Court Opinion

ID: 7889818
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-08 21:47:32.965154+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:31:52.379361
License: Public Domain

Buchanan, Judge
delivered the opinion of the court.
This is not like the cases of Hickley vs. The Farmers and Merchants Bank, 5th Gill and Johns. 377, and Crawford and others, and Selman and others, vs. Taylor et al, 6 Gill and Johns. 323, cited by the defendants counsel.
The question in each of those cases, was the same that is ■ presented in this, but the circumstances and proof attending the transactions, were essentially different.
*175The object in those cases respectively, (as in this) was to shew, that the insolvent debtors have acted in the transactions objected to, “ with a view, or under an expectation, of being or becoming an insolvent debtor, and with an intent thereby, to give an undue and improper preference,” See. in violation of the act of 1816, ch. 221, sec. 6.
In the first case, Hickley vs. The Farmers and Merchants Bank, for want of other proof of the intention, and views of Clagett, the insolvent debtor, the complainant thought proper to make him a witness; who, on his examination swore, that when he confessed the judgment to the bank, he had not the slightest idea of taking the benefit of the insolvent laws, and had not contemplated such an alternative, not having thought on the subject; but that, at the time, he had hoped to be able to settle with his creditors. And the decision was made, upon his positive evidence, there being no other proof in the cause, sufficient to controul or impeach his statement. Not but, that in cases of that description, the intent might be established by facts and circumstances, as in other cases. It appeared moreover, that the judgment was confessed, at the instance of the bank.
The character of the transaction involved in the case of Crawford et al, vs. Taylor et al, as disclosed by the facts and circumstances surrounding it, is the converse of this, in its material parts. The transfer of his goods by Ford the insolvent debtor, was not the result merely of his own will. It was not a voluntary transfer of his own motion to a favourite creditor selected by himself, for the partial purpose of giving him a preference to other creditors ; nor was it a transfer of all his property. But it was made on the pressing and urgent demand of the Crawfords, of whom he had obtained a loan of money, upon a solemn pledge to secure, that, and other advances, whenever, and in whatsoever manner, they might demand it to be done. It was done too, in fulfilment of the previous pledge, at the time, and in the manner prescribed by them, by a transfer of property not exceeding in value, the amount of the loans, leaving other debts to them unsatisfied. *176The transfer to Sellman, was made under similar circumstances, with the exception only, that there was no proof of a similar previous pledge. Nor was there any evidence in relation to either, that he at the time expected or intended to take the benefit of the insolvent laws. He denied it in his answers to the bills, and in his examination before the commissioners. His petition for the benefit of the insolvent laws, was more than seven months after the transfers, and the proof was, that during the whole of that time, he was engaged in efforts to make arrangements with his creditors, and keep himself from being taken in execution, and did in fact, adjust the most pressing claims against him, and that the application was only made, after all hope of being able to compromise with the rest of his creditors, was at an end.
In the case now before us, it appears, that the transaction' which is impeached was at the mere voluntary motion of Stinchcomb and Small, themselves, the insolvent debtors, covering the whole of their property, known to them at the time, to fall far short of their debts; for the purpose of securing such of their debts, as they owed on notes with endorsers, leaving but a very small surplus, to be divided among their other numerous creditors, without a request even or suggestion of the creditors, or endorsers on those notes, or any solicitude on their part. That Hoffman, Bend & Co. were the holders of five of such notes, the first of which only fell due on the 27th of November 1829, the day of the transaction, and the rest at different periods, before and after the 14th of December 1829, when Stinchcomb and Small obtained the benefit of the insolvent laws, only seventeen days after the transaction; that thfeir note to Campbell and McIlvaine, which was excluded from the arrangements (not being endorsed) was at the time, and had for some time before, been due and lying over at bank. That they closed their business on the 27th of November 1829, the day on which the arrangement was made, by which they stripped themselves of their entire stock in trade, comprehending their whole property, both joint and several, and that from that day, they never made an *177effort to adjust any of their other debts, or in any way to compromise with, or appease any of their other creditors.
Here then we have a case of debtors, in a state of actual and total insolvency, closing their business, and on the same day, voluntarily transferring the whole of their property, for the purpose of securing a portion of their creditors, and endorsers (selected by themselves) on notes not then due, to the exclusion of other creditors, on whose claims they were liable at any moment to be sued; and in seventeen days afterwards, taking the benefit of the insolvent laws, without having sought to prevent their being sued, by any attempt to compromise, or in any wTay to adjust the claims of any of the other creditors.
The proximity of their application for the benefit of the insolvent laws, to the time of the transfer, is not of itself conclusive of their views or expectations at the time of making the transfer. But it is a circumstance worthy of being considered, in connexion with the other facts and circumstances in the cause ; and taken altogether, the mind is led to the conclusion, that the transfer was made, with a view or under an expectation of taking the benefit of the insolvent laws. What else, than the being reduced to the necessity of doing so, could have been expected ? What reasonable expectation could they have had of being exempted from liability on account of their debts, by creditors, to whom others had voluntarily, and of their owm seeking, been preferred ? and without such exemption, what other means of getting rid of their liabilities was left to them, than an application for the benefit of the insolvent laws ? Their stripping themselves of all their property for the benefit of the preferred creditors, without the pretext of exertion, or of being pressed to do so, and without any attempt to compromise, or in any manner to adjust their other debts, could not have the effect to invite to forbearance, but was calculated to incite the other creditors, to resort to harsh measures, which it was only reasonable to expect. And in the absence of all evidence to the contrary, they must be considered, as having acted under an expectation *178of that, -which was the reasonable, and most probable consequence of the act; leaving them no alternative, but to lie in gaol, or petition for the benefit of the insolvent laws; and with a view to the latter, as it is not reasonable to suppose, that they acted with a view to the former alternative. Knowing too, that destitute of funds, they could not recommence business to advantage, with the weight of their unsatisfied debts pressing upon them, from which, under the circumstances in which they were placing themselves, they could have had but little expectation of being relieved in any other way. And the very fact, of voluntarily selecting favoured creditors, at the moment of closing their business, in a state of utter and hopeless insolvency, is evidence of the intent to' give an undue and improper preference, by excluding the other creditors from an equal participation ? or why else, was a preference not asked for given ?
But that is not all; the bill charges, that the goods were delivered to Hoffman Bend fy Co. “ with a view, or under an expectation, of being or becoming insolvent debtors, and with an intent thereby to give an undue and improper prefer ence” — which is not denied by Hoffman, Bend & Co. in their answer; and Stinchcomb and Small in their answer, which is responsive to every other part of the bill, pass by altogether that allegation, which leaves the impression, that it was not answered, because it could not with truth be denied. The allegation it is true, is not evidence, but in the absence of all denial, we think it is sufficiently sustained by the facts and circumstances in the cause — made the more strong, by the circumstance, that Stinchcomb and Small, avoiding all notice in their answer, of that allegation, expressly deny the immediately following allegation, in the bill, “ that Hoffman, Bend & Co. colluded with them to gain an undue preference.”
It appears from the evidence of Harris, and of Stinchcomb, who were examined under a commission, that by the arrangement with the defendants, the balance of the proceeds of the goods, after discharging the endorsed notes, was to go among Üie general creditors; and Harris says, “ he heard some *179mention made about the balance going to a trustee,” which taken in connexion with every thing else presented by the record, leaves no room in our minds, for the admission of a doubt, that Stinchcomb and Small contemplated the taking the benefit of the insolvent laws.
No other interpretation it seems to us, can well be given, to the mention made under such circumstances, of the balance intended for the general creditors going into the hands of a trustee.
The prayer of the hill is, that the defendants he made to account with the appellants, for the value of the goods, and to pay the same over to them, to be distributed among the creditors, and for general relief. We think the decree dismissing the bill must he reversed, and the defendants be made to pay to the appellants the net amount, for which the goods were sold at auction, according to the account of sales exhinited in the record, and will sign a decree accordingly.
The objection raised to the jurisdiction of the court of Chancery is without foundation, the alleged violation of the insolvent laws, being in contemplation of law, a fraud upon the insolvent system.
With respect to the allegation in the bill, that Hoffman, Bend & Co. colluded with Stinchcomb and Small, to gain an undue and improper preference, we think it is not supported by any evidence in the cause.
decree reversed with costs in both courts.