Case Name: In re SMOKE
Court: United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1900-08-17
Citations: 104 F. 289
Docket Number: 
Parties: In re SMOKE.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Reporter
Volume: 104
Pages: 289–289

Head Matter:
In re SMOKE.
(District Court, S. D. New York.
August 17, 1900.)
Bankruptcy — Preferences—Knowledge by Debtor of Insolvency.
Payments made on account of debts in the regular course of business by one who does not at the time know or believe himself to bo insolvent, and who ini ends no preference by such payments, do not constitute preferences within the meaning of Bankr. Act 1898, § 57g or 60a, even though it should afterwards appear that the debtor was insolvent, and such payments were made within four months of the commencement of bankruptcy proceedings.
In Bankruptcy.
Myers, Goldsmith & Bronner, for creditor.
Maurice L. Hyman, for bankrupt.

Opinion:
BROWN, District Judge.
In my judgment sections 57g and 60a have no reference to payments made on account of debts in the regular course of business by one who, as in this case, does not know or believe himself at the time to he insolvent and who intends no preference by such payment, even though it should afterwards appear that the debtor was at the time insolvent, and the payment was within four months of the commencement of bankruptcy proceedings. The above sections ("g" and "a") contain no time limit. The phrase "transfer of property" in section 60a is not intended to cover such a mere payment of money in good faith, and in lire ordinary course of business by one believing himself solvent. Such a payment I think is not a preference.
Above ruling affirmed on this ground.