First National Bank v. Martin
First National Bank v. Martin
Opinion of the Court
— This is an action upon the bond of an as-signee in bankruptcy. The record presented in this court contains the pleadings in the ease (consisting of the complaint, demurrer to complaint, the answer, demurrer to answer, notice of motion, and motion to strike out portions of the answer, and the rulings of the court thereon), the findings of fact and conclusions of law by the court, the decree, a bill of exceptions, notice of appeal, and what is designated in the record as an “Enumeration of Original Papers.”
The second error assigned is in sustaining the demurrer to defendants’ answer, and the third assignment is in striking out a portion of the answer. There was no error either in sustaining the demurrer, or in allowing the motion to strike out. The answer admitted enough to entitle the plaintiff to judgment. The denials were mostly upon information and belief. To designate an answer as sham and frivolous which is made up of denials, upon information and belief, of matters entirely of record in a proceeding in which the defendant was a principal party, is emulative of the roaring of Nick Bottom. The defendant must of necessity have been conversant with ajl the proceedings in bankruptcy, and for him to deny under oath any knowledge of them is not calculated to inspire the court with that unfaltering trust which it is always desirable courts should have in the statements in pleadings prepared by counsel.
There is nothing in the fourth and fifth assignments of error. The fourth is to the entering of judgment against defendants, and the fifth is to the receiving in evidence of the papers (files and record) in the bankruptcy proceedings. We find no error in the action of the court in either instance. The points made in the defendants’ brief do not seem to have any particular relation to the assignments of error, but we think it unnecessary to discuss them in detail. As to the action of the district court in the bankruptcy proceedings, it is sufficient to say that such action is not here for review, nor could it be reviewable in this case. Judgment of the district court is affirmed, with costs to respondent.
070rehearing
ON REHEARING.
— A petition for rehearing has been filed in this case by counsel for appellant, based on two grounds: 1. That the court misapprehended the facts; and 2. That the court is mistaken in the law as applied to the actual facts. The court understands the facts as set forth in the transcript, and has correctly applied the law applicable to those facts. The inventory value of the property placed in the hands of the assignee was $2,005. He failed to file any account of his management of said insolvent estate until the court compelled him to, on the application of some of the creditors. He then filed what he terms his “final account.” Objection was made thereto by some of the creditors, and sustained by the court. Thereafter he filed an amended final account. That was objected to, and objection sustained by the court. And thereafter he filed a second amended final account, which was objected to, and objection sustained by the court. And thereafter he filed his supplemental final account, which was objected to, and objection sustained by the court. We have examined said accounts, and think the court committed no error in refusing to settle them. Section 5901 of the Eevised Statutes provides that upon the assignee filing his final account, the court must settle the same. Neither of the accounts filed was such as is contemplated by said section. The assignee is required to account strictly for the trust properties. It is shown that the merchandise, liquors, bar fixtures, etc., were valued in the inventory at $2,005; that $983.55 thereof was accounted for, “item by item”; and it is shown that the assignee received therefor $493. Deducting the invoice price of the items so accounted for from the total invoice or appraised value would leave in his hands goods appraised at $1,011.45, from which he claims to have realized $364.38, or sufficient to make his total cash receipts $857.38. He has failed and refused to account for the said balance of said stock so appraised at $1,011.45, as required by law. He simply reports that he has realized therefrom $364.38, and that he is unable to account,
Reference
- Full Case Name
- FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF MOSCOW v. MARTIN
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Stipulation. — A stipulation of parties in disregard of the rules of the court will not be regarded by the court. Bankruptcy — Bond of Assignee — Breach of Bond. — In an action upon the bond of an assignee in bankruptcy, where the trial court finds that assets to the amount of $2,005 of the bankrupt’s, estate have been received by the assignee, that all of the proceedings 'required by statute have been followed up to enforce an accounting by the assignee, but that such assignee has failed and neglected to account for such assets, a finding by the court that such failure on the part of the assignee constitutes a breach of the bond is not error. Sham and Frivolous Answers. — An answer which contains denials upon information and belief of matters which are entirely made up of the files and records in a case in which the defendant was a principal party is properly stricken out as sham and frivolous. (Syllabus by the court.)