Court Opinion

ID: 8635182
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-24 19:44:02.527351+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:55:54.286933
License: Public Domain

GILES, District Judge.
The following questions have been certified to me by the register in this case: First. “Where the assignees have taken property found in the possession of the bankrupt belonging to other parties, how are the 'real owners to recover it, and before what tribunal?” Second. “Are the assignees bound to set apart five hundred dollars to the bankrupt, and one hundred dollars under the state exemption, or is it optional to give what they please to him?” As to the first question: If the assignees are satisfied that property taken by them did not belong to the bankrupt, they should return it without delay to the owners. If they believe such property claimed by others is the property of the bankrupt, the claimant must seek redress by the appropriate remedy in the courts of the state, and if successful, and the assignees are condemned to pay the costs of such proceeding, it will rest with the court, upon the settlement of the as-signee’s accounts, to allow or reject the amount of such costs. This will depend upon the court’s opinion of the action of the assignees as to whether, under the circumstances, they were right in taking, and holding on to, said'property.
As to the second question, in reference to the exemption clause in the bankrupt act [of 1867 (14 Stat. 517)], there is some difficulty. I construe this clause as follows: First. The wearing apparel of the bankrupt, with that of his wife and children, is exempt. Second. The necessary household and kitchen furniture, and such other articles of the bankrupt as the said assignee shall designate and set apart, but not to exceed the sum of five hundred dollars. The assignee exercises his discretion in this matter, subject to the final decision of the court, if an exception be taken. The law of this state does not exempt one hundred dollars in money, but one hundred dollars’ worth of property, either real or personal, to be selected by the bankrupt, and the value ascertained by appraisement duly made by three appraisers summoned and sworn by the officers, &c. (I suppose in a bankrupt case by the register), and also wearing apparel, books, and tools of mechanics, but not books kept for sale. I suppose the as-signee should first ascertain what is exempt under the state law. The wearing apparel is exempt by both laws, the bankrupt and the state'. Next, by the state law, the bankrupt’s private library and his tools as a mechanic are exempt; and lastly, such real and personal property as he may select, not exceeding in value one hundred dollars. Then, by the bankrupt act. the necessary household and kitchen furniture, and such other articles and necessaries of such bankrupt as the as-signee shall designate and set apart; as to these he exercises his discretion, as I have shown, but altogether (furniture and other articles') not to exceed in value the sum of five hundred dollars. Now, if the bankrupt under the state exemption has selected his furniture, or a part thereof, the same being exempt under the bankrupt law, there can be no second allowance for the same in any way. If the bankrupt, under the state law. should *282select his one hundred dollars’ worth of property in real estate, then it might happen that he might receive in addition thereto furniture and other necessaries of the value of five hundred dollars, but this amount would rest, as I have said, in the sound discretion of the assignee.
The clerk will certify these answers to B. F. M. Hurley, Esq., the register in this case.