trust fund.

We are unable to find any definite evidence showing with *365any reasonable degree of satisfaction tbe facts thus found. Tbe evidence shows that tbe account of $1,160.30 was constructed mainly before tbe receiver was appointed, by charging Searrin with bis reports of earnings made by tbe plant and crediting him with bis pay rolls for salaries and other disbursements, so that tbe balance indicated money on band ancL uncolleeted bills. What amount was money and what amount, was uncollected bills, and what part of tbe latter-was of any value, did not appear. It further satisfactorily.appears that Mr. Eust and bis associates understood, so far as they knew anything about tbe matter, that substantially all tbe money represented by tbe account at tbe time of tbe sale was $520.38. in bank, under attachment. That is included in tbe $862.37 said to have been collected by Searrin, upon which credit is given of $305.87 paid as attorney’s fees, which tbe evidence shows without dispute was not so paid, but was disbursed,. $299.87 to pay attaching creditors, and $6 for expenses,, which, with salary accounts chargeable to tbe bank fund, exhausted tbe same except $74.51. That amount, it is claimed,, was at some time diverted by Searrin to tbe accounts of the-new proprietor. We do not deem it important to state or discuss tbe details of tbe evidence in regard to it. Suffice it to say, if it were so converted, we find nothing bringing tbe matter distinctly to tbe attention of tbe parties charged until tbe trial of this action, and then nothing except the unsworn statements of Searrin. Tbe report, however, made in respect to. tbe matter in September, 1893, simply showed that after paying tbe attaching creditors, and expenses, and tbe salary bills chargeable to tbe fund, there was left in tbe bank account the-sum named. There was nothing in tbe communication in respect to tbe matter indicating that tbe money was tabe used-for tbe new proprietors. It was not at any time transferred to the accounts of tbe new proprietors in an item of $74.51.. It is claimed that at some time $30.60 of it was used to pay a freight bill, and tbe residue, $43.91, in June, 1894, was de*366posited as money of *Thompson*and Ms associates, this information being contained in Searrin’s statements. The balance of the $1,160.30 account, over and above the bank balance as aforesaid, consisted of a sum of money assumed to be in Sear-rin’s hands, determined in the manner hereinafter stated, and included bills to the amount of $478.78, of all sorts, $283.89 admitted to be worthless, and $140.50 in serious dispute at the time of the sale, and, if collected at all, not collected till some five months thereafter, leaving $54.39 unaccounted for. So, assuming that the .$54.39 was collected by Searrin, and the $140.50 as well, and that the same was used for the benefit of *Mr. Thompson*and his associates, and that the $74.51 was likewise used — all of which is at best supported only by the unsworn statements of Searrin — we have but $269.40 that can be ciphered out as having been obtained out of the Sear-rin account of $1,160.30 and used for the benefit of *Thompson*and his associates. From this it is quite clear that such account was never supposed to be more than merely representative of what Searrin should account for by uncollected matters, expense bills, or cash; that it did not indicate an indebtedness to the amount of $1,160.30, or any other sum in particular, and was so involved at the time of the sale that it was probably regarded as of such trifling significance as not to be worthy of attention. Of the whole $1,160.30 there was only $54.39, in the old bills, which under the circumstances might have been considered doubtful, the $140.50 due from the municipality, which was in dispute, and the assumed amount of money in hand as aforesaid, or whatever there might be in fact, of such money, that there could have been any reasonable expectation, by Mr. Rust, that anything would •come out of. This being the nature of the account, doubtless reliance was placed in Searrin to report and pay over any money coming out of the same which belonged to the receiver, such amount being considered in any event so small as to be of little significance.

*367Notwithstanding the character of the Searrin account was .•such that we discover no evidence of fraud in the fact that Mr. Rust treated the same as not worthy of his attention, we •cannot acquit him entirely of negligence in not investigating it and securing from Searrin the benefits to the trust fund, whatever they were, which belonged to it. Any loss that occurred from such negligence should be charged to his legal representatives, which can be determined with any reasonable •degree of definiteness from the evidence, the order of the circuit court of December 30, 1897, passing upon his account, ■not being regarded as any protection to him in that regard, •since it appears that such matter was not brought understand.ingly to the court’s attention.

We shall not take time to review at length the evidence in -respect to all the details of this account. It seems to us undisputed that no knowledge came to Rust, Thompson, or *Gilbert,*until the trial of this action, at least, that any money “had been realized out of the account and used in their business. They did not visit Brookville, and knew nothing about the business there, except what they gathered from Searrin’s -reports. None of such reports showed, definitely, that any •of the receivership money -was used in such business; and if they did, they were but the unsworn statements of Searrin as •to his doing what he had no authority from his employer to do. :Such reports failed to prove that any money belonging to the receiver came to the use of *Mr. Thompson*and his associates. No action could have been maintained against them on such -proof as was made in this case. *Mr. Thompson*and *Mr. Gilbert*demonstrated by their own and other testimony that they •did not obtain or use any of the receivership money, or have any information that any such money was used, except what -they obtained from Searrin during the trial of the action; .and we see nothing in the record to impeach their evidence.

The subject was brought into the action by amendment .-granted on the trial, the understanding being that a continu-*368anee would be granted, if needed by appellants. Thereafter, it seems, an investigation was made by correspondence with. Mr. Searrin, resulting in a statement by him that $'74.51 was used in their business, and that $140.50 due for municipal lighting, included in the $478.78 of uncollected accounts, was collected in December, 1893, and was so used. Whether Sear-rin’s unsworn statements are true or false does not appear. Standing alone, they do not show that any money belonging to the receiver was used at all for *Thompson*and his associates, much less do they show, against the sworn testimony,, that any such money was used fraudulently.

The learned counsel for respondents does not appear to claim that the finding, as to $556.50 being collected of the Searrin account of $1,160.30 and misappropriated, is according to the evidence, but the amount is made up this wise: The $74.51, $140.50, and $54.39 before mentioned are assumed to be established-in the manner before indicated, as having been misappropriated. Seventeen days’ earnings of the plant in July, 1893, not included in the $1,160.30, computed at $157.34, less seventeen days’ wages of Mr. Searrin and his assistant, $60.32, was assumed to belong to the receiver. In this it was thought there were no expenses for the period named other than for labor, that all of the service accounts should be counted as money, and that such accounts— not ordinarily deemed as earned till the end of the month— were apportionable and did not go with the plant by the sale. An estimate was made — from freight bills as to coal purchased, from statements made by Searrin respecting the average consumption of coal per day, and from coal bills showing the price paid for coal per ton, — that the value of coal on hand at the time of the foreclosure was $98.58. Erom that was deducted $71.66, which Searrin’s communications indicated was owing for this coal at the time of the sale, leaving a balance of $26.92. From a general statement of Searrin’s cash account from May 10 to August 11, 1893, items of cash *369collections for May and June were taken, against which were credited expense vouchers for money paid from June 1st to July 10, 1893, leaving a balance of $161.14, and it was assumed that such balance represented money in Searrin’s hands, without any bills outstanding to be paid out of the same. Lastly, $2 appearing by Searrin’s statement to'have been paid for recording the Brookville mortgage, was charged as part of the misappropriations. In this the following assumptions were made which it seems are not warranted: First, that the unsworn statements of Mr. Searrin prove what appears upon their face as to Matters wholly unwarranted. We say “unwarranted” because we do not interpret the instructions from Thompson, to treat all the property as his as of a certain date, to include any money at that time in hand, or uncollected bills. Second, that the balance between May and June collections of $420.88, and vouchers paid from June 1 to July 10 of $200.34, leaving a balance of $161.14, should be regarded as free cash on hand, when it appears that the account was thus made up wholly by taking the items from Mr. Searrin’s cash account before mentioned, wherein it appears that bills were paid so near to July 17, 1893, the date of the sale, that indebtedness must have existed prior thereto sufficient to exhaust the entire $161.14 except the sum of $5.36. The total debit in the cash account up to the time of the sale was $1,124.49. The credits up to^ and inclusive of July 22, 1893, were $598.75, leaving a balance of $525.74. Against that balance must be charged the $520.38 in bank under attachment, leaving the balance indicated, $5.36. It must be assumed in view of the way business is ordinarily conducted, and in the absence of any evidence to the contrary, that bills paid for supplies up to July 22, 1893, probably represented debts contracted considerably earlier than that date. Third, that the $54.39 of old bills were collected and used in the business of *Thompson*and his: associates. Fourth, that there was $26.92 in coal on hand at *370the time of the sale. Fifth, that the small amount *of*coal on hand for immediate nse in operating the plant was not an incident thereof and did not pass therewith at the sale. Sixth, that the July service bills were apportionable and that there were no claims justly chargeable thereto except salary accounts. The items discovered by respondents’ counsel make up the $556.50 found by the court to have been fraudulently appropriated, as thus appears:

> 

The following statement of the matter will exhibit definitely, and in proper form, we think, the manner in which the balance above indicated is arrived at. The above statement is in the form presented by respondents’ counsel.

> 

It seems we should not pass this matter without demonstrating that the Searrin cash account from which respondents’ counsel determined that Mr. Searrin had on hand at the time of the sale of the Brookville plant, $161.14, will not legitimately bear the treatment resorted to by them in sup*371port of tbe court’s finding. Here is tbe account, balanced July 22, 1893:

> 

While tbe balance of cash in band, less outstanding claims, was not to exceed $5.36 at tbe time tbe plant was sold — it was probably less — it is more than likely that there were numerous small liabilities, in addition to those paid up to tbe date we close tbe account, which properly should bare been paid out of any money available for that purpose. How just it is to include in tbe liabilities those paid within five days after tbe sale seems to be confessed by respondents’ counsel in that one paid July 18, 1893, is treated by them as a proper charge in that regard in their treatment of tbe coal matter. It is no legitimate answer to this to say that late bills represent supplies on band, because tbe moderate supplies for immediate use in tbe operation of tbe plant were as much a *372part thereof as the tools and many other things that might be mentioned, not strictly speaking a part of the real estate.

The court, we must assume from the way the matter is presented here, obtained the item of $161.14 by taking from the above cash account three items on the debit side and nine items on the credit side, thus:

> 

That not only makes a misleading statement to the extent indicated, but is quite likely further erroneous in that the $54.39 of back bills, in whole or in part, are liable to be included therein, though still uncollected.

The foregoing lengthy analysis of the manner in which the court’s finding as to the $556.50 must be supported, if at all, shows, it would seem, that at many points the finding is not supported by evidence at all, and that at others the evidence is altogether too vague to establish a legal liability, much less one of a fraudulent character. That seems too clear to warrant further discussion of the matter. We have studied the record in regard thereto endeavoring to look at all of the evidence legitimately bearing thereon, stating and restating the account to such an extent that it would not do to spread the evidence of all our labor upon the printed pages. The finding as to $556.50 having been collected out of the Searrin account of $1,160.30 may have been based upon a different theory than the one advanced by the learned counsel in sup*373port of it. We have been unable to discover what that theory was from the record.

It seems from the proceedings on the application for a new trial upon newly discovered evidence, that when the evidence was substantially all in as to this matter, the trial judge announced from the bench an opinion to the effect that, while there might be evidence of some receivership money having been used in the Brookville business after the July sale, there was no evidence that it was known to the purchasers, and' that from such statement appellants’ counsel supposed, as well they might, that no finding would be made against their clients of a fraudulent appropriation of money, and none made against them at all in respect to the matter for more than $14.51; and that, relying thereon, they did not ask for a continuance under the terms imposed upon respondents when leave was granted to bring in by amendment the new matter; that upon the finding being made as it was, they were taken by suprise, which seems most .natural; that as soon as practicable a full investigation of Mr. Searrin’s administration at Brookville was made, when it was discovered that his reports of uncollected bills, which largely led to the finding in question, were false; that the indications upon which the trial court largely relied, tending to show that receivership money was appropriated by Searrin to the use of *Thompson*and his associates, merely showed defalcations on Searrin's part prior to May 18, 1893; that instead of there being the large amount of uncollected matters supposed to exist July II, 1893, there was only a very small amount; that instead of $1,160.30 of such matters at that date to be accounted for, there was only $322.60, excluding the worthless account of $283.81, of which $218.14 was for lighting service during the preceding month, leaving only about $50 of past-due bills and the worthless account of $283.87 which could legitimately have appeared in the account of $1,160.30; that Mr. Searrin acknowledged his defalcations and settled the same *374to the amount of $1,733.26 by giving bis note with security j and that the books kept by him showed the statements used upon the trial to be false. The facts of the situation so found to exist were set out in great detail, accompanied by Mr. Sear-rin’s books, and by statements, making a strong case, and were presented to the court on the motion. If the facts were as stated in the motion papers, and competent proof thereof upon a retrial of the matter were produced, upon no possibility, it would seem, could the conclusion be reached that the parties charged, fraudulently or otherwise, appropriated any of the receivership money. Counsel for the respondents reply to this, relying, as on the trial, upon the unsworn statements of Mr. Searrin, which were the very matters which the new evidence was claimed would show to be false. Counsel’s argument does not seem to meet the situation. Upon just what ground the learned trial court denied the rehearing as to this matter does not appear. With the strong presentation made, and the undisputed fact that the continuance was not asked for to enable appellants to make the investigation at Brook-ville before the trial closed, because the court gave assurance that the evidence was insufficient to establish any fraudulent appropriation of money, it seems that nothing but laches after the findings were filed could have justified denying the motion. It was addressed to the sound discretion of the court, it is true, and it takes a strong case to warrant this court in holding that judicial discretion has been abused. However, with the elements of assurance to counsel from the bench, their relying thereon, and reasonably, too, and a finding entirely inconsistent therewith, it would be a very grave question whether we could allow the order denying the motion to stand if it were material to the rights of the parties. Though it is not, and for that reason the matter will not be passed upon further, the situation is such that we feel called upon to say the foregoing in respect to it, and to suggest as a rule, that in the trial of an action, the-evidence being closed as to-*375a material matter brought in by amendment on tbe trial, under circumstances rendering tbe adverse party, upon bearing tbe evidence in support of it, entitled to a continuance if desired, if tbe trial court gives an opinion tbat sucb new matter is wholly or in a material part unproved, and sucb adverse party relies thereon, submitting bis defense without obtaining time to make investigation and bring before tbe court evidence which be otherwise would, and thereafter a conclusion is reached entirely contrary to such opinion, tbe ease should be reopened as to sucb matter upon seasonable application being made therefor, with a reasonable showing that evidence successfully defending against such new matter can be produced upon a rehearing.

c. The substance of the findings as to this will be found in subdivisions 149 -to 156, inclusive, of the statement. The facts, as we understand the evidence, are these:

May 15, 1893, Rust, *Thompson,*and *Gilbert*indorsed a note of $3,500 for the electric company, taking as security accounts receivable, matured or to mature, aggregating $3,900, one being against the Consolidated Engineering Company of St. Louis, Missouri, for $1,550. Soon after the receivership commenced the Knapp Electrical Company at St. Louis garnished this account. The receiver, acting by his attorney Mr. Erawley, caused the holders of the collateral to enter an appearance, because Mr. Rust, as a foreign receiver, could not well obtain recognition in the Missouri court. Such holders did not move in the matter except as requested by the receiver, as stated, and only to the extent of signing the necessary intervention papers. The whole matter was attended to by the receiver’s attorney at his request. The garnishee proceedings were conducted in Missouri under the direction of R. G. Dun & Co. for the receiver, and were successful. At the termination of the garnishee suit, either directly or through Mr. Erawley, R. G. Dun & Co. caused an action to be brought against the engineering company to recover upon *376tbe account in tbe names of tbe holders thereof as collateral. $944.76 was collected, which was remitted to the receiver less $77.80 charges, and the amount was later, upon the order of the court, paid to the owners of the collateral according to their respective interests, the petition therefor not containing information upon its face of the fact that the receiver had incurred expense to the amount of $155.75 in making the collection, $10.25 having been paid early in 1893 for the services of an electrician, $20 to Joseph Singleton as attorney’s fees, and $125 to R. G. Dun & Co., which expenses were charged by the receiver to such holders. By authority of the court, under the order of June 2, 1897, heretofore several times referred to, the apparent asset was charged off to expense or loss and gain account.

On these facts the appeal is ruled in favor of appellants upon principles already sufficiently discussed. The trial court’s decision, so far as not against the evidence, went upon the mistaken idea that it is not only improper but fraudulent for a receiver to take upon himself the burden of enforcing accounts belonging to the trust, subject to the right of collateral holders, if he has no good reason to believe that the collateral will yield a surplus over the principal debt. The disbursements were ordinary receivership expenses which the receiver might, under the circumstances of the case, safely have incurred without previous authority of the court. Certainly, he should not be charged with fraud in the matter.

Some of the findings seem so radically wrong that they should not be passed without special attention. The finding should not, it seems, have been made, carrying the impression that the collateral to the $3,500 note was $1,550 instead of $3,900. We do not perceive why it was found, in effect, that Mr. Frawley acted in the matter as the employed attorney of *Thompson*and Gilbert, since the evidence is undisputed to the contrary by both of them, and by Mr. Frawley. The mere fact that they were the interveners, in view of the *377reasonable explanation made by Mr. Frawley, and we should «ay even without explanation, did not warrant regarding .as false the fair and positive testimony of three witnesses. Neither do we understand why the finding was made that Mr. Frawley charged $430 for his services in the matter, and was paid out of the general assets in the hands of the receiver, when the evidence is undisputed that while he made such charges he never presented the same to the court, nor intended to, nor was paid by the receiver any specific sum •on account of services in such matter, but that his compensation for his entire services for the receiver, upon his application to the court therefor, was settled without regard to any specific charges and on a *per diem*basis, proof being made of the number of days occupied in all the services rendered and the reasonable value per day of such services. There are •other findings of. this kind in what we have passed over, which Rave not been mentioned. "We will say now that they seem to be unsupported.

d. The substance of the finding as to this is at No. 190 in the statement. The evidence is to the effect that, Rust, Thompson, and *Gilbert*being the holders of $3,900 of collateral, consisting of contract liabilities, assigned to them by the electric company as regards the $3,500 note before meh-tioned, — one of such liabilities being the Cassadaga Free Association contract for $1,200, — Rust, as receiver, expended •a sum'of money completing the contract so as to render the '$1,200 collectible, prior to July 1, 1893. The finding is to the effect that the amount so expended was $51.20. Counsel for appellants claim the amount was $30.10. Which is right is immaterial. It was ordinary receivership expense, gov-emed by the principles before stated. However, we will say in passing that we must agree with appellants’ counsel that, •since the expenditure was made a few days after the receiver was appointed, and the total of the collateral was moré than the principal debt; and, as appears, none of the collateral *378matters bad yet been contested, nor was there any question as-to the responsibility of the parties, the finding cannot be approved. Nor does any warrant appear for the decision that, when the expenditure was made the receiver, Thompson, and *Gilbert*knew that nothing would come out of the collateral for the trust fund. Nor do we agree with the court that *Thompson*and *Gilbert*were in any way parties to the expenditure.

e. What we discover in the court’s findings, upon which a fraudulent appropriation of $127.30 is based, is sufficiently indicated in No. 174 of our statement. Upon the evidence the matter involved seems to be very simple. The parties charged with liability were indorsers on notes of the electric company to the amount of $3,169.73. They held collateral duly assigned to them by such company to the amount of $3,642.50. In the early part of the receivership the receiver incurred indebtedness which he paid to the amount stated, to a collection agency and foreign attorneys for services in attempting to collect such collateral, with partial success. There is no claim but that, if it be proper under any circumstances for a receiver to use trust funds not expecting the collateral will more than pay the principal debt, it was proper-in this case. The first court that passed upon -the matter viewed the law rightly, and doubtless understandingly, as-what has heretofore been said indicates. We might pass this-matter without saying more, but it seems best as we proceed to make a brief detail reference to the more significant of-the-findings excepted to.

We find the conclusion that the money was corruptly expended, coupled with a decision that the evidence showed two-badges of fraud: first, that it was known that nothing would be added to the trust fund from the collateral; second, thatthe receiver’s attorney acted in the matter for the holders of’ the collateral, charging the receiver $214.90 and obtaining: pay thereof from the trust fund. There may be some evi*379dence that there were indications that the collateral would not more than pay out the principal debt when the expenditures were made, but not that it was so poor as to indicate that the receiver acted wrongfully, much less fraudulently. On the other point we find no evidence to support the finding, but conclusive evidence the other way. The evidence is positive and satisfactory that whatever Mr. Frawley did in looking after the collateral was done under his employment for the receiver, and that he made no specific charge therefor which was presented to the court, or on the basis of which he-received or expected to receive pay. What was said in the previous matter of the kind applies to this.

f. For the facts as found by the court on this we refer fi> Nos. 193 and 194 of our statement. The court’s findings appear to be fatally misleading. The receiver is charged therein with having fraudulently expended $369.72 for the purpose of collecting collateral in the hands of Thompson, Rust, and *Gilbert,*knowing that nothing would come therefrom for the trust fund, and that *Thompson*and *Gilbert*were guilty participants because they consented thereto. The truth of the matter seems to be this: Prior to the receivership the electric company had large dealings with Caspari, Whittaker & Co. in disposing of its manufactured products. Business relations with such company were continued by the receiver in aid of disposing of trust property and collecting money due on previous transactions, the liability therefor having been assigned as collateral. When the receiver was appointed this situation existed: The Caspari Company was indebted to the electric company on account for $1,550. Part, as indicated before, with other matters aggregating $3,642.50, was hy-pothecated to *Thompson,*Rust, and *Gilbert*to secure their in-dorsements upon the electric company’s notes to the amount of $3,169.73. There was a considerable amount of machinery in the possession of the Caspari Company on consignment, some of which was shipped shortly before the appoint-*380meat of the receiver and formed tbe consideration for the liability assigned as aforesaid. When such machinery came to the Caspari Company in the regular course of business, it paid the freight and drew back therefor, the same amounting to $437.87. The receiver treated that as a matter which should come out of receipts for the machinery, and made his charges accordingly. The freight was a lien upon the machinery, which belonged to the receiver subject to the rights of the consignee and of the holders of the collateral. Wren the receiver paid the freight bill he expected the same to be refunded out of the sales of the machinery. That occurred, except $36.92, which was allowed as a refund by Mr. Rust on a claim made by the Caspari Company, and in the regular course of the exercise of business judgment. In the foreign jurisdiction the machinery in the possession of the Caspari Company, owned by the receiver, and the indebtedness of the Caspari Company, were attached in an action for the collection of a claim against the electric company. In the due •exercise of judgment on the part of the receiver, to obtain a release of the attached property, $200.75 was expended. 'There were storage and insurance charges by the Caspari Company on the property of the electric company, which were a lien thereon, to the amount of $123, which the receiver paid. Other small matters were paid by the receiver, making the total expenditures the $369.67 in question. None of the payments were made by the passing of money from the receiver’s hands to the Caspari Company. The various matters were paid by the Caspari Company’s retaining the same out of the money due the receiver or upon their indebtedness held as collateral. The collateral account does not seem to have been more than incidentally involved. We find nothing in the evidence connecting *Mr. Thompson*and *Mr. Gilbert*with the matter except that the indebtedness assigned to them was.created in the manner aforesaid, and was involved with other matters which the Caspari Company *381treated as inseparable. We can discover nothing in any of the transactions wbicb legitimately subjects any of the parties concerned to criticism.

*Appeal No. 6.*

Appeal of *Filch Gilbert.*This relates to a subject' not mentioned in the summary of the findings of fact in our statement. The finding on the subject is to the effect that *Mr. Gilbert,*having in his hands, obtained out of collateral: duly turned out to him by the electric company, a surplus, over the debt secured by such collateral, of $84.50, applied the same upon a $710 note indorsed by him for the electric company and which he was obliged to pay, when he should! have turned the same over to the receiver, the collateral not having been given to him to secure his liability upon such-note. The only question involved on the evidence is whether-*Mr. Gilbert*held the collateral to secure him against loss as-to the $710 note as well as the indebtedness upon which the-rest of the proceeds of the collateral were applied. There was no evidence on the question except that of *Mr. Gilbert.*He-gave a detailed statement of all the transactions as to a long, involved matter, not very difficult to understand^ however,, upon a careful study thereof, the transaction in question being a part of it. The controversy was whether, when he-indorsed the $710 note, he obtained as collateral in- consideration thereof whatever surplus might come out of a Baker & Co. note of $1,500 which he held as collateral in respect to-other matters. In answer to the interrogatory, “Now, you may state what security was given you at the time you indorsed this $710 note,” he said: “Practically all the account of the National Electric & Development Company of San Erancisco and a small balance of the C. H. Baker & Co. note-of $1,500.”

*Gilbert’s*right to apply the money .as he did was sub*382mitted to tbe court, as were most of tbe matters wbicb have passed in review, and was approved. December 6, 1893, Mr. Rnst filed bis petition respecting tbis matter, stating tbat *Mr. Gilbert’s*indorsement upon tbe $710 note was procured by tbe electric company upon tbe promise of tbe Baber note as security; tbat it was turned out to bim accordingly; tbat the proceeds of such note, after satisfying primary liens thereon, tbe balance being $84.50, was, with tbe approval of the receiver, applied upon tbe $710 note, and tbe sanction of the court thereof was requested. Thereupon, by an order ■dated December 2, 1893, judicial approval was given. There is nothing in tbe record to impeach tbis showing. It follows, ■necessarily, tbat tbe finding and conclusion of tbe trial court in respect to tbe matter cannot stand.

*Appeal No. 7.*

Appeal of *John-8. Owen.*Tbe court’s finding of fact as to tbis matter does not appear in our statement. It involves $129.52 excess on collateral turned out by tbe electric company to *Mr. Owen*over and above money sufficient to pay tbe indebtedness to secure wbicb it was primarily assigned, and ■sufficient to pay some other matters, all of wbicb are found to 'have been properly paid. Tbis surplus, tbe court found, was fx*ee from any claim on tbe part of *Mr.*Owen, and should have been paid by bim to tbe receiver, but instead of so doing be misappropriated it by applying tbe same on bis unsecured claim against tbe electric company.

Tbe details of tbe evidence on tbis subject need not be -stated. Suffice it to say tbat tbe sole controversy was whether .at tbe time *Mr. Owen*used tbe money there was an existing valid agreement entitling bim to do so. No question of law ■was involved. Tbe question was one of fact, and could not be resolved otherwise than in *Mr. Owen’s*favor except upon ■tbe theory tbat bis testimony in respect to tbe subject was *383■entirely -unworthy of belief. We see nothing unreasonable in his evidence. It was positive, clear, and concise throughout. Holding the collateral, and being a large creditor, as he was, that he should have demanded as security the surplus of the note if any should come out of it, was most natural. It was what any business man of reasonable intelligence and prudence would .have done under the circumstances. It was what any debtor, under the circumstances, if asked, would he expected to consent to.- It seems that in setting aside *Mr. Owens*evidence as false, the court overlooked the familiar rule that the undisputed reasonable evidence of one witness, though a party interested, should be given controlling weight in determining a question of fact. *Burnham v.*Norton, 100 Wis. 8, 75 N. W. 304.

The record shows that when *Mr. Oiven*claimed a right to the money the receiver did not consent thereto. The situation was such that he was called upon to choose one of three courses of action: first, submit to *Mr. Owens*position and take the chances of subsequent judicial sanction; second, try conclusions with *Mr. Owen*in an action and take such chances; or third, submit the matter to the court for advice in advance, with or without an expression of judgment in the matter, and follow whatever direction might be given. The latter and more prudent course was adopted. The petition fairly stated the facts as to *Owen’s*claim, without any opinion as to the real right of the mattér. It closed with this language : “Your petitioner doubts the propriety of litigating or contesting the claim of said *Owen*to said $129.55, and asks the court for directions as to the course that he shall pursue in the premises.” An order was entered on such petition, in effect, that the money as applied by *Mr. Owen*should be deemed properly used. It must be obvious that in the face of that situation the conclusion made by the trial court that the money was wrongfully applied could not stand upon any other theory than that the whole administration of the trust *384was so steeped in fraud that, regardless of direct testimony, however fair upon its face and however undisputed, and regardless of judicial sanction in the matter, everything don© should be deemed wrong until clearly shown to bo otherwise. We have not, up to this time, found anything in this case that will warrant a serious thought that there was any such corruption in the administration of justice, involving all concerned in it, from the head down, as that would indicate. We are constrained to say that, since the -findings, passing in review, cannot be sustained consistently with the belief that even the judicial director of the receiver was not guilty of negligence in the highest degree.

Frequent reference is made on behalf of respondents to the fact that the advisory orders to which we have referred, and others of the same character, were granted *ex parte.*Of course, that has no significance upon any other theory than that the whole administration was so faulty that every act should be deemed bad not shown clearly to the contrary, where creditors were not given special opportunity to be present and protect their interests, — since the usual course in such matters is to malm advisory orders in just the way those in question were made. No one familiar with such matters would, under ordinary conditions, expect that a’ receiver would obtain in advance judicial advice as to every detail of the business under his charge, or that proceedings to obtain advice should ordinarily be upon notice to creditors. A matter of this hind must necessarily proceed, so far as practicable, the same as any other business matter would be conducted. It involves in the main executive functions of a purely discretionary character, circumscribed, of course, to some extent, by rules, but allowing considerable freedom of action to the receiver without advice, and absolute immunity from liability when acting under judicial direction so within the realms of reason as to entitle him to protection if the judicial head would be so protected if competent to act in the *385physical capacity. The receiver is the court, as near as it is practicable for the court to physically have a business matter in charge. He is a mere agent. In handling a large, complicated matter, he must ordinarily keep quite close to his principal, shaping his course in that regard as near as practicable after the manner of any other business agent. He commonly counsels with the court in respect to matters as a business agent would counsel with his principal, keeping such principal reasonably familiar with the affairs, and taking his suggestions in advance of action in many situations not deemed necessary to be made matters of record, but very necessary, in order to do justice, that the court should be able to call to mind upon the conduct of his receiver thereafter being called in question in respect thereto, and also to have in mind when called to deal with his receiver in respect to any matter dependent thereon in whole or in part. All that is necessary to an orderly, safe administration of a receivership trust like the one in question.

Everything depends upon the combined business judgment, legal knowledge, and judicial acumen of the judicial head in such matters. The element of business judgment is of the greatest importance, since there is little or no opportunity for redress in case of error in that field. The judge must necessarily depend to a great degree upon the ability of his receiver; but in the end every act is the act of the court. In this is seen what vast responsibilities, in receivership matters of which this is a type, rest upon the judicial administrator. If he excels as a business man, or has one for his agent who so excels, the results will ordinarily be of the best. If his business judgment is but. limited and is not helped out by that of his receiver, however honestly everything may be administered, the end is likely to be disastrous. But whether it be of the best or the worst, within the uttermost limits of business discretion under all the circumstances, the conclusiveness is the same. It is the only way yet de*386vised by human wisdom for doing snob things. Though results up to the high standard of the better class of privately managed business enterprises cannot be expected, the infirmity in that regard cannot be helped. It can best be guarded against by great care in the selection of receivers, and the judge keeping in close touch with them. But when the judicial director gives the use of the talents he possesses to the situation, his duty is fully performed regardless of consequences. Parties so circumstanced as to require judicial assistance of that character must take the agent provided in the due course of law. There is no way, as in private enterprises, of replacing such agent by another if the one first selected is not found satisfactory. In this may well be appreciated how careful the court sitting in review should be in condemning the judicial administrator or his agent as being inexcusably negligent or something worse. They often occupy very trying situations. They have at times to deal with a multitude of creditors so smarting under the sting of pecuniary loss as to bias them greatly in judging the actions of others. It is not to be wondered at that sometimes, after a receiver and his director have done the- best they can with a wreck for which they were in no wise responsible — one that has so little of real substance in it, as demonstrated by the end — interested parties cannot comprehend how such a thing could be and will not excuse it, and the receiver and all concerned suffer in reputation, if not otherwise, for what they could not help. All this should admonish courts of review to step with caution in reviewing such administrations; should admonish judicial administrators to exert themselves to the very best of their ability to fully meet their great responsibilities, and, in case of inexcusable conduct, should hold them and their agents morally responsible where the law furnishes no remedy, and otherwise responsible to, the extent of legal obligations. These generalizations are not intended as a criticism of the administrator of the trust in *387question further than the points decided go. So far as we have gone, justice requires us to say it compares fairly with the general run of such administrations, considering all the circumstances, which have come under our notice. It is well to keep in mind in original jurisdictions, as we endeavor to do, that the policy of the law is toward holding judicial administrators and receivers to a more rigid rule of responsibility in these matters than formerly, as is well evidenced by the statutory removal of exemption from liability incident to the judicial office under some circumstances, as in sec. 2583, Stats. 1898. *Lefferts v. Calumet Co.*21 Wis. 688. Further indication of that is found in *Speiser v. Merchants’ Exch. Bank,*110 Wis. 506, 86 N. W. 243, where the court, speaking by Mr. Justice Douge, to the end that a higher standard might be set, said:

> “Only in the wise discretion and firmness of the courts can there be found prevention or remedy for the abuse and disgrace of judicial conservation of estates from their enemies, only to permit their destruction by their salvors. If such abuses continue, the beneficent power of a court of equity to take to its sheltering arms a litigated estate while rights to it are being established will become a mockery, worse than the avoided perils as it is more effective.”

The great truth, so forcibly and tersely uttered, might well be posted in every judicial presence in the land.

*Appeal No. 8.*

We have now arrived at a point in this great case where we are in view of the last act of the drama which was found by the trial court to have had its inception before the commencement of the *Barter*action, to have been bom in iniquity, and to have progressed through all its stages of growth to the final consummation without any diversion from the original wrongful purpose. We have come to the point where the actors are to take their places for the final performance. *388As we bave progressed through, over four years of history, seeking diligently for tangible evidence of fraud, from which, if at all', the alleged original fraudulent purpose was to be inferred, we have not found it. If we had started by looking through the mental coloring of an impression of wrongdoing caused by the history of things done prior to May 18, 1893, and journeyed in pursuit of evidence to dispel it, maybe things would have appeared differently. As we now take our bearings for the final view that is to end our investigation, we need not “refer to the point from which we started to determine where we now are,” because we have not' drifted from a direct course. The point of starting we have endeavored, with effect, it would seem, all the time to keep in sight. Only the ending was in obscurity. That is now so in evidence that it seems clear that it cannot be tied back to the alleged and found original fraudulent purpose. We have endeavored to consider carefully everything of importance upon which counsel rely and which we must presume greatly influenced the trial court in the conscientious disposition of this case, — we have no reason to doubt for an instant but that there was such disposition of it — and yet no substantial evidence of fraud has been seen. We may well refer to some of the more significant of such things which have not heretofore been specifically mentioned, lest it be thought something has been overlooked.

Probably the most significant of them is the circumstance that Mr. Hayden, prior to the commencement of the *Barber*action, had been for a long time the attorney and an officer of the insolvent, and that he severed his relations as such attorney just before the action was commenced and was then instrumental in placing the insolvent’s business in the hands of a receiver, he being at the same time a creditor and acting for and interested with others who were likewise circumstanced, some of whom had from time to time obtained security for their claims, and many of whom were Mr. Hav> *389den’s business associates. Without some tangible evidence of fraud those situations have a perfectly innocent aspect under the circumstances. If Mr. Hayden was to commence the receivership action, it was, of course, proper that he should first sever his relations as attorney for the insolvent. Probably it were better had he retained such relations and let some other attorney commence the action; but there is little or nothing in that when we see that in the very nature of things no adversary element existed in a sense that the interests of the insolvent called for any opposition whatever to the receivership proceeding. There was no great impropriety, if any, in Mr. Hayden representing the plaintiff, expecting that the insolvent would admit the facts alleged which were relied upon to secure the sequestration, so long as there was no ulterior motive; though, as before indicated, it were better if some one else had performed the service. There was no question but that the electric company was an eminently proper subject for a receivership action. It was hopelessly insolvent, as all agree. The interests of all creditors and stockholders, and of others legitimately interested in the corporate assets, demanded judicial treatment of the kind administered. No time was required to diagnose the case to solve doubtful questions on that point. The voices of all, could they have been heard speaking legitimately, would have been in harmony for the creation of the trust. That the proceedings were speedy was most natural. They are usually so under similar circumstances, in order that an equitable levy may be accomplished before individual adverse efforts for preference, or efforts to institute sequestration proceedings in different jurisdictions, have unduly complicated the situation. Proceedings somewhat unseemly in such cases from one aspect, are not so from circumstances that often exist in view of the infirmity of judicial remedies to always secure without needless expense a single judicial control of the property of an insolvent corporation for the *390benefit of its creditors. Mr. Hayden testified distinctly, and be is corroborated by all tbe circumstances, that he was active in commencing the *Barber*action for the sole purpose of putting the assets of the electric company in possession of the court before opportunity were given for the institution of numerous embarrassing actions, liable to be detrimental to the general interests of creditors.

Considerable significance is given to the fact that Mr. Hayden not only commenced the litigation, but that after charging *Mr. Barber,*his employer, the sum of $200 for services, the charge was, in September thereafter, transferred upon Mr. Hayden’s boohs to the account of R. E. Rust, receiver. That circumstance is urged upon our attention with *great*force by the learned counsel for the respondent, and we must assume that it was urged with like force upon the learned trial court, from the fact that, although it has no significance whatever when the case is viewed in its proper aspect, it found a prominent place in the court’s findings. Mr. Hayden testified, in effect, that he transferred the charge of $200 from being against *Barber*to an account against the receiver, because of his judgment in regard to the propriety of such charge being made a receivership expense. That the reasonable expense incurred by the attorney in the commencement of a receivership action, such action being commenced in good faith in the interests of all the creditors, is a proper charge upon the trust fund, there can be no doubt. It is commonly presented as such and is allowed or disallowed according to the circumstances, the former being the general rule where the circumstances indicate clearly that the proceedings were judiciously commenced, with no ulterior purpose in view. On this subject, in one of our late text-book authorities it is said:

> “In the control of the trust property a court of equity will recognize every substantial equity, and when one party, for the benefit of himself and all other parties interested in the *391property of a corporation, begins an action or proceeding for tbe preservation or administration of the property, and for that purpose a receiver is appointed, equity would require that such party should be reimbursed from the trust property for counsel fees and expenses incurred in procuring the appointment of such receiver.” Gluck & Becker, Receivers, 354.

Such text, for support, refers to *Central R. & B. Co. v. Pettus,*113 U. S. 116, 5 Sup. Ct. 387, and *Davis v. Bay State*League, 158 Mass. 434, 33 N. E. 591. True, as the author indicates, the authorities are not all one way on this question. But, having the support of the federal supreme court, the presentation of such a charge for allowance in a receivership proceeding could hardly be deemed wrongful, much less an indication of fraud. In the federal case cited, Mr. Justice Haelaw at great length discussed the subject, in the course of which he said:

> “When creditors filed their claims they had notice, by the bill, that the suit was brought, not exclusively for the benefit of the complainants therein, but equally for those of the same class who should come in and contribute to the expense of the litigation. Those expenses necessarily included reasonable counsel fees, which, upon every ground of justice, should be estimated with reference as well' to the claims of the complainants who undertook to protect the rights of all the unsecured creditors, as of the claims of those who accepted the fruits of the labors of complainants and their solicitors, We are of opinion that the appellees are entitled to reasonable compensation for their professional services in establishing a lien in behalf of the unsecured creditors.”

Though the circumstances of that case are different from those of this one, the principle involved there is identical with the one here. We have not been able to discover any ulterior purpose in the commencement of the *Barber*action, or in any of the proceedings therein. The fact that there were secured creditors, and that many of them were clients of Mr. Hayden, and some of them his business associates, is not significant, since it appears that the rights of general *392creditors were not trespassed upon by tbe holders of such securities, and that the secured creditors had equal rights with others in the trust to be created. It may be easily seen that the commencement of the action was more beneficial to the unsecured than the secured creditors. The chief interests requiring protection were those of the general creditors, to the end that their rights to equal liens upon the corporate assets might be judicially determined and enforced. Mr. Hayden’s position as to one class was, in that light, in no wise hostile to the other. The fact that an officer of the corporation and a creditor was appointed receiver does not indicate a wrongful purpose. The fact that one is a creditor of an insolvent corporation rather tends to suggest the propriety of preference being given him in the selection of the receiver than otherwise. *State ex rel. Fourth Nat. Bank v.*Johnson, 105 Wis. 164, 183, 83 N. W. 320; *Frink v.*Buss, 45 N. H. 325; Burrill, Assignments, § 57, and cases cited.

The fact that the receiver and a much-interested creditor, *Mr.*Owen> were brothers-in-law and business associates, having desks side by side in the same office, which is urged upon our attention as important, is hardly worthy of attention in view of all the circumstances and the law applicable thereto heretofore discussed. It would be exceedingly embarrassing to do business if a person of good standing, because of having ordinary business relations with a class to which some of his wife’s relations belong, must be regarded as so liable to unduly favor them in performing a duty where they and others are concerned, that his actions in the matter should be considered as tainted with fraud till rebutted by satisfactory evidence.

Many other circumstances are disclosed by the record and forcibly presented by respondents’ counsel, which we may well presume from the whole record, in connection with counsel’s attitude, materially influenced the court, but which do not, when mentioned either by themselves or in connection *393-with, anything else appearing, have any material bearing. Perhaps we should not pass from this field without mentioning, in connection with what has been said, the circumstance referred to by counsel, and which was given a place in the ■findings of the court not only as indicating fraud but also professional impropriety, — that the attorney or counsel for the receiver performed the professional service of assisting in making the formal proof for some of the secured creditors, to be filed in the receivership proceeding. There being no contest as to the claim, merely assisting the creditor by preparing his written proof for him would seem to have no significance. Of course, the assumption indulged in, in embodying such circumstances in the finding, that the position ■of the secured creditors was necessarily hostile to that of the unsecured creditors and therefore that it was improper from .a professional standpoint for the attorney for the receiver to act for the secured creditor in such a matter to the extent indicated, is entirely unwarranted.

Since it seems that nothing hereafter to be reviewed can •change the aspect of the case as to the major fraudulent agreement, alleged and found to have been made, and to have from before the *Barber*action to the end of the receivership proceeding ruled it, it is thought best now to decide that we find no such original fraud, and that the finding of the court in that respect, in No. 113 of our statement, cannot be sustained.

We will now take up the merits of this appeal. The trial •court’s view, in the main, will be found in our statement, 113 to 128 inclusive, 116 to 118 inclusive, and 195 to 239 inclusive of the facts, and 19 to 22 inclusive of the law. But in order to thoroughly appreciate such view, one should, perhaps, examine the entire findings as contained in the main in our statement. The material matters to which this ■opinion must relate will be deemed sufficiently set forth here 'by our reference to such statement, except as we may inci*394dentally restate them. Much that is covered by the findings,, a great part of which was omitted from such statement because not necessary to be considered, and much already considered, leads np to the conclusion that the determination in the court’s finding No. 113, must now be rejected. That includes most of the circumstances leading to the court’s conclusion that Mr. Frawley, soon after the *Barber*action was-commenced, became a party to the alleged original wrongful-agreement. That element in the trial court’s decision, necessarily, is eliminated from the case with our disapproval of' the findings upon which it is based.

A second fraudulent agreement is found to have been-made. In finding 201 it is held that early in the receivership it was agreed between, the receiver, Mr. Frawley, and Mr. ITayden, to so manage the trust that nothing would be left for general creditors, and it is said that the services of Mr. Frawley were rendered with that end in view, and that in consummation thereof, at the close, such proceedings were-taken as to allowances to be made to the receiver for himself, his attorney, and counsel, that all the trust fund was divided between the three parties, such fund amounting to somewhat less than $13,184.11, and that, there not being enough to go-around and satisfy all their demands, the deficiency was prorated according to the amounts of the judicial allowances. This indictment is quite as severe as the one we have disposed of,.and it is in great part dependent upon the misapprehensions of law and fact upon which the original finding of fraud was predicated. If the learned trial court had viewed the case from the standpoint we have'reached, it is very probable that this other supposed fraudulent agreement would not have appeared to the judicial mind. There is no-direct evidence of it. In determining whether there is any circumstantial evidence thereof, it seems best to treat the matter by the inductive rather than the deductive process of reasoning.

*395It is true, as found, that near the close of the term of office of the judge who supervised the receivership proceeding for' over four years, he passed the receiver’s account and allowed him for his services and expenses for attorney and counsel a sum exceeding the total amount of the trust fund in hand, leaving nothing for general creditors, and that the deficiency of money to pay the allowances was prorated. Rut the right or wrong of that is determinable only by passing upon assignments of error as to facts found regarding occurrences which took place, if at all, before the proceedings for the allowance' of the receiver’s final account. What is left to be considered appertains particularly to what occurred during the period commencing with the preparation for the accounting, but must be viewed largely in the light of what occurred theretofore.

The findings touching this subject are considered in appeals Nos. 1 and 2 as to the Asheville matter, in appeal No. 3 as to the Bucyrus matter, and in appeal No. 5 at “a” and “f” as to the Brookville matter. We need not refer to them now more than incidentally. Since the unfavorable inferences based thereon must fall, with them must go one that the receiver managed his trust for the sole benefit of himself, his attorney, his counsel, and certain business associates. Rinding 202, to the effect that that much of Mr. Erawley’s services was for the special benefit of the holders of hypothe-cations, though he charged the receiver therefor and was paid out of the general assets, and that he charged upon his books exorbitantly and dishonestly for services rendered the receiver and holders of hypothecations, obtaining his pay from the trust fund, — we have not been ablé to find any evidence to sustain. If we read the evidence aright the truth of the matter has been before stated; but it is so very important to this appeal that it will bear restatement.

It seems to us that the evidence is undisputed that Mr. Erawley’s services, from first to last, were for the receiver;. *396that the hook charges mentioned in the finding refer solely to services rendered for the receiver; that they were made as memoranda of the transactions, not as representing the compensation to he demanded for the particular services mentioned ; that it was not designed to ask for compensation upon the basis of such charges, nor was that done. The evidence is without dispute that none of such charges were presented to the court which made the allowance on account of Mr. Erawley’s services, nor were known of hy it. The error as to this is connected with another in that the court found that Mr. Erawley’s hook charges aggregated $8,818.31 and that he was paid a lump sum in addition thereto of $3,092.42. It is difficult to see how a finding could have been wider of the mark than that and yet have some shadow of connection with the facts. We feel constrained to say this that nothing may be left of so erroneous a record. Probably the extraordinary finding comes of the court’s having adopted, without careful study, a finding suggested by counsel, conscientiously prepared, doubtless. The practice which sanctions that, when the court, especially in a complicated case, does not make careful study of the suggested findings in all their bearings before making them official, is quite liable to lead to bad results. It is a practice which, in the judgment of the writer of this opinion, it would be well to discontinue by judicial action if that can be done, and if not, by legislative aid. The profession and the judiciary, and the parties litigant as well, would be greatly benefited by such a reform. Experience shows that counsel, the most able, honorable, and conscientious — and to the learned counsel for respondents we may well give a place in that class — after the close of a hotly contested case, are not in the frame of mind, ordinarily, best suited to drafting the findings which must express the judgment of the court. That is no criticism. It is only an acknowledgment of the natural infirmities of the most perfect of us. All are affected, regardless of ability or purity; the *397difference is in degree. Tbe making of tbe findings is purely a judicial function. Sec. 2863, Stats. 1898. Aside from tbe custom wbicb sanctions it, it would seem to be just as-proper for tbe judges of tbis court to receive from contending counsel suggestive samples of tbe opinion and judgment to be rendered, witb tbe expectation that one will be cbosen, either as written or witb changes to correspond to-tbe views of tbe judge, and then placed on file as voicing the judgment of tbis court, as for a like practice to obtain at tbe circuit court. It is hoped that nothing said here will be regarded as a criticism upon court or counsel. Both are distinguished, able, and honest. It is tbe practice that is criti-cised, — a practice for wbicb no one connected witb tbis case is responsible. To that practice, it seems, many of tbe mistakes in tbe findings before us are attributable. Things look far different to counsel than to court, as is evidenced by tbe fact that sometimes counsel will conscientiously claim here that tbe evidence is all one way in support of their position,, when from tbe judicial standpoint it is largely or wholly opposed thereto.

True, tbe court allowed to tbe receiver a sum for expenses on account of Mr. Erawley’s services, $3,092.42 in excess of' tbe charges wbicb by tbe evidence upon tbis trial were found upon Mr. Erawley’s books. But, as was said in another part of tbis opinion, tbe allowance was made on tbe basis of one-entire charge for all tbe time devoted by Mr. Erawley to the-receivership business, from May 23, 1893, till tbe close, December 30, 1897, tbe rate being $50 per day for time actually spent. There was really no arbitrary allowance of a lump-sum of $3,092.42 or any other lump sum. However, if the-court bad seen fit to make an allowance without regard to specific charges or a *per diem*basis, it would have accorded witb tbe practice usually adopted in such matters, as tbe cases cited by counsel for appellants, and others referred to, and' more that might be referred to, sufficiently show. *Greeley v.**398*Provident S. Bank,*103 Mo. 212, 15 S. W. 429; *Bound v. S. C. R. Co.*43 Fed. 404; *Boston S. D. & T. Co. v. Chamberlain,*66 Fed. 847; *Maxwell v. Wilmington Dental Mfg. Co.*82 Fed. 214; *Stuart v. Boulware,*133 U. S. 78, 10 Sup. Ct. 242; *Harrison v. Perea,*168 U. S. 311, 18 Sup. Ct. 129; *Richardson v. Tyson,*110 Wis. 572, 86 N. W. 250; *Remington v. E. R. Co.*109 Wis. 154, 84 N. W. 898, 85 N. W. 321.

From evidence that it bad been customary for Mr. Hayden during bis professional life to enter from day to day charges for legal services performed by him, and that as regards tbe •receiver be bad charged items amounting to $479.74, including $50 for expenses and tbe $200 originally charged against *Mr. Barber*as aforesaid, the court found that be rendered no services for tbe receiver other than tbe specific matters so charged, and, we assume, less tbe $’200. We confess inability to find tbe evidence in support of that conclusion. Counsel for respondents do not satisfactorily point to any. It seems based, in tbe main if not wholly, on an inference that since •it was Mr. Hayden’s custom to make charges for specific professional labor, tbe reasonable probabilities were that be did so in every instance. That is, as we understand it, a custom being established as regards one’s private business, it must be presumed to be universal. We do not understand there is any such rule of evidence. A custom in regard to a particular matter is controlling in tbe absence -of evidence to tbe contrary (Jones, Ev. § 54), and in doubtful cases. But why •should that be applied to tbe matter under consideration ? Is tbe truth in respect to tbe matter doubtful ? ' Tbe learned trial court no doubt so thought. Starting with tbe finding -of a general fraudulent purpose and finding later a specific •fraudulent agreement, — of course every question was necessarily doubtful that depended upon oral evidence of tbe guilty parties. It is more than probable — it is pretty certain — that tbe finding in question would not have been made, with tbe elements out of tbe case which we must regard, from *399what Has been, said, to be absent. Rut tbe great difficulty with tbe conclusion of tbe court is that tbe supposed principal fact from which it was inferred is not established by tbe evidence. In this instance it seems best to quote tbe finding“ and tbe most salient parts of tbe evidence supposed to have warranted it. This is tbe finding:

> “Tbe defendant H. H. Hayden has been in tbe continuous practice of tbe law in tbe city of Eau Olaire since tbe year 1872. Erom tbe time of tbe commencement of said receivership and for many years prior to May 23, 1893, it was tbe custom and rule of said Hayden in the conduct of bis business to keep an accurate set of books of account, in which be entered in detail an itemized statement of all charges made by him or by any one in bis employ for legal services as they were rendered from day to day or within a short time after tbe rendition of such services.”

Tbe evidence, in tbe main, was this: Mr. Hayden’s books were offered in evidence. They showed specific charges in tbe receivership matter as follows:

> 

These, with some other charges for expenses, aggregating $50, are all that appeared. There was an interim of about two years, being from May 3, 1893, to May 24, 1895, in which there were no charges at all. Ho charges of any moment appeared for services such as would ordinarily be rendered by a general counsel. Mr. Hayden testified as follows:

> “I have been in tbe habit for many years of keeping accounts in my business. In most cases I put down charges for each day, but not as matters occur, — sometimes days *400afterwards. That is not true as to all matters. I tried to have that practice followed in my office, but being unable to do so abandoned it. I tried to get all on the books done by my clerks, because they were interested in the matters. Charges went on my books as to most clients, but not all. I have been attorney or counsel in other receivership cases. In the insurance company receivership I hardly made a charge. In most matters of accounts I have endeavored to charge on my books for services shortly after the same were rendered. The reason why in this case I did not charge on my books for services rendered is that I expected my compensation would be fixed by the court at the end of the receivership. Nearly all the charges in this matter on my books are for services rendered by Mr. Miner. I think I made no entry whatever in this matter from beginning to end in regard to any of my consultations with Mr. Frawley, the attorney for the receiver, either alone or with the receiver. I think I made a few entries where the receiver himself personally called upon me to do some particular piece of work which belonged to the attorney, and also an .entry or two where other persons were interested in the particular work which I did. I did not think, because I was looking forward to the settlement of my compensation by the court-, that it would be proper to keep an accurate account to aid him. I thought the court well informed as to my services and their value. I did not think an itemized account from the beginning to the end would be required. I think the manner of dealing with such matters is different than with an ordinary client; that the court usually allows an annual compensation, or averages it that way. That has been my experience. I have been familiar with cases where that was the practice. I do not recall to mind instances. I did not have, when my charges were passed upon, and never had, any memorandum from which to determine the time spent by me, except the charges upon my books. Never had any such memorandum. Generally my matters are charged. I did not itemize my account for the receiver of the insurance company, nor for Mr. Smith, the receiver of a crockery company. I expect in such matters an allowance will be made by the court regardless of charges, the consultations are so common and so petty. I did in this matter about all of the work of counselling and *401advising. I did the work of counsel and Mr. Erawley that of attorney. I did some little work on the hypothecations at the request of the receiver, and was paid therefor. I did a large amount for the holders of the hypothecations, and they paid me therefor. I was employed as counsel for the receiver immediately upon his appointment. I continued in his employ in that capacity till the end of the administration. My services were mostly of an advisory character for the receiver and the attorney. When I did work for the. holders of hy-pothecations there was no question as to their rights as regards general creditors. I have had a good and large practice since 1872. My usual charge per day for services is $50. The reasons why I did not charge in this matter for all -services, are, first, the nature of the employment being exclusively matters of advice, rendering it difficult to make specific charges; second, my system of keeping my accounts was somewhat unsettled because my partner died about when the service commenced, and they drifted along without charges, except now and then a charge at the commencement of the business. My services for the receiver occupied 100 days. There were many matters attended to of an embarrassing nature. There were a great many complications. The business was scattered all over the United States. I have performed no services for the holders of hypothecations where their interests conflicted with the receiver’s. I have not made any attempt to itemize my services for the receiver. I could not so present my claim. I did not bring suits, but .all matters during the receivership where there was litigation were brought to me for advice. The reasonable value of my services is $50 per day, and $5,000 in the entirety.”

There was much more evidence, but none to change the-effect of the foregoing. Mr. Hayden’s books showed that in many instances he did keep, as testified, carefully itemized accounts. His evidence was fully corroborated by Mr. Eraw-ley’s and other evidence, as to his having in fact acted as counsel in the receivership matter through the whole administration. Comment thereon seems unnecessary. It does not appear to us to bear out the finding. On the contrary, the finding seems to be clearly against the preponderance .thereof, *402not only when we look at the evidence by itself, but in connection with all the other facts and circumstances in the case. On the whole the evidence shows that Mr. Hayden did not have any custom as to keeping accounts upon his books in an itemized form where his services were of long duration and strictly of an advisory character. In his professional experience in receivership matters, it seems he had not attempted to make specific charges. His judgment was that it was hardly possible to keep an account that way for services rendered as general counsel, and that it was not required. That is reasonable. It is according, we should say, to common experience among professional men where the service extends over a large period of time. We are safe in saying that a general counsel in a large business matter rarely makes charges for advice as rendered from day to day, at least in a receivership matter where the compensation is, as a rule, to be allowed by the court to the receiver, not to the counsel, at the closing-up of the trust, and is to be fixed, not with regard to charges, but with regard to services actually performed, the reasonable necessity therefor, and the value thereof to the trust and other considerations. It looks as if the learned trial court made the finding as to this matter upon an entirely wrong basis. It seems to have been supposed that a general counsel for a receiver should keep an itemized account of every instance where he acts, — something out of reason and experience. We find no evidence in the books that any such practice was ever supposed to be necessary, and we find no instance even where it was followed. The finding as to Mr. Hayden’s services and the value thereof cannot be regarded as even an aid to the determination of what was right. The same is true of the finding in regard to the value of the services rendered by Mr. Frawley. There is no need of prolonging this opinion to go further into matters of detail in respect to this subject. The findings as to Mr. Frawley’s services are based on the false assumption *403that what he did in aid of collecting hypothecated matters was done for the holders of the hypothecations under the cloak of his position as attorney for the receiver, and that was based on the false assumption that the receiver had no interest’whatever in such hypothecations which even the order of his court would protect him in conserving, and on the false assumption that the holders of the collateral were necessarily in a capacity hostile to general creditors; and on other false assumptions of fact and of law to which we have referred, and others which we will not review, since it would add nothing in effect to what has been said; and further by entirely ignoring the undisputed oral evidence in the case that all the services rendered in regard to matters which had been hypothecated were rendered at the request of the receiver. The court found that under ordinary conditions the services rendered by Mr. Hayden would have been worth the amount charged on his books, those of the receiver $4,000, and those of Mr. Frawley $3,000; but that they were not entitled to anything on account of their having been guilty of dishonest conduct to the great prejudice of the general creditors, for which they should be compelled to restore all paid them, aggregating $23,523.86, with interest. If the underlying conclusions as to that were warranted, the ultimate conclusions would be just; but they were found by such misconceptions of the law and the evidence that they are not only wrong, but so radically wrong as not to aid us in •determining what is right.

We must now consider the transaction of settling the receiver’s account and the steps leading thereto. That includes the filing of the account in early June, 1897, and the proceedings thereon till the final order was entered. To understand aright what occurred during the last few days of the receivership, acts must be viewed in the light of the situation in which all the characters concerned were placed. We are now able to do that, having discovered that the findings

*404which, would otherwise interfere therewith are unsupported by the evidence and were made otherwise through misconceptions of the law. We must assume, until it otherwise appears by some tangible evidence, that there were concerned, in settling the account, an upright referee, receiver, attorney, counsel, and court. We must take judicial notice that immediately after the April election of 1897 it was known that the receivership would have to be closed by the end of the year, or the matter of settling the long, complicated account would necessarily go before a judge entirely unfamiliar therewith. We must place ourselves in the position of the parties charged at this time, as near as we can, and look forward. To do otherwise would be unjust. It is entirely consistent with an honest administration of the trust that all should have deemed themselves bound to close the matter up before the time arrived for the judge who was familiar with it to pass out of office. He had been the real administrator. Others had been merely his agents. Everything was ready for the closing .except a few minor matters. The laborious-task was yet to be performed of passing upon the vast account and adjusting the compensation of the officers of the court for the time spent by them during a period of four years and a half. The relations, from a business standpoint, between the judicial agents and the presiding judge, were' much the same as between a private principal and his agents, with this significant feature added: there was an army of parties to the litigation very likely to assume an attitude of hostility to the court’s instrumentalities, upon facing the situation then apparent, that there would be so little for them in any event that it woukl hardly pay the expenses of distribution. No one could ever be expected to devote the labor •to the matter necessary to become equally fitted to deal justly in respect thereto, with the judge who had been in touch with it from the beginning. The interests of the creditors were as much at stake as those of the receiver and his -attorney *405and counselor. Tbe labor of tbe latter to be compensated for was large, and likely, under tbe circumstances, to require a most thorough investigation. While claims of tbe former were in tbe aggregate large, tbe amount obtainable by each was so trifling that except in case of a *prima facie*showing,, a pretty strong one, of wrongdoing, confidence in tbe court and its officers would ordinarily deter dissatisfied creditors from making complaint. Tbe'administration bad been kept from tbe start exceptionally under tbe eye of tbe judge. Tbe period covered, as indicated, was over four years. During that time no report bad been filed in tbe court, and none bad been required. In passing upon tbe account, necessarily, tbe entire administration, from tbe beginning, was to be to some extent investigated. Nothing approaching tbe proceeding in magnitude and complications, probably, had ever before occurred in that jurisdiction or anywhere else, where tbe parties chiefly concerned had carried the responsibility. Nearly $500,000 in nominal value of assets had been conserved; about $100,000 in money had been obtained therefrom aside from that which legitimately went to preferred creditors. Nearly 250 administrative orders had been granted on as many presentations by petition or otherwise to the court. Tbe amount of tbe claims filed and considered represented an indebtedness in the aggregate of hundreds of thousands of dollars. The number of creditors was very large. Tbe consideration and adjustment of the claims involved innumerable ■disputes, many of which imperfectly or not at all appeared upon tbe record. There bad been many actions tried in .home and foreign jurisdictions, the latter embarrassed by tbe difficulties commonly experienced when a receiver goes ■out of bis state. No reason whatever existed for this vast subject to go before a judicial officer unacquainted therewith, for final adjustment. The attorney and counsel for the receiver owed it to him, themselves, and the court, to use their best efforts not to allow the term of office of the presid*406ing judge to end without bis leaving upon the records of the court the judgment of the law in respect to such matter. The receiver, as regards the court, bis legal assistants, and the army of creditors whose interests be bad, as the court’s agent, in personal charge, and as regards himself, had a like duty. Above all the sitting judge, by every consideration of official duty, owed it to “his receiver and the creditors to open the-doors of his court as wide as due process of law would permit rather than to let this mass of things be unsettled when he should doff his robes of office at noon on the first Monday of January, 1898. Failure of the attorney and counsel to-use the greatest diligence practicable to bring this matter to a termination before that time, would render them unworthy of that trust and confidence which is to the professional man his greatest support. Failure on the part of the presiding officer of the court would be a judicial outrage. He would carry into private life a burden of duty unperformed which-no right-thinking man would assume. We feel confident that this is not an overdrawn picture. More likely it is incomplete. The actors in the matter in the spring of 1897 could see it well perspectively. We that have now to deal with it can see the same better, perhaps, retrospectively, since, notwithstanding the trust was settled in a most orderly manner until the closing scene was reached, dissatisfaction by the army of disappointed creditors, honestly thinking, no doubt, they had been greatly wronged, their complaints being necessarily dealt with by judicial agencies without the aid of personal touch with the matters as they occurred, resulted, in the due performance of judicial duty, so far as seen from the light in hand, in the whole subject matter of the administration being opened up; and, after some two years of investigation, at great expense, and by the aid of eminent counsel — every detail of such administration being gone into, without the aid, however, of the chief instrument in the matter, the receiver, who in the meantime had gone to render *407Ms account in another jurisdiction, — it was found that, upon all grounds claimed, aside from those involved in the come pensation of the receiver and his assistants, accountability existed for $15,221.54, and also for all sums paid to the receiver, his attorney, and counsel, upon grounds rendering them infamous if true; and now, after four years more of labor, including months of study here before dealing with the matter finally, we have not been able to escape the conclusion that the receivership was honestly conducted and that at the most there is liability for $524.26 on the ground of negligence, and an excessive allowance as compensation for the personal services of the receiver, and for expense incurred for the services of an attorney and counsel, involving no moral turpitude.

Standing as near as we may, as before indicated, where the parties whose conduct in question stood in the spring of 1897, some things that would otherwise be difficult to understand are reasonably plain. We must assume, in the absence of clear evidence to the contrary, that, from the first act looMng to a final settlement to the end, every one concerned in it expected that the presiding judge would judicially close the matter before his term of office expired; that no act was done on the part of the receiver, his attorney, or Counsel, or the presiding judge, that was supposed would prevent that consummation. We must also assume that those that came in time to act adversely, and their attorney, understood the situation, and that in all the proceedings leading up to the final conclusion. they expected that the last act would take place before the expiration of the presiding judge’s term of office.

The receiver, his attorney, and counsel prepared the final account, as appears, in March, 1897. Unusual attention was given, in doing so, to details. It was exceptionally complete. The only thing which seems to have been omitted therefrom, which some accounts often contain and which, by the policy *408of our laws as to assignees, it should, have contained (sec. 1701, Stats. 1898), was a statement of the amount claimed in the whole as compensation for the services of the receiver and his expenses for legal assistance. That is not very significant, inasmuch as such matters are often submitted to the court for adjustment regardless of any claim made for any specific sum. The report contained many schedules so constructed as to be easily understood by the presiding judge with the aid of his knowledge of the matter. There was one of a large amount of accounts receivable that came from the insolvent supposed to be of little value, with appropriate explanations, where that was thought necessary, these being accounts in the main subsequently sold to Mr. Thomas as detailed in appeal No. 1. It also contained a list of accounts created by charging to holders of collaterals money spent in endeavors to collect the same, the $524.26 passed upon in appeal No. 2 being one of them. Each of these accounts was accompanied by a reasonably appropriate explanation. The report contained other schedules, in the whole presenting the entire situation with exceptional completeness. As stated therein, as to all important transactions an advisory order was on file authorizing or sanctioning it. It is hard to do full justice to this report in a brief summary. Suffice it further to say that it suggests that the services of an expert bookkeeper, under the guidance of a skilled lawyer, were rendered in its preparation. It was verified May 18, 1897. With reasonable promptness it was presented to the judge with a lengthy petition referring .to those parts ordinarily expected to be carefully examined, with reference to past and future action, and requesting a time and place to be set for settling the same and determining the compensation to be allowed the receiver for his services and the services of his legal assistants, and his discharge. The report was not immediately placed on file, but the evidence is to- the effect that the judge took it into his possession for examination and *409■examined it. An arder was promptly entered upon this report, authorizing the disposition of the stale accounts, and the few remaining articles of personal property, in the way in which such matters are usually conducted. The order was duly executed and the proceedings in that regard promptly and fully reported to the court and approved. The ■details as to this report sufficiently appear in appeals Nos. 1 ■and 2. This left nothing to be done but to pass finally upon the account. Preparatory to that a supplemental report was ■ordered June 24, 1897. That was filed June 30, 1897, the •day set for the hearing of the account. It showed $14,242.68 to be dealt with in paying the final expenses yet to be adjusted, and creditors, in case of a residue. It showed upon its face that all payments which had theretofore been made to the receiver, his attorney, or counsel, for services and expenses, were paid upon account and as per the order of the ■court, suggesting that the final compensation, it was supposed, would be fixed at the end of the administration as is usual in such matters. This was the situation early in July, open to inspection by any one interested. As indicated, the report, upon its- face, was an example of order and complete submission to judicial direction and observance .thereof. The order prayed for upon the presentation of the report was signed June 8, 1897, and was on that day entered, the time fixed for the hearing being June 30, 1897, at the courthouse in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, at the opening of court on that day or as soon thereafter as counsel could be heard. Notice thereof was ordered to be given to all creditors in the usual way, that is, by publication of the notice and by mailing a copy thereof to every creditor having a valid claim, :and to each of the stockholders, officers, and directors of the insolvent. Notice was given accordingly, and proof thereof was duly filed. No objection was made to the account till •six days after the time set for the hearing, but the matter was yet open for that purpose. On July 6, 1897, one of the *410creditors filed objections to the general character of the report as to definiteness, and vouchers, but not objecting, however, to the propriety of any matter when explained as was suggested the same ought to be, except as to $8,802.38 theretofore paid the attorneys, $524.26 involved in the Asheville-matter, treated in appeal No. 2, $675.71 in the Bucyrus matter, treated in appeal No. 3, $161.71 paid for completing the Armour & Co. plant, treated in appeal No. 2, and $877.28-stated to have been expended in completing a contract, which does not seem to be involved in this litigation. These objections, it now seems plain, were based on the same erroneous-ideas of the law that in the end ruled the trial of the case. A further and more definite account was prayed for, with a statement of the amount asked as compensation for services-as receiver, the same to include the amount claimed by him for his counsel, the total to be in one sum or in two items at the pleasure of the receiver. An order was asked for, referring the account to a suitable attorney of the court to take the evidence respecting the same as to all matters objected to-by the petitioning or interested persons, and to speedily report the same to the court. Thereafter, and July 16th, as appears by the record, not June 30th, as stated in the court’s findings, an order was made referring the matters objected to, and many others. The language of the order now necessary to have before us is as follows:

> “Take the evidence and report the amount kept and retained by said receiver for compensation for his services,, and the amount of expenses and disbursements by him made, not included in the items hereinbefore enumerated, and specify the amount of such compensation for such receiver heretofore specially authorized by the court herein.

> “Take evidence and report the amount and value of legal' services rendered by counsel to said receiver herein, including such as may be necessary to finally close up said receivership.

> “Take evidence and report the amount and value of the *411services rendered by tbe receiver, as such, in the discharge of his trust, including such as may be necessary to finally close up said receivership.

> “And it is further ordered that the official stenographer of this court attend the hearing of said matter before said referee and take all the evidence offered thereon the. same as though said matter were heard by and before this court.

> “And it is further ordered that said referee give due notice of the time and place of such hearing to R. E. Rust, receiver, and his attorneys as such, and to Peter Truax and his attorney, of the time and place of said hearing.”

Pursuant thereto, with reasonable promptness, a hearing before the referee was commenced. So much time was consumed in the investigations, and so much time was lost hy adjournments, that the hearings were prolonged so late into December as to render it apparent that the greatest diligence would be required for the rest of the time available in order to have the matter closed up before the termination of the term of office of the presiding judge. The length of time occupied in the hearings is indicated by the fact that $431.81 was ordered paid for referee’s and stenographer’s fees. The record shows that evidence was taken as late as December 28th, before the referee, long after it could have been expected that time would remain for the court to pass upon the matter if the practice were to prevail in regard to trials before referees as regards notice of the filing of the referee’s report, time for exceptions, and a motion to affirm, modify, or set aside the report. The taking of evidence did not cease with that given before the referee. Other evidence was taken, as will hereafter be indicated, which no one expected the referee would consider, yet which all expected would be-given its appropriate weight in the final decision to be rendered. Erom what has been said, we cannot believe but that it was understood by the attorney for the objecting creditor,, as well as every one concerned in the matter, that the presiding judge would take up the report of the referee for eonsid-*412«ration and. close tbe whole matter at tbe end of tbe- year, and that all necessity for any notice of motion, other than possibly a short one, by means of an order to show canse, had •been waived by the occurrences detailed, if not expressly. After December 1, 1897, events happened in rapid succession, all in harmony with the idea that time, though limited, was to be so utilized as to accomplish the purpose all had in view from the time of the presentation of the report early in June, 1897.

Though suspicion appears to be cast upon what occurred at the last, by the circumstance found that the order of reference, in form to take evidence and report the same with conclusions, instead of to take evidence and report the same, was made upon the insistence of Mr. Erawley and Mr. Hayden, we are unable to discover the evidence of such insistence. The finding seems to be based largely upon mere unwarranted inference, like many others to which we have referred. It is very definite, as if there were evidence in the record, definite and clear, showing the fact. Therein occurs this language, after that indicating that there was a contest in court between Mr. Erawley and the attorney for Mr. Truax in respect to the form of the order, the former contending for an order to hear, try, and determine and the latter to merely take and report the evidence: “Said Frawley prevailed.” Our failure to find evidence in the record to support that has given us much trouble. So definite a finding, one would think, could not have found a place in the record without some tangible evidence to base it on, or some clear mistake of a serious nature. It is our judgment, after a thorough research, that the evidence preserved in the record not only does not support the finding, but is clearly to the contrary. True, there is an affidavit on file, sent here by supplemental return, which counsel stipulated might be used as a part of the record, and which was used at the time the proceedings occurred to vacate the order of December 30, *4131897. That may have been the basis for the finding which was in the mind of the person who drafted it. If such affidavit was introduced as evidence, we can find no indication of it. Mr. Miner, who made it, does not appear to have testified upon the trial. The order of reference is a fair response to-the petition. There is nothing on the face of the record indicating that there was any contention as to the form of the reference. We must conclude that the finding was inadvertently made, through circumstances heretofore alluded to.. However, if it were true that Mr. Erawley preferred a reference to hear, try, and determine, and in .the end findings-, by the referee were rendered unnecessary, we cannot perceive how such circumstance is material. They probably would not have been deemed material by the trial court or the learned counsel for respondents except for mistake of law.

The court found, in effect, that December 21, 1897, Mr:. Erawley obtained, *ex parte,*a peremptory order closing the proceedings before the referee by December 27th, and ordering hiin to file his report by that time, and December 24th-thereafter obtained a second such order to close the taking of testimony by December 29th and file the report December 30th. Orders to that effect were entered. The attorney for the contestant must have known of them. There is nothing to indicate that he objected thereto, and much to suggest that he consented to the same in advance, or submitted later. The natural inference is that he consented, fully understanding that the whole matter in controversy was to be finally closed up before the end of the presiding judge’s term of office, and that such orders were judicial directions to that end, on the motion, largely, of the presiding judge himself. Such attorney had long known, we must assume, that all were working-with such end in view, each actor expecting that no objection would be made to its being accomplished. That he shaped his course in harmony therewith is indicated by a paper he. *414■signed, which appears in the record and will be presently referred to at length, showing that the additional time granted to take evidence, by the second order, was for his accommodation. It seems that, in the face of the undisputed ■evidence in the record that the order was drawn in accordance with the wish of the judge and the natural inference that all expected a speedy closing-up of the matter, the finding cannot be approved that the orders were obtained with bad intent. If the learned judge, waiting in his chambers for the report, expedited its coming, he but performed a clear judicial duty. If the attorneys who are said to have procured the order did so without judicial suggestion, their action indicates but a performance of professional duty. It was competent at this time, under all the circumstances, for the circuit judge to summarily order all of the proceedings before the referee to cease, though unfinished, to order a report to be made to him forthwith, and to conclude the matter himself in a summary way, save as time remaining enabled ■him to give the objecting parties opportunity to be heard.

■ Here, as well as anywhere, it would be well to observe that •the theory that the statute, sec. 2811, Stats. 1898, and sec. 6, Circuit Court Hule XXII, as to trials of actions before referees and proceedings thereon, apply to a mere special pro-needing like the one in question, resorted to by the presiding judge in order to obtain assistance in passing upon his receiver’s account, is erroneous. The referee, when those orders were entered, was as much under the control of the court as a master in chancery under the old practice in proceedings to state an account for the information of the court. 'The hands of the court were by no means tied by any statute or rule, neither could they be tied by the attitude of any •attorney in the litigation upon either side. The judge had power to make his own rules, to make them one day and unmake them the next, with or without notice, not transcending judicial discretion. Within that field he had absolute control *415of tbe accounting by bis receiver, answerable to no earthly tribunal but that of bis own conscience. Tbe broad judicial authority existing in such matters is probably sufficiently treated in tbe early part of this opinion, incidental to tbe jurisdictional question. That tbe learned judge, from bis large experience at tbe bar and on tbe bench, so understood tbe matter, is evident from what be did. That, better than any oral testimony in tbe case, explains bis treatment of tbe order of reference on December 30th — better than tbe idea that be regarded such order, as originally drawn, merely one to take testimony and report tbe same. "We cannot agree with counsel for respondents that it will bear any such interpretation. Tbe meaning of tbe language, “To take evidence and report tbe amount and value,” etc., is unmistakable. However, it is quite evident that all parties in tbe last days of December, 1897, entirely lost sight of or disregarded such feature, or, what is more probable, regarded it as having been eliminated from tbe order, by tbe general course of all concerned, and particularly by subsequent orders. Tbe one of December 24, 1897, requiring tbe taking of testimony to be closed by December 29, 1897, and tbe report to be made December 30th thereafter, of course could not have contemplated a careful consideration of tbe evidence by tbe referee and tbe filing of findings, in view of tbe record. Such order contained a recital that no further evidence upon any question was desired, except as to tbe compensation to be allowed to tbe receiver for bis personal services, and for tbe expenses incurred by tbe employment of an attorney and a counselor, and that tbe attorney for tbe receiver purposed accomo-dating tbe attorney for tbe contestant by going with him, without notice, any reasonable distance, to take such evidence on that question as be might desire. Such recitals were in accordance with tbe facts as conclusively appears by what thereafter occurred. Tbe order of December 21st bears on its face evidence that it was tbe presiding judge at this" *416time that was most active. It corroborates very clearly the-evidence that he. directed it to be drawn; not that it was procured, strictly speaking, by the attorney, Mr. Prawley, as the finding seems to indicate. It is in the form of an order by the judge, on his own motion, to his referee. “Let a copy of this order be served on T. P. Prawley, attorney for the receiver, and on P. M. Miner, Esq., attorney for Peter Truax herein, and this order to be filed with said J. C. Cores, referee,” is the language used therein.

The concluding acts between the attorneys for the respective parties leave little ground, if any, for belief but that there - was a mutual understanding that the original order was to be regarded as modified by the subsequent orders, in that they contemplated an immediate filing by the referee of his report upon closing the testimony December 29, 1897, any additional testimony to be presented to the court for its consideration. They are .particularly significant in that they involved a favor to the contestant’s attorney, which he improved. He was given time to g® to a distant part of the state to take testimony which could not be obtained without the extra time given, and then not without the attorney for the receiver waived all requirements as to notice, which he did, that fact being recited in the order. Pour days after the order was signed a stipulation Avas entered into between Mr. Prawley, as attorney for the receiver, and Mr. Miner, as attorney for the objecting creditor, which is so significant that it should have a place *in extenso*in this opinion. Omitting the formal parts it is as follows:

> “It is stipulated by and between the above-named plaintiffs, by T. P. Prawley, his attorney, and Peter Truax, contestant, by P. M. Miner, his attorney, that the testimony of A. L. Sanborn, Gr. W. Bird and IT. M. Lewis may be taken in the above-entitled action in shorthand by Mary E. Smith, a notaiy public in and for Dane county, Wisconsin, and by her extended in typewritten form, and. that the signatures of the said witnesses to the same be and are hereby waived; *417and that said testimony, after being so taken, may be transmitted by the said Mary E. Smith to the clerk of the circuit court at Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and that the same shall be by him attached to the testimony, taken before J. C. Gores, as referee in said action, and shall be treated and considered a part of the testimony taken before said referee in all respects the same as though said testimony had in fact been taken before said referee.

> “Dated December 28, 1897.

> “T. E. Erawley,

> “Attorney for Plaintiff.

> “E. M. Miner,

> “Attorney for Peter Truax.”

There is the plainest proof that all parties were co-operating to get the matter in hand finally disposed of by the then presiding judge. Prior to the making of that stipulation, the idea must hare been abandoned that the referee was to do more than report the testimony as to the receiver’s compensation and expenses. That seems evident. It had before this time been agreed, as the record conclusively shows, that the objections made by Mr. Truax had been sufficiently met. He made no objections to the mere amount of compensation to be allowed for legal services, but he prayed that the referee might be required to state what was claimed in that regard, and for receiver’s compensation, either in a lump sum or in two items, one covering expenses for legal services, and one covering receiver’s compensation. The indications are unmistakable that the parties to that stipulation had an understanding that the evidence to be taken was to be presented to the court for consideration without any formal notice by the attorney on one side to the attorney on the other. Depositions were taken under that stipulation and filed as contemplated therein. Thereafter Mr. Erawley, at the request' of the receiver, drew his report. It appears by the findings, and by the argument of the learned counsel for the respondents that such circumstance, in the conclusion of this case,, *418was regarded as significant. There is no finding and no claim, as we understand it, but that tbe report as drawn was in accordance with tbe facts, and fairly prepared, considering, as we must, tbat tbe parties understood tbat tbe matter of compensation for tbe receiver’s services and expenses for legal services was to be settled by tbe court. It substantially responded to tbe original order of reference except as to tbe particular matters objected to by Mr. Truax, wbicb tbe evidence shows bad been satisfactorily explained before tbe referee, and tbat part with reference to reporting the amount and value of tbe services of tbe receiver, bis attorney, and counsel; wbicb latter feature was not a matter asked for by Mr. Truax in bis petition. It only asked, as before indicated, a report to be placed on file wbicb should show tbe amount claimed by tbe receiver and bis attorneys in one or two amounts at bis pleasure. Of course, in this we consider tbe general objection to tbe charges for attorneys’ fees paid, to have been based, either on the erroneous idea afterwards urged with success tbat under tbe circumstances no such expenses were allowable, or tbe idea tbat tbe objection was limited to tbe feature wbicb tbe prayer distinctly asked to have supplied. It was on tbe court’s own motion tbat tbe reference was ordered, to take proof and report conclusions as to tbe amount and value. If tbat bad not been waived by tbe parties and abrogated by tbe court, before tbe report of tbe referee was made, it was competent for tbe court to abrogate it at any time.

In view of what has been said, tbe circumstance *that the*referee’s report was drafted by Mr. Erawley seems to be of little significance. Tbe fact tbat there were some 600 pages of evidence, is also of no great moment, as regards tbe particular matter under consideration, since none tbat bore on any contested question, except tbe amount and value of the services rendered by tbe receiver and bis legal assistants, was required to .be examined. Tbe report bad to come into court *419an December 30tb anyway. There was no time for a studied judicial determination by the referee, and he was not expected to make any. That seems evident. The circumstance of Mr. Irayley’s drawing the report merely shows conformance 4o the practice criticised in this opinion. Maybe it would have been better for the referee to have drawn his own report. We think it would. But it is as well for a referee to permit the labor which in legal contemplation devolves upon him as regards preparing his report, to be performed by the attorney for one of the contesting parties, as for the presiding judge to do the same thing as régards his 'findings of fact and conclusions of law. However, if it is entirely nonprejudicial in any case, it is where there is no contested •question, as in this instance, which the referee is expected to pass upon.

On the morning of December 30, 1897, the report of the referee was placed on file. The final act in which the attorney for the objecting creditor was concerned leaves little room to doubt that he expected it might be taken up for consideration on that day. He was personally notified that the court was ready to proceed in the matter, as the findings state. It is found that he refused to be present, relying on the statute and the rule to which we have referred. That is not consistent with what had occurred. Mr. Miner was as much bound morally to appear, if necessary to give the court jurisdiction to act, as if he had entered into a written stipulation to do so. To his credit, so far as it goes, we are unable to find definite evidence sustaining the finding. He was not sworn. The messenger sent to notify Miner testified that he said to him, he was requested to say that the court was waiting for him in order to take up the settlement of the receivership matter, to which Mr. Miner replied: “There is no matter coming up at the courthouse in which I am interested, in which any notice or motion or order to show cause has been served upon me, and I do not propose to go over there. I *420Rave Rad no notice of any motion in any matter in wRicR I am interested, and do not propose to go to court.” We Rave not Mr. Miner’s version of tRis interview, except as it appears in tRe supplemental return to wRicR we Rave Reretofore referred. Since tRe affidavit tRus sougRt to Re made evidence does not appear to Rave Reen used as sucR upon tRe trial, it Rardly seems proper to consider it now. If Mr. Miner Rad Reen sworn upon tRe trial and subjected to cross-examination, an entirely different situation migRt Rave appeared from wRat appeared in Ris affidavit. It is. not tRe practice to allow evidence to Re introduced in tRis court wRicR was not introduced upon tRe trial Relow, in order tRat a judgment may Re sustained or impeacRed, even wRen counsel agree tRat it may Re done. However, if tRe affidavit were considered as evidence, proRaRly it would not cRange tRe situation. Certainly, tRe appearances as regards tRe person involved, wRo is not a party to tRe litigation, are Retter witR it out of tRe record tRan witR it in. It may Re tRat Re supposed some time would Re given Rim to make Ris appearance, sucR time to Re fixed kyrnn order to sRow eause. TRat would not Re unreasonakle in view of all tRe facts we Rave detailed. TRere was time to Rave given sucR notice. We will refer to tRat later. TRe evidence in tRe record goes no furtRer tRan to sRow tRat Mr. Miner declined to aid tRe taking up of tRe receiversRip matter by Ris presence, witRout any formal notice, preferring to stand upon any rigRts wRicR Re Rad in tRat regard, in case proceedings were taken in Ris absence resulting in a conclusion not satisfactory to Ris client. He Rad a legal rigRt to do tRat; wRetRer Re Rad a moral rigRt to do so under tRe circumstances is anotRer question. As we Rave Rad occasion Reretofore to say, courts must leave parties and witnesses as well, on strictly moral questions, to be dealt witR by other than judicial tribunals.

How we Rave this situation: TRe sourt in session in the closing days of the presiding judge’s term of office, with this *421great matter undisposed of. Everything was before him for action. The matter in controversy as to everything contained in the adverse creditor’s objections was in effect out of the way, escept what the judge saw fit to substitute in place of a claim in writing by the receiver as to the amount of compensation for his services and his expenses for legal assistance. All the evidence both parties wanted to submit before the referee or the court was on file. There was a written stipulation, which the court had a right to regard, in connection with what had been done, as a recognition by the objecting creditor that the matter was to be fully settled on the 30th of December, or at least before the termination of the judge’s term of office. Everything is consistent with that. It appears so certain as to leave no reasonable doubt on the question. The receiver was present with his attorney and counsel. At the last moment, if we are to believe the findings, the court and the attorney and counsel, rightly believing that it was in the power of Mr. Miner by his absence to disable the court from settling its receiver’s accounts, were led to and did resort to unprofessional proceedings, and obtain participation therein of the receiver and the presiding judge, to the end that the referee’s report might not, because of its form, preclude the court from acting in the matter of closing up the receivership as was contemplated. Whether Mr. Miner at this time considered that the power of the court to exercise its functions was dependent upon his attitude, we will not disturb the finding or say more in regard thereto. So far as the findings are to the effect that Mr. Miner could by his conduct prevent the court from settling the receiver’s account, they are erroneous.

That part of the finding now most important is quite lengthy. To review the same in detail and show the reasons why it cannot be supported, would only lead to a repetition ■of much that has been said. We will take up, briefly, the leading features.

*422First, it is said the report was fraudulently' withdrawn from the files. That is based on an inference, which could not have been drawn except for a misconception of the law, as before stated, as to the right of the court to proceed regardless of the statute and the rule on the subject of trials before referees, in the treatment of their reports. It does not seem to be supported by the evidence, because that seems undisputed to the effect that what was done was in execution of the mandate of the judge delivered from the bench. It is found that the referee signed a new report upon the statement being made to him privately that the court had so ordered. Tie testified, and there appears to be nothing impeaching the same, as follows:

> I made no objection to signing the new report because I heard the court make a ruling that all I was required to do in this matter was to sign a certificate reporting the evidence. That order was made before such discussion [discussion about some rule affecting the matter]. It was made immediately after I came into the courtroom. When I was coming in I heard the judge make such verbal ruling.

This evidence seems to have been overlooked in making the findings, or else it was deemed to be rendered false by legitimate inferences from what was done. The finding is to the effect that Mr. Erawley, with bad intent, procured the omission from the first report of all mention of the subject of compensation to the receiver, his counsel, and attorney. That is evidently found by inference from the supposed general fraudulent intent, of which we have been unable to find evidence. There was no definite evidence as to why the omission was made, but the circumstances we have heretofore re-. ferred to all indicate that it was supposed the court had concluded to adjust the matter without any aid from the referee’s opinion, that all parties so understood it, and no one better than Mr. Miner. There is evidence tending to show that the court, Mr. Hayden, and Mr. Frawley, considered *423Mr. Miner’s attitude, and deemed it inconsistent with the general understanding with which the matter had been handled, especially the stipulation signed by him. The other facts found by the court in respect to this matter are detailed in Nos. 226 and 227 of our statement. All elements of bad intent or wrongful conduct mentioned in the findings, it seems, are unsupported.

It is probably true, as found, that the possibility of Mr. Miner’s endeavoring before the incoming judge to make some point on his not having had a notice of motion, in due form, of the hearing, was discussed. Rules were, it seems, spoken of. AVhat rules, is left to conjecture. It may be that the statutory and other practice as regards trials before referees was a subject of discussion, and to obviate any difficulty in that regard it may be that it was concluded not to have on file, if it could be avoided, any report after the manner of a finding by a referee appointed to hear, try, and determine an action. If so, the record appears to us clear that it was the trial judge who was responsible for the change in the report. It would have been more orderly, probably, not to have made such change. There was no need for it in order to enable the court to settle his receiver’s account. It was, it seems, a matter of overcaution, done to satisfy the fears of counsel. The evidence is to the effect that there was discussion by counsel in the courtroom; that then the order was made from the bench; that later there was the discussion, which is mentioned in the finding in a way to -indicate that it was initiatory to what followed instead of following the 'direction from the bench.

Enough has been said on this subject. The conclusion is that the finding of bad intent as to the filing of a mere certificate reporting the evidence taken by the referee is not supported; that the whole matter was done under the direction of the presiding judge in the exercise of his undoubted jurisdiction, and that he acted summarily under the circuía-*424stances, either because be deemed tbe order of July 16, 1897, in effect modified by tbe subsequent order, or that tbe feature in question bad been waived by tbe parties, or that by tbeir conduct they were estopped from insisting upon it, or that it was bis duty, if necessary, to take tbe subject of settling tbe matter in band to bimself, summarily vacating that feature of tbe order, if necessary to enable bim to proceed to tbe final settlement of tbe trust. On tbe last proposition we apprehend tbe presiding judge bad no doubt as to bis authority in tbe matter, so long as be kept within tbe boundaries of discreet action.

Tbe next thing that occurred after tbe new report was placed on file was tbe entry of tbe final order, which occurred without much delay, tbe indications being that it was signed soon after tbe noon hour. Tbe findings are to tbe effect that many of tbe recitals in such order are untrue, specifications being given. To warrant such a finding pretty clear and satisfactory evidence should be produced. If tbe order will admit of a reasonable interpretation, under all tbe circumstances, relieving court and counsel from such a charge, it should be favored. If such a construction cannot be discovered, and tbe false statements can yet reasonably, under all tbe circumstances, be attributable to mere mistake, that theory should be favored. If neither truth nor innocent mistake can be reasonably discovered, but tbe-wrong of tbe matter under all tbe circumstances can reasonably be attributed to negligence, we should incline to that view before finding facts creating liability even in a civil action, where it necessarily means that tbe parties charged were guilty of criminal conduct. Without tbe considerations to which we have referred, great injustice is liable to occur in such matters. Tbe maxim that it is better that many guilty men should escape than that one innocent man should be convicted has some application in the circumstances suggested. This court at an early day held that an alleged civil liability grounded *425on criminal responsibility should fail unless established beyond reasonable doubt. *Freeman v. Freeman,*31 Wis. 235. That later was abandoned, and of course is not the law. *Poertner v. Poertner,*66 Wis. 644, 29 N. W. 386. But the rule still is so far adhered to that the proof in such eases is required to be clear and satisfactory; though a preponderance of the evidence, if it meets that test, is sufficient. The danger of reading criminal conduct, by construction, out of a paper that may be viewed from an aspect consistent with innocence may be appreciated when we observe that a mandate of this court, framed with all the care that could reasonably be devoted to it, and approved by all the members of the court after a careful examination thereof to the end that court and counsel subsequently to execute it might have no reasonable doubt as to what course to pursue, may become a subject of controversy in that regard, resulting, after expensive litigation, in a judgment necessarily coming here for review, largely respecting the meaning of that mandate.

We confess that there are some recitals in the order under discussion as to occurrences leading up to and characterizing its presentation for the court’s signature, not easy to be understood, and that might well have the meaning attributed thereto by the trial court if the aspect in which it was there viewed is proper; but it is not. We cannot escape the conclusion that if the bad intent found actually existed, the circuit judge himself, and his referee, must have been parties thereto, either actually or constructively. It seems that had the erroneous idea that fraud permeated the whole of this .matter from start to finish not been discovered as supposed, the severe indictment of wrongdoing contained in the finding in regard to this order would not have been embodied therein. Things look far different when viewed inductively, conclusions entirely waiting upon a discovery of the particulars, from when viewed deductively, assumptions being indulged in, supposed to be warranted, and particulars searched for *426harmonizing therewith. True, in any view, there are somo recitals in the order not easy to understand. One of them is-this, speaking of the order of reference:

> “Required and directed by said court, to wit: to report the evidence taken upon such hearing to the court, and such being the construction placed upon such order of reference' by the parties and by the court, to wit, being an order of reference to take and report the evidence.”

But when the whole situation is reviewed as it existed at the time the order was signed, it seems reasonable to conclude-that such language referred to the meaning to be attributed to the order in the light of subsequent orders entered by the court, the conduct of the parties generally, the practical construction apparent, particularly by the circumstance of the-stipulation of December 28, 1897, and the action of the parties thereon in the taking of testimony and the filing of the same in the office of the clerk of the circuit court instead of with the referee.

There is a sufficient explanation that can be given to all recitals in the order of December 30, 1897, to preclude holding, reasonably, that .it was drafted with bad intent, when we-leave out of view the many elements to which we have referred, that were erroneously given weight in the case. When we look backward over all the facts that have been considered, appreciating that, in the candid oral evidence of Mr. Frawley that, though his professional conduct in the administration of the trust might have been wrong as regards legal principles, he believed it to be right when the acts criti-cised were performed, and still believed so, he not only spoke truthfully, but was right; and appreciating that, at the last scene in that courtroom on December 30, 1897, the presiding judge, as was testified,= not only proceeded according to his views of the law respecting his right to act summarily, if necessary, not transcending judicial discretion, to close up the receivership, but with a correct understanding of his; *427duty: tbe scene, so vividly pictured in tbe court’s findings, of three lawyers of bigb standing at tbe bar, among whom were those who bad passed into tbe evening twilight of life and of a long and distinguished career, wickedly colluding in a side room off tbe temple of justice, under tbe forms of law to consummate grand larceny, so to speak, of tbe funds in their keeping as tbe instruments of tbe law, in trust for many persons who bad no. representative at-band,' — and accomplishing their infamous purpose with a referee and a presiding judge as their stupid, negligent, or willing tools,— disappears; and in its place we see tbe picture of court, attorney, and counsel endeavoring, in tbe last days of tbe presiding judge’s official life, to do what, if possible within the rules of law and reason, could be done to fully perform tbe duties resting upon them respectively, and accomplishing it without fault, unless it be found in indiscretion. Tbe determination covered by tbe order tbe judge, as tbe court, bad a right to make when and in tbe manner he-did, if be gave that consideration to tbe matter necessary to-enable him to pronounce a reasonably just judgment as to tbe right of the receiver to compensation and expenses. Tbe control of tbe judge over such matters we have heretofore sufficiently referred to.

From the conclusions already reached it seems plain that tbe theory upon which tbe learned trial court held that tbe receiver and bis assistants did not render faithful service in administering tbe trust and hence that they were not entitled to anything for their services and should restore all sums paid to them therefor, is all wrong. If there is any error in respect to tbe mere procedure of December 30, 1897, it consists in indiscretion. Counsel for appellants contend that if tbe element of fraud discovered by tbe trial court is held not to exist, tbe whole cause of action as to them must fail. That we have already shown to be erroneous, as this is not a cause of action for damages on tbe ground of fraud, but one for *428:an accounting for money received by tbe persons charged, to which they are not entitled, and for which their legal representatives, as successor possessors of their property, should account, and is a mere part of a greater cause of action, as .has been before indicated.

There is no difficulty in reviewing the matter because of a change in the judicial head of the court. The December term of the circuit court for Eau Claire county survived the change as to its presiding judge, and included the time when, as ruled over by his successor, the order in question was vacated. So the rule precluding an order or judgment at one term being vacated at another, except pursuant to sec. 2832, -Stats. 1898, does not apply.

It may be that excusable negligence on the part of the attorney for the creditor, Mr. Truax, was shown, which would have justified action under sec. 2832, Id. We are inclined to the opinion that it would. The judge of the court at the time the order of December 30th was vacated, had the same authority to take such action as his predecessor would have had, if the latter’s term of office had continued to the time •thereof. So we really do not need to consider whether there was abuse of discretion in granting the order of December 30, 1897, so much as we do whether there was such abuse in vacating it. True, though a judge who comes into power, as ' here, possesses authority, in a sense, to review decisions of his predecessor, as under the circumstances of this case, such authority should be exercised with great care. The doctrine that one judge of co-ordinate jurisdiction with another •should not sit in review upon that other’s judicial acts other than under some extraordinary circumstances rendering it •clearly necessary to prevent a miscarriage of justice, is well understood. In England, as regards chancellors, it is prohibited by statute. In this country it is quite as effectually prohibited by judicial policy. *Coon v.*Seymour, 71 Wis. 340, 37 N. W. 243; *Fenske v. Kluender,*61 Wis. 602, 21 *429N. W. 796; *Cardinal v. Eau Claire L. Co.*75 Wis. 404, 44 N. W. 761; *Crowns v. Forest L. Co.*102 Wis. 97, 101, 78 N. W. 433. Authorities here in respect thereto are-mainly confined to instances where one circuit court attempted to pass upon or interfere with the execution of some-order or judgment of another such court; but the same principle applies where one circuit judge is called upon to review the judicial acts of his predecessor in the same case. The-highest court in New York, in *Matter of*Livingston, 34 N. Y. *555,*made this emphatic declaration on the subject:

> “Although we have no statute which expressly prohibits-one judge from rehearing a matter decided by another judge, the rule is so well established and is so important for the protection of parties from unjust vexation, that if it has not already been, it is full time it should be incorporated into-the equity law of this state.”

Chancellor Walwoeth, in *Winship v.*Pitts, 3 Paige, 260, speaking on the same subject, said:

> “After a decree has been made by the chancellor, it is not competent for any vice-chancellor to make an order or decree which would, directly or indirectly, discharge, alter or modify the same.”

To the same effect are *Greenwich Bank v. Loomis,*2 Sandf. Ch. 70; *Astor v.*Ward, 3 Ed. Ch. 371. In the last case cited a vice-chancellor refused to rehear a matter passed; upon by his predecessor.

Erom what has been said it will be seen that a successor judge should never assume the function of reviewing mere matters of judgment of his predecessor. To do so is such a flagrant violation of established practice as to constitute reversible error of a jurisdictional nature. One of the familiar rules in equity matters is that a plain prejudicial violation of established rules of practice constitutes reversible error. *Woerz v.*Schumacher, 161 N. Y. 530, 56 N. E. 72.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, doubtless when a case is= *430presented to a circuit court, showing clearly to the presiding judge that an order in a case yet pending was granted by his predecessor corruptly or through negligence, or by reason of fraud perpetrated by the applicant therefor, or without the opposite party’s being heard, through excusable mistake or neglect on his part or his attorney’s, — such fault that the judge who granted the order, were he in a position to do so, could properly, and probably would, relieve him therefrom, — the successor may properly act in the matter, opening the way for a rehearing, if to him it seems that justice cannot otherwise be obtained. So while we fully recognize the rule contended for by appellants’ counsel, it is not one creating an absolute disability of a judge to set aside an order made by his predecessoi-, where the latter, if in office, might do it.

The foregoing suggests that the action of the court in granting the order of December 30, 1891, should be considered in the light of everything characterizing it. The circumstance that the judge, of his own motion, on July 16, 18 97, made the reference to take evidence and report the same with an advisory suggestion as to the amount and value of the services of the receiver, his attorney, and counsel, shows, as the fact is, that the subj ect involved, even from the standpoint of the judge who had been familiar with it all the way through, considerable difficulty. It must have been appreciated from that time on that the matter involved would come before the court for final determination, as we have several times indicated, before the expiration of the judge’s term of office, and that even with the advisory-opinion of the referee, some time at least would need to be devoted to a review of the evidence taken. The failure of the referee to finish his labor and file his report was taken notice of, as the record shows. The oral testimony is to the effect that the judge made inquiries in respect to the matter. It was in his power, at any time, as we have seen, to discharge the referee *431and take the whole matter to himself, and, giving parties such opportunity to be heard as seemed reasonable under all the circumstances, take up the matter and consider and dispose of it. So, in a measure, there was judicial fault in not compelling an earlier report by the referee. That, it seems, the judge appreciated, when he made the order of December 21, 1897, in effect informing all concerned that the matter must be closed up and the report filed December 27, 1897. It must have occurred to him before that the condition of the proceeding before the referee was greatly weakening the ■court’s ability to deal with the matter for want of time, as in the closing days of his term of office there would necessarily be many things requiring attention. His action December 21,-1897, he might well have taken earlier. In such a matter the judge need not wait to be put in motion by the attitude of counsel. The order of December 24, 1897, is -excusable so far as parties represented were concerned, which included the only active objecting creditor and the receiver and his legal assistants; but the great mass of creditors, as appears, were relying wholly upon the court. The receiver stood for creditors, generally speaking, but in this proceeding, in a sense, he was in an adversary capacity as to them. The' last order, it seems, was a mistake, when it is considered that the court was determined, and properly so, to close the trust before going out of office on Monday, January 1, 1898. When the report of the referee was before the court with its mass of evidence, conflicting in character, as to the matter to be decided, it should have been appreciated that deliberate treatment thereof was necessary. There was no fault in the act of relieving the referee from the duty of making a finding in respect to such matter, but it increased the amount of diligence which the judge should have devoted to it. It seems, as before indicated, that the whole of the forenoon ■of December 30th was taken up with the general business of the court, and with the preliminaries to taking up the report *432for consideration. While the judge probably appreciated that Mr. Miner was making a mistake in supposing that by his mere absence he could paralyze the arm of the court to settle with its receiver, he should also have appreciated that the penalty, if any were to be suffered, would fall upon Mr. Miner’s clients and on the army of unrepresented creditors. So the attitude of Mr. Miner, though wrong, should have been regarded as increasing the degree of care to be devoted to the matter in hand rather than rendering action *pro forma*permissible or proper. True, the referee, his attorney, and counsel, were in court, demanding judicial settlement of the matter. There was no wrong in that unless it were error of judgment in unduly pressing the matter when there was yet time. They may have called the court’s attention to the amount and value of their services as shown by the evidence taken. It is more than probable that they did. We must assume that the court was informed in some way as to the trend of the evidence on the part of the receiver,, before finally adjudicating the matter. If so, and it was by way of a statement by counsel as to what the evidence tended to prove, there is nothing wrong in that. The counsel were supported by evidence of eminent members of the profession, and other expert evidence, and their own honest judgment as to the amount and value of their services. It was for the court, of course, to determine how much they were entitled to in view of all the considerations legitimately bearing on the question, which included his personal knowledge as the most important factor in the circumstances of this case. *Taylor v. C., M. & St. P. R. Co.*83 Wis. 645, 53 N. W. 855; *Richardson v.*Tyson, 110 Wis. 572, 86 N. W. 250. However, the time had come when the interests of the receiver were on one side and those of the creditors on the other. The former was represented before the court, the latter were not. The creditors were entitled to all the protection which such an examination of the evidence and such *433attention to tbe matter as time would reasonably permit would afford, tbe diligence in that regard to be measured somewhat by tbe delay in taking tbe matter up. Now as we understand tbe record, pretty soon after tbe noon bonr, — tbe indications are, promptly thereafter, — without any study of tbe evidence, without any opportunity to know what was in the report except by general statements of tbe interested parties as to its general effect, which if.made at all were no doubt honestly and fairly made, — the blanks in tbe order previously prepared were by direction ^from tbe bench filled in, specifying tbe allowances to be made, and it was then signed, and tbe matter thus ended. We do not doubt but that tbe learned judge was very much pressed for time.’ We see nothing to impeach tbe good faith of any one concerned, yet it seems- that tbe diligence which discreet. conduct would have brought to the matter was hardly given thereto. It is more than probable that it was thought, and not without good grounds, that in any event the surplus of funds on hand over and above the necessary amount to pay expenses was so little as to not be worth the trouble and expense of making a distribution, and that such idea led to the belief that the creditors were really not interested. That is indicated from the wording of the order, showing that it was anticipated there might not be enough in the hands of the receiver to pay the allowances made. It hardly affords a satisfactory excuse for a *pro forma*granting of an order turning over to the receiver and his legal assistants whatever there was for a division between them on a basis fixed by the court. The limited amount of time available does not satisfactorily explain the haste in settling the matter which characterized it. The judge’s term of office did not, as we have heretofore indicated, expire on the 30th day of December, 1891. He had until noon on Monday, the 1st day of January, 1898, the day when his successor’s term of office was to commence, to close up the business in hand. *State ex rel.**434*Emberson v. Byrne,*98 Wis. 16, 73 N. W. 320. That may not bave been appreciated. It gave bim one day and a balf after December 30 th, if we connt Sunday, wbicb, tbougb not a day for business, ordinarily, need not in a case of necessity be wholly ignored. There was time for a pretty thorough investigation of the evidence filed by the referee, time to have had other witnesses called than those who had testified, if thought necessary, time to have examined the parties interested in open court, even time to have relieved Mr. Miner’s client of all danger „of being prejudiced through his attorney’s mistake as to the law by removing the latter’s scruples to maldng an appearance in court except in response to an ordinary notice of motion or an order to show cause. To take up the matter and dispose of it summarily, even under the press of circumstances, which to a great extent legitimately existed, it seems, was an indiscretion. That does not cast any serious reflection on the learned circuit judge or other parties concerned. If presiding judges were to be condemned merely for indiscretion, and members of the bar likewise condemned for making presentations to the court leading thereto, there would be few who would escape. If the learned judge in this instance had possessed the opportunity, upon reflection, to vacate his order of December 30, 1897, and to give the matter deliberate consideration, it is quite probable that he would have done so. It follows from this, that there was no reversible error in vacating the order as was done in any aspect of the matter in which it can reasonably be- viewed.

Whether the determination made by the order was really prejudicial or not is the next question. In considering that, notwithstanding what has been said, some weight must be given to the determination at first made. It at least represents the judgment of one who was better prepared than any one else could well be to make the proper allowance, if correct rules were observed.

*435There is no *per diem,*percentage, or salary rule that governs in fixing the compensation to he paid to a receiver for his services, yet there are some rules to go by. He is entitled to compensation for services of the kind required of a business agent having regard to the nature of the matter administered, the amount involved, the complications attending it, the time spent, the degree of success attained under all the •circumstances, the fidelity to details, the appreciation evidenced as to the responsibilities of the position, the character of such responsibilities, the expedition with which the trust has been administered in view of results reached, the method, character, and promptness of the accounting, and many other things that could be suggested, having regard, of course, to what is commonly paid for somewhat similar services in the performance of official duties, not the standard in private business transactions. *Union Nat. Bank v. Mills,*103 Wis. 39, 79 N. W. 20; *Speiser v. Merchantss' Exch. Bank,*110 Wis. 506, 86 N. W. 243; *Stuart v. Boulware,*133 U. S. 78, 10 Sup. Ct. 242; Gluck & Becker, Receivers, 535; High, Receivers, § 782; Beach, Receivers, sec. 761; Wait, Insolv. Corp. § 223. Precedents do not help much, as it is impossible to find any two cases alike in their facts. In *Karn v. Rorer I. Co.*86 Va. 754, 11 S. E. 431, the term of office was twenty-two months. The gross receipts in money handled were $35,000, and the receiver was allowed $3,375. In *Schwartz v. Keystone O. Co.*153 Pa. St. 283, 25 Atl. 1018, the amount handled was $96,000, the work in the main was done in six months, largely by employees under the supervision of the receiver, and he was allowed $4,000. In *Union Bank Case,*37 N. J. Eq. 420, a receivership of a bank lasting six years, about $200,000 being collected and distributed, the allowance was $22,000. In *Stuart v. Boulware, supra,*a receivership lasting some five years, the receiver giving a bond for $50,000, caring for property from which was collected rents to the amount of $100,000, which was disbursed, *436and -which, property was sold -under the supervision of the court for $380,700, the receiver was allowed $6,500 for his services and legal expenses. These citations are sufficient to-indicate that such matters, in the decided cases, are not governed by any definite rule. The range of compensation in many instances seems quite low as compared with what was allowed in this case, and in other instances the indications are to the contrary. This court in *Speiser v. Merchants’ Exch.*Bank, laid down a rule, which we are disposed to adhere to, that in such matters the standard should be that of public, not of private, service, and that doubts shall be resolved in favor of the trust.

Courts should strive to make trusts for the benefit of creditors all which the name signifies, not trusts for the benefit of the trustee and his employees, which is too often the case, tending to scandalize the administration of justice. If there is any repository where property for the benefit of creditors can be located, which is safe, and will ultimately render to them everything that can be made available by economical, judicious, honest management, and which should excel all others, it is the circuit courts having jurisdiction of such matters. Much significance should be given to the policy established here for the judicial administration in this state; that is, that the standard of compensation of receivers is the amount paid for somewhat similar services in official work. In most jurisdictions the standard is far .different. Generally it is that ordinarily paid for the performance of somewhat similar services in ordinary business pursuits; while in some cases it has been said that the responsibilities and accountabilities and duties of a receiver are so peculiar that he should be allowed a greater amount to compensate him for his services than would be obtainable by the head of a similar institution, if managed privately. Gluck & Becker, Receivers, 101.

Applying the principles stated, to the case in hand, in *437view of tlie fact that the receiver employed two eminent lawyers, accustomed to charge for their services $50 per day each, and the time necessarily occupied in administering the trust, the allowance of $7,500 is much too large. The trial court found that one year and a half was time enough in which to have entirely closed up the receivership. That cannot he taken as quite correct, because many things were regarded by the trial court as outside of the receiver’s duties, which we hold were not. But it seems that .two full years for the whole matter, aside from time occupied in settling the account, were enough, and that upon.the standard established for measuring the compensation, in view of all the •circumstances, $5,000 would he quite a liberal allowance, that to cover the time required in settling the account up to and inclusive of December, 30, 1897. The salaries of state appointive officers who have charge of interests very much larger than were involved in this case, and who are required to devote their whole time to the duties of their positions, are hut $2,000 per year. We hold that the allowance to Mr. Rust, for his services up to and inclusive of the settlement •of his account, over $5,000, was excessive.

The considerations above mentioned, as regards the receiver’s compensation, in many respects govern in determining the amount allowable to him on account of the services of his attorney and counsel. Such services are not to he compensated for as has been supposed, as a matter of course. A receiver is not permitted to employ an attorney at the expense of the creditors unless the services of one are reasonably necessary, and then only to the extent reasonably required, and of course is not permitted, except in extraordinary cases, to employ one person as attorney and another as counsel, and to draw the salary of a trained business man himself, who, ordinarily, does not require the aid of an attorney in conducting his business. The tendency of administrative courts is to he too lax in such matters. They must *438aim to a higher standard, — aim to deal with receiverships as important public trusts, making the element of private gain,, as regards their business agents and their legal assistants, a secondary consideration, so far as that can reasonably be done, which can probably best be attained by applying,, pretty strictly, as the standard for compensation, the amount ordinarily paid for similar services in official life. Precedents will not better help in this matter than in determining the amount which should be paid for the services of a receiver, — probably not so much.

The reasonable necessities of this case did not require the-permanent employment of two distinguished lawyers, one as attorney and one as counsel. Either one of the learned gentlemen, as appears from the evidence, was eminently capable of filling the position, both of attorney and counsel, as is usually done> especially in public matters. True, a very large amount of work was done, and in a most methodical way. But much of it was of the kind commonly performed by law clerks, as we must assume it was in this case. The compensation allowable, it must be understood, is not the value of the work actually done by the attorney to be computed from the time spent and the amount which an attorney customarily charges his clients, but it is what may Appear to be proper for the work that was reasonably necessary to the due administration of the trust by the standard heretofore-indicated. *Richardson v. Tyson,*110 Wis. 572, 86 N. W. 250. The time actually spent and work actually done are-important elements, but the controlling feature is the work reasonably required. There must also be considered, of course, the character of the work, the manner in which it was done, and the beneficial results to the trust. Where the work is of a character , commonly performed satisfactorily by an attorney who would not be reasonably expected to charge in private transactions at a greater rate than the average standard for professional services, a receiver would not *439be justified in employing an attorney accustomed to' be compensated by a much, higher standard on account of his experience, expecting to make compensation for such services on such extravagant basis an equitable lien upon the trust fund.

It is our judgment that if the learned judge who made the allowance of December 30, 1897, had applied the law, as we must deem it to have been established for the courts of this state, the allowance to the receiver on account of his legal assistants would not have exceeded $10,000. That we fix without much regard to the fact that two attorneys instead of one were employed. If only one had been employed, in our judgment the sum named would not be very much less than the amount above indicated. The allowance is to the. receiver, not directly to his attorney. Beach, Receivers, sec. 308; Gluck & Becker, Receivers, 354, 360; *Richardson v. Tyson, supra; Stuart v. Boulware,*133 U. S. 78, 10 Sup. Ct. 242. Whether that be divided, part being paid to the attorney and part to the counsel, is not material to the court or the creditors. However, since the receiver submitted to the court the question of how much should be allowed for services of the character rendered by Mr. Hayden, and what should be allowed for services of the character rendered by Mr. Erawley, separately, and Mr. Hayden and Mr. Erawley joined therein, it was proper to accord to the parties a decision of the matter, and we will do the same. In our judgment the proper allowance on account of the services rendered by Mr. Erawley should be fixed at $7,500, and the proper allowance on account of the services rendered by Mr. Hayden should be fixed at $2,500. We have determined those amounts from a careful study of the subject in all its. bearings, and believe the same to be the limit of what correct principles will clearly justify.

The claim is made that the excessive allowances for legal services cannot be recovered of the receiver, since he paid *440the same over on the order of the court, and there was no appeal with a stay of proceedings, the rule announced in *Maxwell v. Bank of New*Richmond, 101 Wis. 286, 291, 17 N. W. 149, *Florida Central R. Co. v. Bisbee,*18 Fla. 60, and Gluck & Becker, Receivers, 856, being cited. *Maxwell v. Bank of New Richmond*clearly does not apply. There an equitable lien on property acquired by garnishee process was discharged by a judgment in favor of the garnishee. There was an appeal from such judgment without any proceedings being taken to continue the lien till the termination of such appeal. The garnishee in that situation, *bona fide*parted with the property of the principal debtor. In those circumstances it was held that the reversal of the judgment did not revive the lien; that the garnishee was a mere stakeholder and was entitled to be protected on equitable principles. It is entirely unlike a case where one pays money to another under a judicial order, which is afterwards set aside. The other authorities cited by counsel are to the same effect as the one reviewed. Money in the hands of a receiver sequestered for the benefit of the plaintiffs, having been on the order of the court paid to the plaintiffs’ attorney, he having an equitable lien thereon as regards plaintiffs’ rights, and thereafter the judgment upon which the sequestration was based being reversed, it was held that no right of action thereby accrued in favor of the defendant against such attorney to recover back the money. It was said, however, that the right of the defendant whose money had been thus diverted, to recover the same of the plaintiffs for whose benefit it was used, was undoubted. Of course, in such circumstances, by the enforcement of the liability against the plaintiff, no cause of action would accrue over against the attorney who received the money, because it was paid to him merely to satisfy the valid indebtedness of the plaintiff. The general principle that when a judgment has been enforced, and is subsequently reversed, a right of action is thereby created *441in favor of the prevailing party against his adversary to recover the money hack, is not in conflict with *Florida Cent. R. Co. v. Bisbee, supra.*On the contrary it is there most distinctly recognized, the following on the subject being quoted from *Bank of U. S. v. Bank of Washington,*6 Pet. 8:

> “The reversal of the judgment gives a new right or cause of action against the parties to the judgment, and creates a legal obligation on their part to restore what the other party has lost by reason of the erroneous judgment; and as between the parties to the judgment, there is all the privity necessary to sustain and enforce such right.”

In *Clark v. Finney,*6 Cow. 297, the law on the subject is stated thus, where the money was paid on a judgment of a court of common pleas, which was afterwards reversed on error, the court holding that it might he recovered back in an action of *indebitatus assumpsit,*for money had and received. That is a leading case. It will be found cited with great frequency. The principle there announced has been applied in many, instances of money paid pursuant to a judicial determination, sometimes upon judgments and sometimes upon orders, the particular form of the judicial determination not being important. *Scholey v. Halsey,*72 N. Y. 578; *Haebler v. Meyers,*132 N. Y. 363, 30 N. E. 963. In the last case the money was paid relying upon an order of the court which, so long as it stood, justified the same. The doctrine is of common-law origin, and will he found incorporated into the statutes of many of the states. In such instances it has been held that the statute is merely cumulative. *Haebler v. Meyers, supra.*The philosophy of the rule is that, where a person receives money pursuant to a judicial determination which is subject to review, there is an implied promise to restore it in case such determination be set aside, no superior equities intervening. That principle enables us to determine the just rights of all the parties concerned in this litigation, unless there is some matter not yet considered *442which should prevent the excessive judgments from being reversed, and we know of none.

Counsel for appellants urge, with much earnestness, the rule that a person cannot be permitted to sue upon one cause of action and recover upon another; and that since the respondents sought to recover on the ground of fraud they must succeed on that ground or fail altogether. On that *Kruschke v. Stefan,*83 Wis. 373, 53 N. W. 679, *Truesdell v. Bourhe,*145 N. Y. 612, 40 N. E. 83, *Eyre v. Potter,*15 How. 42, and *Piper v. Hoard,*107 N. Y. 67, 13 N. E. 632, are cited. The scope of those authorities, it seems, is misconceived by counsel. Their legitimate bearing was fully discussed here in *Gates v. Paul,*117 Wis. 170, 94 N. W. 55, in declaring the law respecting the scope of the power of amendment. This is not an action the subject matter of which would be wholly departed from if a recovery were sustained, eliminating the element of fraud. If it were an action to recover back money paid upon a contract, voidable and avoided for fraud, and the fraud failing it was sought to recover in some manner upon the contract, or if it were an action to recover possession of goods sold, the Sale being repudiated on the-ground of fraud, and, the fraud failing, it were sought to recover the purchase price of the property, the rule invoked by counsel would apply. This, however, is an action for the administration of a trust fund, in which certain parties were joined as defendants because of a claim that they were in possession of some of such funds which in justice they ought to account for. The fact that it is alleged that they obtained such possession through fraud, while it turns out that they did not possess themselves thereof through that means, yet have possession of a part of the trust property in fact, and are not justly entitled thereto, leaves them no less liable to restore the same because the element of fraud charged was net established. Such a variance is clearly within the power of amendment under the Code. Moreover, such a situation *443is clearly within, the rule in eqnity that if the plaintiff’s canse of action as alleged he not established, hut a liability within its broad scope is established, the matters in respect thereto being fully litigated, the plaintiff will not be turned out of court and compelled to seek for relief by means of another action, but the pending suit will be retained and as full relief be granted to the plaintiff as equity jurisdiction has power to afford. *Hebard v. Ashland Co.*55 Wis. 145, 12 N. W. 437; *Prescott v. Everts,*4 Wis. 314; *Hamilton v. Fond du Lac,*25 Wis. 490.

Applying what has been said to the case before us, the request by Mr. Rust to have the compensation for his services as receiver and his expenses for legal assistance adjusted and paid, was a special proceeding, the arrangement of the parties being in effect the receiver, his counsel, and attorney upon the one side, and the general creditors upon the other. The order in his favor was appealable on the part of the creditors as persons aggrieved. Had they appealed and the order been reversed, his duty to restore if in the meantime ha had applied the trust fund to his private use, is clear. The fact that the order was set aside in the court where it was granted, and the action in that regard sustained, is obviously governed by the same principles. The attorney, Mr. Eraw-ley, and the counsel, Mr. Hayden, do not stand in the same situation as regards creditors. Their relations were with Mr. Rust as receiver. They had no relations with the creditors except one of an equitable character. Mr. Rust was primarily liable to them to the amount, at least, fixed by the court as a reasonable allowance for services of the hind which they performed. There being no express contract between them, they and Mr. Rust having joined in submitting the matter of the amount that should be paid to them to the court, they bound themselves by implied contract to take what should be judicially determined was proper to be paid them out of the trust fund. If the compensation had not been sat*444isfactory and they had brought suit against Mr. Rust, after what occurred, the order of the court would have been deemed part of the contract with Mr. Rust, and would have precluded them from any further recovery. Their only recourse, if they had any, in case of dissatisfaction with the order, was by appeal as parties aggrieved, upon the theory that they had an equitable lien upon the trust fund. *Walsh v. Raymond,*58 Conn. 256, 20 Atl. 464; Gluck & Becker, Receivers, sec. 106. The contract between Mr. Hayden and Mr. Frawley and the receiver was conditional in this: that in case the allowance made by the supervising court should be subsequently reduced they would abide by the change, not holding Mr. Rust to a personal liability in case the money should not theretofore have been paid by him, and not holding the money to his loss in case the same should have been so paid. That, in principle, is very clearly laid down in the opinion of Hall, J., in the case above cited. Upon the same equitable principles that govern where a judgment has been reversed after payment has been enforced, payment-by a receiver to his attorney under the circumstances of this case is presumed to be subject to the order not being disturbed by due course of law. If it is so disturbed by a reduction in the allowance, a cause of action accrues in favor of the receiver for a restoration of the excessive payment. The implied promise, upon equitable principles, dates from the time the money was paid, and interest should be figured from that date.

Applying the foregoing to the minor conclusions reached, the receiver is liable in this action for $524.26 and interest thereon at the rate of six per cent, per annum from the time he received the same, which is fairly fixed in the findings at July 80, 1895, this referring to the conclusion reached in Appeal No. 2. In addition, he having received from the trust fund $7,427.82 as compensation for his personal services, $11,144.02 on account of the legal services of T. E. *445Erawley, and. $4,952.02 on account of the legal services of his counsel, H. H. Hayden, in all $23,523.86, while he was .entitled to receive hut $5,000 for his personal services and $10,000 for expenses incurred by employing legal assistance, in all $15,000, his legal representatives are liable in this action to restore to the trust fund, at the suit of the respondents, $8,523.86, with interest from December 30, 1897, the time the excess was paid, less such sum as should he allowed for expenses of settling his account since December 30, 1897.

Ho proceedings outside of this action need he resorted to for the enforcement of the equities between the personal representatives of Mr. Rust and those of Mr. Erawley, and those of Mr. Hayden. Hpon general» principles of equity, and the statute, see. 2883, Stats. 1898, as well, they can he finally adjusted in the decree to he entered herein under the directions of this court. The statute provides that:

> “Judgment may he given for or against one or more of several defendants and it may determine the ultimate rights of the parties on each side, as between themselves, . . . and may grant to the defendant any affirmative relief to which he may he entitled.”

It follows that Mr. Hayden having received from Mr. Rust $4,952.02 while he was entitled to receive but $2,500, his representatives are liable to the latter’s representatives for the excess of $2,452.02 and interest thereon at the rate of six per cent, per annum from December 30, 1897, the day the same was paid.

Mr. T. F. Erawley, having received from Mr. Rust as receiver $11,144.02 while he was entitled to but $7,500, the former’s legal representatives are liable to the latter’s for the excess of $3,644.02 and interest thereon from the date the same was paid, December 30, 1897.

Complete equity between all these parties demands that the judgment in favor of the respondents, representing all the creditors participating in this litigation, entitled to the bene*446fit of tbe recovery against tbe legal representatives of R. E. Rust, shall be adjudged a lien on tbe recovery as to tbe legal representatives of H. H. Hayden, and also tbe recovery as to. tbe legal representatives of T. E. Erawley, after applying on sucb recoveries tbe costs that may be allowed to sucb legal representatives respectively in tbe court below as hereafter directed.

Some additional compensation, under familiar principles, should be allowed to tbe receiver as expenses of passing bis .account; notwithstanding tbe manner adopted in doing so. While sucb manner placed tbe receiver in tbe position of a litigating defendant in tbe action, which, under tbe peculiar circumstances of this case, not liable to frequently occur we, should hope, we bold was permissible in one view of it and approvable in another, tbe rights of tbe receiver, as regards compensation for tbe expenses of passing bis account, to be paid out of tbe trust fund, of course cannot be prejudiced. If tbe conclusion was that there was any great fault upon tbe part of Mr. Rust leading to this new litigation, it would be competent for tbe court to deny him tbe usual compensation for expenses in passing tbe account; but it does not. Yet on tbe contrary tbe unfounded charges made against tbe receiver and bis attorney and counsel, which have led to years of litigation since December 30, 1897, renders it eminently proper that tbe creditors represented by respondents should bear a considerable share of the expenses that would otherwise fall on Mr. Rust’s estate. Tbe case as to tbe abstract question involved .is substantially tbe same as would have been presented to tbe judge who originally settled tbe account if be bad set aside bis order at tbe request of tbe creditors and gone over tbe entire matter anew, putting tbe receiver to a considerable expense in that regard. In such circumstances there would not be any question but that tbe reasonable expense of tbe receiver for attorney’s and counsel’s fees and other costs would be allowable to him, payable out of *447tbe trust fund. Not only allowable, but it would be unjust not to allow tbe same. Now bis rights in that regard are not changed by reason of the peculiar method resorted to for the accounting. So it seems that some reasonable amount, in view of all the circumstances, should be allowed, to be deducted from the liability above mentioned, on account of the additional expenses caused to the personal representatives of Mr. Rust by reason of the renewed controversy over his account. It further seems best that there should be no further litigation or proceedings in order to determine the proper amount. The case is all before us. It can be seen with reasonable certainty, as well here as anywhere, what sum should be allowed under all the circumstances. Many things are to be considered in fixing this new allowance, — many things not necessary to inscribe in this opinion. Of course, very much of the expense of this litigation was necessarily borne by other parties. Such expenses cannot be considered. The expenses of those who represented the receiver are so interwoven with those of other defendants, that it would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to separate them with any degree of definiteness by any aid that could be given to this court or to the trial .court, by sworn testimony or otherwise. The matter is of such a peculiar character that the best that can be done is to make an estimate of what the allowance should be, having regard to what was reasonably necessary as to the one particular interest in view of its being united with many others. Probably this court is as competent to do that after the investigation made here as any court can be, and, having power to do so, it is thought best not to leave anything open for further controversy. We have concluded to allow the personal representatives of Mr. Rust, as reasonable expenses of settling the receivership account, in proceedings that have taken place in respect thereto since December 80, 1897, the sum of $500 and all costs that might be taxable against them in this court and in the court below, *448such sum to be deducted from tbe liability to tbe respondents hereinbefore mentioned.

Tbe matter of costs in tbe court below should be settled by this decision so as to avoid any difficulty hereafter in that regard. Testing tbe record by sec. 2920, Stats. 1898, after eliminating tbe interest represented by tbe personal representatives of R. E. Rust, we have defendants united in interest in a general way, but substantially not so united, rendering it permissible, and under tbe circumstances proper, to allow separate bills of costs where separate answers were interposed, and directions will hereinafter be made in that regard. Tbe rights of tbe defendants as' to that may be restrained by tbe court to an amount below what might be taxed by tbe fee bill in tbe discretion of tbe court, or disallowed altogether if that should seem best in a case like this. Subd. 7, sec. 2918, Stats. 1898. We have concluded to name a sum which in our opinion will be equitable under all tbe 'circumstances as to each defendant or group of defendants entitled to a separate recovery for costs, putting tbe same at a figure which we have determined with certainty to be below tbe amount that might be taxed by tbe fee bill, thus doing away with tbe necessity for tbe taxation of costs in tbe court below, and at tbe same time awarding to each one of tbe defendants or group of defendants entitled to a separate bill of costs, an equitable amount.

On tbe principles above stated there will be awarded to tbe personal representatives of H. H. Hayden for costs in tbe court below, in tbe rendition of tbe final judgment, $250. To tbe personal representatives of D. R. Moon, and *Fitch Gilbert, George T. Thompson, John 8. Owen,*and tbe *Chippewa Talley Banh,*as parties answering together, $250; and to tbe personal representatives of T. F. Frawley, who answered separately, $250. Tbe supplemental and separate answer of tbe personal representatives of D. R. Moon is not deemed to have changed the situation of that interest as the *449same became fixed by Mr. Moon’s baying joined witb *Pitch Gilbert*and others in answering to the complaint during bis lifetime.

We have next to consider the subject of costs to be awarded in this court. As heretofore suggested, no costs will be awarded here for or against the interests represented by the personal representatives of R. E. Rust. On the motion to dismiss the appeals, because of the peculiar wording of the notices by which they were taken, it seemed necessary to hold that the jurisdiction of this court to hear the matter as to each of the appealing defendants depended upon whether each had complied with sec. 3052, Stats. 1898, by giving an undertaking for $250; it being considered that, since all the appealing defendants having, as stated in the notices of appeal, “severally and separately” appealed, each, from the standpoint of sec. 3052, had pending in this court, so far as the notices of appeal could render it so, a separate appeal. But a different question arises as regards the number of prevailing parties, in determining whether there should be here separate bills of costs, and if so how many such bills. There may be, as it seems, several appeals under sec. 3052 in a case where several persons united in interest severally appeal, and yet such several appeals, when disposed of in this court, there being really but one interest represented by the several defendants so severally appealing, which interest prevails, have but one prevailing party under see. 2949, which provides, that, “Costs shall be allowed in the supreme court irrespective of any costs taxed in the case in the court below to the prevailing party,” etc. The term “prevailing party” as used in that section evidently refers, not so much to the person as to the interest represented. The language of the statute is peculiar in this: it indicates that the costs are to go to the-prevailing party, not to the prevailing person. The word’, “party” is used in a plural or singular sense according to the-person or persons standing for the particular interest in*450volved. That is in harmony with the decision of this court in *Allis v. Meadow S. D. Co.*67 Wis. 16, 29 N. W. 543, 30 N. W. 300.

Looking at the various groups of appealing defendants in the light of what we have said, it is considered that there must necessarily be, as regards the appellants, seven prevailing parties as follows:

1. *Chippewa valley Barde*and *George T. Thompson.*

2. *Filch*Gilbert, *John 8. Owen,*and *8. G.*and *F. H. Moon*administrators with the will annexed of the *estate of '*D. *B.*Moon, deceased.

3. *Fitch Gilbert*and *J. T. Barber.*

4. *Fitch Gilbert*and *George T. Thompson.*

5. *Fitch Gilbert.*

6. *John 8. Owen.*

7. *Lydia A.*Frawley, executrix of the last will of T. F. Frawley, • deceased, and *A. J. Marsh*and *Daniel McLeod,*executors of the last will of H. H. Hayden, deceased.

Directions must be given as regards the collection of these various bills of costs in this court as well as in the court below, to the end that all sums for costs which the respondents may be required to pay shall be reimbursed to them out of the trust fund created by the recovery against the personal representatives of N. E. Bust. This is deemed equitable because it seems that, notwithstanding the disastrous results to respondents, the proceedings for the reopening of the receivership account were instituted in good faith by the active creditors, and were subsequently carried on in good faith to the final result, and that all creditors not personally active in the matter allowed themselves to be represented by those who were. Such directions must be given in regard to this matter that the judgment in this court in favor of the appellants, and the judgments in the court below in their favor as well, will, until paid, constitute equitable liens upon the judgment that shall be rendered in favor of re*451spondents against the legal representatives of R. E. Rnst, and that npon the payment of any snch judgment by the former the same shall be regarded as kept alive in favor of the respondents paying the same, with the equitable lien aforesaid incident thereto, till fully discharged by the discharge •of such equitable lien through the payment thereof to the respondents out of the trust fund. Such further directions must here be given as regards the recoveries for costs in the court below in favor of the legal representatives of H. H. Hayden and the legal representatives of T. F. Frawley respectively, that such recoveries shall be used, so far as the same will go, for that purpose, in reduction of the recoveries against them respectively in favor of the legal representatives •of R. E. Rust.

Such further directions should be given as will, so far as practicable, render further controversy respecting any matter in this litigation, even as regards details of the closing according to our decision, unnecessary.

We might now rest from further labors upon writing the mandate of the court. It is believed that every question advanced by counsel upon either side, that could in any reasonable aspect of the case affect the final result, has been considered and our conclusion in respect thereto stated, with reasons therefor. Those that have not been treated directly, have been incidentally. Yet, because of the importance of the principles involved and the great length of this opinion, .a brief recapitulation of the fundamental errors found may be helpful in understanding the decision, in future cases. However plain many of the principles found to have been violated may appear here, the fact that to the learned circuit judge and the eminent counsel for the respondents they seemed quite different, strongly suggests that nothing •should be left undone which may reasonably be done that will fortify against a recurrence of such errors. The remediless •consequences liable to flow from serious misconceptions of *452legal principles are well illustrated here. It stimulates us to put up all tbe guards we reasonably can to avoid sucb happenings. This court can correct errors, and so far as human wisdom embodied in our laws has designed a standard for measuring, in money, injurious consequences of wrongs to person, character, or estate, can redress them or open the way therefor; but no vindication which this or any other human tribunal can afford can redress still other injuries which may weigh down men’s souls in spite of any legal vindication. That situation is peculiarly impressive in -this case when we note, as has been before indicated, that all the significant figures concerned, that were so condemned by the judgment appealed from, have passed from under the cloud only to cross the Dark River that is never recrossed, and must take such vindication as the court can afford at the hands of their legal representatives.

Here, as we view the matter, are the fundamental mistakes that were committed in this case:

1. In assuming that, because Mr. Hayden severed his connection with the insolvent corporation to be active in commencing the receivership action, an ulterior motive on his-part was to be presumed, and that such conduct, in connection with other circumstances happening before such commencement, and others subsequent thereto not evidencing-bad intent, warranted holding that prior to such commencement a fraudulent agreement was formed to misappropriate-the assets of the insolvent, and viewing the transactions-which thereafter occurred from that standpoint.

2. In finding, contrary to the undisputed evidence, that the receiver did not, prior to endeavor to save something out of the Ashville bonds by the use of his own means, obtain the court’s refusal to allow him to use receivership money in the matter.

3. In finding, in effect, that the receiver realized a profit *453from the Asheville matter, when the evidence was clear that he was a loser to a large amount.

4. In finding that the receiver fraudulently concealed the fact that $3,500 of Asheville bonds belonged to the trust fund, when the evidence is to the effect that there were but $2,500 of such bonds that he ever possessed or knew about, and is reasonably clear that the insolvent did not control the additional $1,000 of bonds after the day they were issued, if at all.

5. In assuming that, in a judicial administration of the property of an insolvent corporation for the benefit of its creditors, secured creditors have no standing as regards a distribution of the assets except upon a basis of their claims, less the value of their securities.

6. In assuming that a receiver, even with the approval of his court, cannot rightfully incur expense in the enforcement of contract liabilities in which he possesses only an equity, there being no reasonable ground to expect any money can be realized therefrom that will inure to the direct benefit of general creditors.

7. In assuming that, if a receiver incurs any expense in respect to any such equity without being so directed by his court, his action is necessarily wrongful and probably fraudulent.

8. In assuming that a receiver has no right, even with the approval of his court, to complete unfinished contracts of the insolvent where the amounts to 'be realized therefrom have been hypothecated, unless he has reasonable ground to expect something will be realized therefrom for the direct benefit of general creditors.

9. In assuming that legal services *i>j*the receiver’s attorney, in collecting hypothecated accounts, must necessarily be deemed to have been rendered for the holders thereof.

10. In making such assumption notwithstanding the un*454disputed evidence that the services of the attorney were performed for the receiver.

11. In assuming that, in case of a receivership and the existence of hypothecations made by the insolvent before the-commencement of the administration suit, the validity of which is not in dispute, the interests of the secured parties are adverse to those of general creditors, so that the attorney for the receiver, in performing any service for the former as to filing the proper proof in the receivership matter, of their claims against the insolvent, necessarily acts inconsistently with his employment by the receiver.

12. In assuming that an attorney for a receiver should keep an itemized account; not relying upon the court to make a proper allowance for his services at the close of the receivership.

13. In assuming, because the receiver’s attorney made-charges upon his books to his employer for some services rendered, they must represent the extent of his services; and that the compensation awarded him, so far as necessary to-balance such charges, was necessarily fixed according thereto; and that all compensation awarded in excess of such charges, or of the reasonable value of such services, where the charges-greatly exceeded it, was excessive and fraudulently obtained, though the undisputed evidence was that no attempt was made to keep a strict account of the services rendered, that the charges were not made with a view to obtaining compensation according thereto, and that they were never presented or intended to be presented to the court.

14. In assuming that a pledge of real property as security, not constituting a mortgage at law, is of no validity and cannot form a sufficient consideration for a valid mortgage carrying out the intention of the parties to the pledge, the property in the meantime having become impressed with a trust for general creditors.

15. In predicating findings against defendants upon un-*455sworn statements of their agent respecting matters outside the scope of his agency.

16. In violating the rule that the fair testimony of an interested witness, not impaired by any other testimony or circumstance, should he deemed controlling.

17. In assuming that a reference of a receiver’s account to take evidence in respect thereto and report the same with conclusions for the assistance of the presiding judge in settling such account, is governed by the statute and rules of court in respect to trials of actions before referees.

There are very many other errors which have been treated, but those specially mentioned caused the court below to view the conduct of the parties charged from a radically erroneous standpoint. Looking through such a veil of misconceptions, very many of the ordinary transactions that must necessarily occur in the judicial administration of a large property, of the character of the one in question, were supposed to be glaring evidences of fraud.

Now we will close this case, satisfied that justice will be done so far as it is given to us here to discover it. Satisfied, too, that no greater wrong appears anywhere in the record upon appellants’ part than negligence at one or two points, and some indiscretion in the proceedings of December 30, 1897. We have been able to discover nothing that should reflect upon the professional, the business, or the official integrity of any one concerned in this litigation; nothing to indicate bad faith in the conduct of any one concerned with the receivership, nor to indicate but that the proceedings on the part of the creditors and those acting for them since December 30, 1897, have been characterized by the utmost good faith. The judgment pronounced will be shaped in harmony with that view. It is hoped that we may be able to so plainly direct the course to be taken in such proceedings as may be necessary to close up.this matter, that neither party will need to make any further application to this court.

*456The deaths of Mr. Hayden, Mr. Frawley and Mr. W. A. Rust, the latter being one of the executors, as indicated, of the last will of Ralph E. Rnst, having occurred since the cause was removed to this court, and due proceedings having been taken to continue the action notwithstanding, by the substitution, for Mr. Hayden, of *A. J. Marsh*and *Daniel McLeod*in their capacity as executors of his last will, the substitution, for Mr. Frawley, of *Lydia A. Frawley*in her capacity as executrix of his last will, and the substitution of- *T. W. Gilchrist*as executor of the last will of Ralph E. Rust in place of W. A. Rust, deceased, — the judgments here and in the court below will be pronounced, using the names of the existing legal representatives of deceased parties.

*By the Court.*— Those parts of the judgment appealed from by the several appellants are reversed, that is to say:

1. That against *John 8. Owen*for $182.94.

2. That against *Fitch Gilbert*for $119.58.

3. That against *Fitch*Gilbert, *George T.*Thompson, and William A. and *Aloney J. Bust*as executors of the last will of Ralph E. Rust, deceased, for $13,400.36.

4. That against *Fitch*Gilbert, *John 8.*Owen, William A. and *Aloney J. Bust*as executors as aforesaid, and *Simon G.*and *Franlc H. Moon*as administrators with the will annexed of the estate of E. R. Moon, deceased, for $3,536.02.

5. That against the *Ohippewa Valley Banh, George T.*Thompson, and W. A. and *Aloney J. Bust*as executors aforesaid, for $891.50.

6. That against *Fitch Gilbert*and *James T.*Barber, and William A. and *Aloney J. Bust*as executors, as aforesaid, for $1,196.68.

7. That against the *Ohippewa Valley Banlc*and William A. and *Aloney J. Bust*as executors aforesaid, for $226.54.

8. That against William A. and *Aloney J. Bust*as executors aforesaid, for $1,395.67.

*4579. That against T. E. Erawley, IT. IT. Hayden and W. A. and *Aloney J. Bust*as executors aforesaid, for $29,071.91.

10. That against all the parties named for $798.91 costs.

11. That vacating the *ex parte*orders entered prior to December 31, 1897, except those of December 30, 1897, and the ■one authorizing the charging off of the account against the receiver and others, of $524.26.

12. That modifying the receiver’s account as settled by the order of December 30, 1897, except as the account so -originally settled is modified by this decision.

13. All other portions of the judgment inconsistent with "those above specially mentioned.

The circuit court from which the cause was removed to this court is directed, immediately upon the return of the record to that court, and upon due application .therefor, to •enter an amended judgment containing that portion of the judgment as at first entered, not disturbed by this decision, and the following:

1. Awarding to the plaintiffs against *T. W. Gilchrist*and *A. J. Bust*as executors of the last will of Ralph E. Rust, •deceased, judgment for $9,048.12 with interest at the rate of six per cent, per annum on $524.26 from July 30, 1895, and on $8,523.86 from December 30, 1897, to the date of this decision, April 19, 1904, — less the sum of $500, allowed in addition to costs that might be taxed as regards the receivership interest, for expenses incurred by that interest in the adjustment of the receivership account since December 30, 1897, and less the further sum of $500 applied to the payment of costs allowed to the legal representatives of H. H. Hayden and those of T. E. Erawley, and paid by deducting the same from the liabilities of said legal representatives to the legal representatives of Ralph E. Rust, — leaving the total sum to be recovered by the plaintiffs against the legal representatives of Ralph E. Rust, as of the 19th day of April, 1904, $11,634.32.

*4582. Awarding to *T. W. Gilchrist*and *Aloney J. Rust,*defendants, in tbeir capacity as legal representatives aforesaid,, against *A. J. Marsh*and *Daniel McLeod,*in tbeir capacity as executors of the last will of H. H. Hayden, deceased, judgment for $2,452.02, with interest thereon at the rate of' six per cent, per annum from December 30, 1897, to the date-of this decision aforesaid, less $250 allowed to the Hayden interest for costs against the plaintiffs, making the total sum of $3,153.82.

3. Awarding to *T.*W. *Gilchrist*and *Aloney J. Rust,*defendants, in tbeir capacity as executors aforesaid, against *Lydia A. Frawley,*defendant, as executrix of the last will of T. E. Frawley, deceased, judgment for $3,644.02, with interest thereon from December 30, 1897, at the rate of six per cent, per annum, to the date of this decision, as aforesaid, less $250 allowed to the Erawley interest against the-plaintiffs for costs, making $4,807.48.

4. Awarding to *Lydia A. Frawley,*defendant, in her capacity as executrix, aforesaid, against the plaintiffs, judgment for $250 as costs in the circuit court, the same to be deemed discharged as soon as entered, by the credit of $2 5 O' to such interest as between the legal representatives of T. F. Frawley and the legal representatives of Kalph E. Eust, and a like credit to the latter as between them and the plaintiffs, as heretofore indicated.

5. Awarding to *A. J. Marsh*and *Daniel McLeod,*defendants, in their capacity as executors aforesaid, a judgment for $250 costs in the circuit court against the plaintiffs, the same-to be deemed canceled as soon as rendered, by the credit of $250 given to such executors as between themselves and the-legal representatives of Ealph E. Eust, deceased, and a credit of a like amount to the latter as between them and the plaint*, iffs as before indicated.

6. Awarding *io*defendants *Fitch Gilbert, John 8. Owen,.**459and *Simon G.*and *Fmnh H. Moon*as administrators with, the will annexed of the estate of D. R. Moon, deceased, *George T. Thompson,*and the *Chippewa Valley Batik,*against the plaintiffs, $250 as costs.

7. Providing thát the judgment, in the whole, shall he deemed entered as of the date of this decision, April 19, 1904, aforesaid, to the end that interest on the recoveries shall run from that time.

8. Providing that the recovery for costs in favor of *Fitch Gilbert*and his associates in the circuit court, and all judgments for costs rendered against the respondents in this court, shall he liens on the judgment in their favor as plaintiffs in the circuit court, against the legal representatives of Ralph E. Rust, deceased, such liens to continue till such judgments for costs shall have been paid to the judgment creditors respectively, and, if paid hy the plaintiffs, till they shall have been reimbursed for their outlay in that regard out of the proceeds of the encumbered judgment in their favor.

No costs are to be taxed against the legal representatives of Ralph E. Rust in the circuit court, — any sum which might be equitably, under ordinary conditions, taxable against them, to be deemed offset by legitimate claims for expenses of settling the receivership account in addition to the $509 awarded as aforesaid.

Separate judgments for costs are awarded in this court to-the appellants against the respondents as follows:

1. *Chippewa Valley Bank*and *George T. Thompson;*

2. *Fitch Gilbert, John S. Oioen,*and *Sumner G.*and *Frank 11. Moon*as administrators with the will annexed of the estate of D. R. Moon, deceased;

3. *Fitch Gilbert*and *James T. Barber;*

4. *Fitch Gilbert*and *George T. Thompson;*

5. *Fitch Gilbert;*

6. *John S. Owen;*

*460J. *Lydia A. Frawley*as executrix of -¿be last will of T. E. Erawley, deceased, and *A. J. Marsh*-and *Daniel*McLeod, as executors of tbe last will of H. H. ITayden, deceased;—

Eacb of said several prevailing parties, seven in number, to bave taxed in bis or tbeir favor attorney’s fees and one eigbtb of a full bill of costs exclusive of fees taxable under sec. 2949, Stats. 1898.

Tbe respondents moved for a rehearing as to eacb of tbe separate appeals. Tbe following opinion was filed June 10, 1904:

MaR.shall, J.

No new question is presented now for consideration, or reason given wby tbe result heretofore reached is not right, that has not been thought of and disapproved.

We are urged to at least make such modification of tbe mandate as to direct tbe trial court “to allow to tbe active creditors reimbursement out of tbe proceeds of tbe judgment rendered in tbeir favor for all reasonable expenses which may bave been incurred in tbe prosecution of these proceedings which bave resulted in tbe obtaining of such judgment.” That is a subject not necessarily involved in tbe decision of any question raised by tbe appeal. Just bow a trust fund, brought under tbe control of a trial court by tbe execution of a judgment rendered pursuant to a mandate of this court, shall be administered for tbe benefit of those entitled thereto, is not ordinarily made a part of tbe decision here. Ordinarily tbe mere execution of any judgment in tbe trial court rendered pursuant to tbe mandate of this court is within tbe administrative function of tbe former, subject to review here in case of error; though it is proper to suggest, or in some circumstances to direct, what course shall be pursued. Probably a direction in tbe matter suggested by counsel for respondents in addition to what is contained in tbe former mandate, may expedite tbe speedy distribution of tbe trust *461fund and final closing up of tbe whoje matter, wbicb is “a consummation devoutly to be wished.” Such mandate may be considered amended so as to direct that tbe judgment to be rendered in respondents’ favor shall provide that the recovery of the legal representatives of R. E. Rust shall be *into' the hands of the cleric of the circuit court*for the benefit of' all the creditors whose clajms are established by the judgment, after the extinguishment of the liens for costs thereon and the payment of the counsel fees and other expenses of the active creditors in recovering and administering the fund, so far as the same are deemed reasonable, the amount for such counsel fees and expenses to be fixed and allowed at $1,000; that the residue left after the extinguishment of such lien and the payment of such $1,000 shall be under the direction of the court paid *pro rata*to all the creditors whose claims are established as aforesaid.

A mere review of the decision of December 30, 189T, as to the compensation and expenses of the receiver, could doubtless have been secured by a small outlay as compared with the large amount required to pay all the expense incurred by the necessity created by respondents of trying the multitude of issues presented to the court for adjudication which have-been found, in the main, to be without merit as regards their contentions.

*By the Court.*— The former mandate is amended as above-indicated, and the several motions for a rehearing are denied with $25 costs in favor of each prevailing appellant mentioned in the former opinion.