Batz v. Edgerton
Batz v. Edgerton
Opinion of the Court
This appeal is from a decree disallowing the claim filed against the estate of the bankrupt by appellant, who asked also that she have a lien for the amount thereof ($4,000 and interest) upon the proceeds derived from the sale of the property covered by the mortgage.
Most of the facts were covered by stipulation, from which it appears that appellant, on August 29, 1917, loaned bankrupt $4,000, receiving therefor a note, due six months from date, drawing interest at 8 per cent. As collateral security, she took first mortgage gold bonds covering the property of bankrupt, the face value of which was $4,100. The referee found that this note had been paid, and his finding was confirmed by the court. If it remains undisturbed, affirmance of the judgment necessarily follows.
On September 15, 1917, bankrupt paid the note at the Milwaukee
“ * * * we are also inclosing check for $20,000, payable to yourself, which amount you have advanced us. Thanking you very much for these favors, we beg to remain.”
Appellee urges that $4,000 of the $20,000 sent Mr. Batz was for claimant, and should be so credited. But we find nothing in the record to indicate that any such intention on the part of the bankrupt was communicated to Mr. Batz. In fact, the foregoing letter negatives any such intention. The money was sent to Mr. Batz to extinguish 'a claim which was well secured. It came from the fire insurance fund, a part of which was assigned to him. If $4,000 was intended for Mrs. Batz, it is passing strange that the debtor did not call for the surrender of the note which it had given and the bonds which had been executed to secure the indebtedness.
More than this, about eight months thereafter the company made a payment upon claimant’s note of $243.72, which Mrs. Batz says was paid as interest. The bankrupt’s check book stub contains this notation: “Mrs. G. A. Batz, interest on «notes paid to date, $243.72.” The check for this amount was indorsed by Mrs. G. A. Batz and was paid shortly after its execution.
In Valecia Condensed Milk Co. Case, the court was speaking in reference to facts similar to the ones under consideration; that is to say,, “the bonds were hypothecated at their par value.” In the Pfister Case, the bonds were hypothecated at 50 cents (less than the statutory percentage) of their par value. In the case under consideration, they were hypothecated at practically par value. Moreover, in the present case,
The decree -is reversed, with costs, and with directions to enter a decree allowing appellant’s claim for $4,000, with interest, and giving to her a lien to the extent of the aforementioned bonds.
other cases see same topic & KEY-NUMBER in all Key-Numbered Digests & Indexes
other cases see same topic & KEY-NUMBER in all Key-Numbered Digests & Indexes
Reference
- Full Case Name
- In re SULLIVAN CONDENSED MILK CO. BATZ v. EDGERTON
- Status
- Published