The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-09
.ICE CO. HAS PLENTY
 OF CASH ON HAND
Answer Filed to the Petition
 of Morris Et. AL
AT NO TIME lNSOLVENT
American Ice and Industries Go. Claims 1t Has Attempted to Defraud No one-lnteresting Alleea-
 tions Made.

The American Ice and Industries com pany, through it's attorneys. Dill & Allen, has filed an answer to the petition of w H. Morris, R. A. Morris and J. L. Morris in the United States Court.
 The original petition was filed during the first of the week asking that the American Ice and Industries company of Avondale be declared an involuntary bankrupt, and makes rather startling charges. The answer of the respondent denies that the company is insovent and states that it has cash enough on hand to pay all debts or claims now due or which at any time in the near future are apt to come due.
 The respondent admits that it is a cor poration engaged in the manufacture of ice; that it owes debts to the amount of slO0O and over and w H. Morris and Robert A. Morris, as trustees, nolc claims against the company for which they hold no security or preference. Continuing the answer to the petition says:
 Respondents Reply.
 "Your respondent expressly denies that it is insolvent, but on the contrary says that 1t has assets far in excess of it's li- abilities and has on hand cash in suffl- cent amount to pay off in full every debt or claim which is due or payable, or which at any time in the near future be- come due or payable.
 Respondent further says that within four months preceding the filing of this bill it did not convey while insolvent transfer, conceal or remove any part of it's property or money with the intent to hinder, delay or defraud it's creditors of any of them, and further denies that # did transfer while insolvent any part of it's property to Fies & Son or Paul X Hall with intent to prefer such creditors over its other creditors, and further denies that it did while insolvent, transfer any sum of money to O. c. Eben or any other officer or agent of respondent with the intent to conceal or remove the same with intent to delay, defraud or hinder it's creditor or any of them
 Alleged Transfer.
 Respondent further says it Is informed and believes that from such information and belief charges it as a fact, that J. h. Morris, one of the petitioners named. Is not the bona fide holder of any claim whatever against the respondent, but lhat the said W. H. Morris, one of the peti- tioners, did transfer or attempt to trans. Ter part of his alleged claim O.. debt against the respondent to the said | L. Morris for the purpose of providing three creditors as is required by law for tho hling of an involuntary petition in bank ruptcy; and respondent says that the claim of J. l.. Morris is in fact a simulat ed claim, and if such claim exists at all, 1t is part of and should be consider ed the claim of ". H. Morris
 And the respondent further says that the claim held by Robert A. Morris has never been presented by Gray and Dudley Hardware company or any other person to the respondent for payment. and that the said Robert A. Morris did, onlv few, hours before filing of the petiti jn in this cause seek out said claim from it's original owners for the sole and single pprncse of providing three creditors as $ re ,u,rod by law for the filing of oetItf,n m voluntary bankruptcy; and respondent says that claim thus secured by sa;l Robert A. Morris should not be consider  ed ana held to be the claim of peti- tioner and creditor in bankruptcy
 Respondent further says that the claim or Robert A. Morris and J. l.. Morris two of the petitioners in this cause have never yet been presented to the respon- dent for payment by any person or cor poration, and that the said ". H. Morris was informed and told by the secretary and treasurer of the respondent on Fri day, October 2, 1903. that if he. w IT Morris, would present his claim on satur- day october 3, 1903, such claim would be paid in full dhe item of s75 not then or ever before having being mentioned bv said w. Il. Morris) but that the said w. H. Morris did not present said claim on Saturday, October 8 1903 as he implicitly agreed to do, but on the other hand did file or cause to be filed the original neti- tion in this cause"