Court Opinion

ID: 8784789
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-26 13:30:44.880929+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:03:01.128954
License: Public Domain

HOUGH, District Judge.
[1] The objections to discharge are entirely upon the ground that the bankrupt has been guilty of conveyance with intent to hinder, delay, and defraud creditors. The master’s memorandum seems to me to be based rather on the thought that the bankrupt was accused of concealing property. Even if he did conceal property, that idea is not material here, because it is not set forth in the specifications. The meager testimony is uncontradicted and extremely simple. The bankrupt had a blacksmith shop, and' sold it out, and with the proceeds employed an attorney, in order that he might go into bankruptcy, paid a small debt or two, and gave his wife $20 to buy groceries.
[2] I think in the evidence there was a preferential payment, but that is not ground for denying discharge. The sole inquiry in this case is whether in the evidence there was a conveyance with intent to hinder, delay, and defraud.. The rules on this point have recently been stated authoritatively hv our Circuit Court of Appeals in Van Iderstine v. National Discount Co. (C. C. A., 2d Cir.) 23 Am. Bankr. Rep. 345, 347, 174 Fed. 518, 521, 98 C. C. A. 300. Applying these rules to the facts here, I am unable to perceive that there was any intent on Bouck’s part to do the forbidden act.
The report is confirmed, and the discharge granted.