In re Silberstein
Opinion of the Court
I confess I do not see why the bankrupt should have kept more books than he did, or how they would have practically helped him, if he had. Of course, they would tell more about his condition now; but the law does not compel a man to keep for his creditors books that he does not need for himself. There is no such implication when one gets credit. The law does say that, if the debtor omits to keep records for the purpose of concealment, he is at fault; but that is a very different thing. Silberstein had in the ledger all he needed to tell
At die time of the January payments, however, he must have known himself to be at the end of liis rope, and the payments must rest upon liis right to make them. A father who assigns on the day alter his daughter’s wedding we can hardly suppose had no premonitions of his position. Was this payment, after he had learned that all hope was gene, a transfer in fraud of creditors? This depends upon whether the payment was upon any existing obligation. Even an insolvent has his duties to his family, and must support them, though his creditors suffer. If it is part of a father’s obligation to see his daughter decently married and give her a reasonable outfit, 1 cannot say that the outlay is in fraud of creditors. One may expect more of a nicer sense of honor, but one may not call it fraud.
The question whether such a payment lies within the father's obligation is the same as whether the infant would have been responsible for it as for a necessary. I have been able to find only two cases of wedding clothes as infant’s necessaries, but they both favor the bankrupt here. Sams v. Stockton, 14 B. Mon. (Ky.) 232; Jordan v. Coffield, 70 N. C. 110. The same rule applies to mourning. De Moss v. Giltner, 5 Ky. Law Rep. 691. If an insolvent father keeps within measure, he is not guilty of fraud, when he gives his daughter a trousseau. No one s'uggests that the amount here given was too large, or that he seized the opportunity as a pretense for giving the girl more than she needed. Lt is true that on April 22d, Anna was 21 years old; but it does not appear that when married she was not still a minor, or that the bankrupt supposed liis duties to her to be different from those of a minor.
I can see little merit in any of the specifications, except the second; had it not been for that, I should have taxed the disbursements upon the creditor. As it is, I will follow the usual custom and let the bankrupt pay the expense of the reference; no costs.
Report confirmed; composition confirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- In re SILBERSTEIN. Ex parte W. L. DOUGLAS SHOE CO.
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- 1. Bankruptcy @=381 — Composition — Confirmation — Failure to Keep Books. Confirmation of a composition will not be denied, on the ground that the bankrupt failed to keep proper books, unless an intent to conceal his condition is shown. [Ed. Note.—For other cases, see Bankruptcy, Cent. Dig. §§ 590-592; Dec. Dig. @=384.] 2. Bankruptcy @=384—Composition—Coneirmation—Keeping Books. A bankrupt, who did a cash business, kept a merchandise ledger, showing his accounts with all those from whom he purchased on credit. His check book and bank book were practically the only other books kept, and he kept no record of personal loans from friends or connections. Held that, as the bankrupt could have determined his condition from the record of his indebtedness and stock and cash on hand, confirmation of a composition offered will not be denied on the ground that he failed to keep books with the intent to conceal his condition. [J5 3. Bankruptcy @=384—Composition—Confirmation—Transfers in Fraud of Creditors. Where a father made payments to his wife and to his daughter for her marriage trousseau, and it appeared that some of the payments at least were made after he knew of his bankruptcy, but it was not shown whether the daughter was not at that tifne an infant, or that the father did not suppose that he was bound to make provision for her, such payments, being reasonable, will not be held in fraud of creditors, and hence an offered composition will not be denied, on the ground that the bankrupt had made transfers in fraud of creditors. [Ed. Note.—For other cases, see Bankruptcy, Cent. Dig. §§ 590-592; Doc. Dig. @=384.] 1. Bankruptcy @=384—Composition—Right to. Where there is no ground Cor suspicion of collusion, the will of the majority of the creditors governs, and a composition desired by them will be confirmed. [Ed. Note.—For other cases, see Bankruptcy, Cent. Dig. §§ 590-592; Dec. Dig. @=384.] For other eases see same topic & KEY-NUMBER in all Key-Numbered Digests & Indexes