Court Opinion

ID: 6414267
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-06-25 11:54:58.723455+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:51:29.032214
License: Public Domain

Dewey, J.
The wife of an insolvent debtor may be examined upon a complaint under Gen. Sts. c. 118, § 107, alleging that she has fraudulently received, concealed or embezzled the money, goods and estate belonging to the debtor, previous to the institution of proceedings in insolvency. She may clearly be required to answer as to her own acts in reference to the same. The object of such examination embraces any inquiries tending to discover property concealed or withdrawn from the custody and possession of the assignees. She may have taken transfers of property from third persons to her sole and separate use, made at the instigation of the husband and upon consideration paid by him, and under such circumstances as would in law subject the property to be applied for the benefit of his creditors. She may have actively or tacitly aided in the concealment of articles of personal property of the debtor, and as to this she is bound to answer.
Without any inquiry of her as to any criminal acts of her husband, if that were a ground of legal objection where the *575inquiry is in a collateral proceeding by which he is not bound, as to which it is not necessary to express any opinion at this time, there is a wide field open for examination of the wife upon the matters alleged in this complaint. Such an examination is expressly authorized in England. St. 6 Geo. IV. c. 16, § 37. Under our system, and considering the nature and purposes of the examination, the court are of opinion that the judge in insolvency should have ordered the examination of Margaret A. Merritt. Mandamus to issue.