Sedgwick v. Place
Sedgwick v. Place
Opinion of the Court
The main object of the bill, in this case, is to set aside, as null and void, an assignment made by the bankrupts when insolvent, on the 23d of December, 1867, to the defendants, Lewis W. Burritt, Jr., and Thomas T. Sheffield, of all their property, joint and several, in trust, to-convert it into money, and therewith to pay the joint and several debts of the assignors, without preference or priority, except as provided by the laws of the state of New York and of the United States; and also to obtain a decree that certain property, which the bill alleges was conveyed by the bankrupts in fraud of their creditors, prior to the making of such assignment, vested in the plaintiff, as assignee in bankruptcy, as against the defendants, notwithstanding the execution of the assignment of December 23d, 1867. The bill prays for a receiver, pending the suit, of the property transferred to, or in the possession of, the defendants, and of the proceeds thereof. The bill avers fraud in fact, and makes allegations which, uncontradicted, show that the property in question was assigned and conveyed by the-bankrupts in fraud of their creditors, and with intent to hinder, delay, and defraud their creditors. An injunction has been issued by this court, in pursuance of a prayer in the bill, restraining the assignors and assignees-from disposing of, or in any manner interfering with, the property or rights of action purporting to be conveyed, created or affected by the said assignment, and from setting up or asserting, as against the plaintiff, any title to or right of action for any property conveyed by the bankrupts prior to December 23d, 1867, in fraud of their creditors. The plaintiff now moves for the appointment of a receiver. The merits of the case were not discussed on the motion, as the time for the defendants to put in their answers to the bill had not expired, and they were not held to deny by affidavit the allegations of fact in the bill. The only question argued was, whether, in view of the injunction issued by the court, and the status of the property in the hands of Burritt and Sheffield, the voluntary assignees, the safety of such property and the interests of the parties, whoever in the end might be entitled to it, required that a receiver should be appointed. The voluntary assignees produced a statement of the present condition, in their hands, of the property’ assigned to them, and showed that they’ had, in pursuance of an order of a
On the foregoing facts, it is apparent that the appointment of a receiver is not only proper, but necessary. By the injunction granted by this court, on the bill, and which the defendants have not moved to vacate or modify, the voluntary assignees are restrained from, in-any manner, interfering with the property in question. They, therefore, cannot lawfully, collect any of the debts, or realize any of the assets; nor can they meddle with the property, even to secure it from loss. The fact that they have loaned a portion of the mon- . ey in their hands, on notes secured by a deposit of merchandise, shows that they are improper custodians of trust money. No trustee has a right to make such an investment of trust funds. The security which they have given, under the state law of New York, is not available in this court; and, notwithstanding the injunction, they have full power over the funds and property in their hands. A receiver who will represent the conflicting titles to the property, ought to be put into possession of it, that he may effectually collect all the debts which are collectible, and sell, if necessary, with a clear title, the merchandise on hand. The receivership ought to be extended over all the moneys and property named in the statement of .the voluntary assignees, as well the money on deposit in the-United States Trust Company, as the other money and property. The $52,510.02 loaned, ought to be called in, and be, with the $55,000- and the $6,71S.55 gold, deposited in the United States Trust Company, by the receiver, to the credit of this cause, on interest, subject only to the order of this court. As to the residue of the property, the receiver must give adequate- security, in an amount to be fixed, on notice to all parties, for the faithful discharge of his duties; and he must be required to de- . posit his collections in the United States Trust Company, on interest, as fast as they reach an amount to be fixed in the order. The appointment of the plaintiff as receiver is asked for by creditors of the bankrupts, of high business standing and worth, and he will, accordingly, be appointed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- SEDGWICK v. PLACE
- Status
- Published