In re Dunn

• Decision Date: 29 September 1910
• Parties: In re DUNN.
• Court: U.S. District Court — Northern District of New York

181 F. 701

In re DUNN.

United States District Court, N.D. New York.

September 29, 1910

A. L Graff, for claimant.

Lewis Watkins & Titus, for trustee.

F. J De La Fleur (A. G. Senior, of counsel), for referee.

RAY District Judge.

The petition of Louis C. Peck states that by an order of the referee the first meeting of creditors was directed to be called and held on the 16th day of October, 1908, and that a notice of such meeting was duly published, and that September 30, 1908, the 'said referee mailed to each creditor a notice of said first meeting of creditors'; that such meeting was held October 16, 1908, and Clarence D. Stetson Esq., was selected as trustee and his bond fixed at $1,500. December 22, 1908, said Peck filed his claim for $82.76 with the clerk of this court, alleging therein as follows:

'That the said J. F. Dunn, the person by whom a petition for adjudication of bankruptcy has been filed, was at or before the filing of said petition, and still is, justly and truly indebted to said Louis C. Peck in the sum of eighty-two 76/100 dollars (82.76). That the consideration of said debt is as follows: Wages due deponent as clerk and manager and is a preferred claim. That the date of maturity of said debt is about August 24, 1908. That no note has been received nor judgment recovered therefor. That no part of said debt has been paid. That there are no set-offs or counterclaims to the same. That said creditor has not, nor has any person by order of said creditor, or to the knowledge or belief of said deponent for the use of said creditor, received any manner of security for said debt whatever.'

There was no suggestion in such claim that it was for 'wages due' to him as a clerk and manager which had 'been earned within three months before the commencement of' (bankruptcy) 'proceedings,' and on this motion no proof of that kind is produced or offered. The 'wages due deponent as clerk and manager' may have been earned a year before or two years, and may have been earned while in the employ of some other person as affidavits presented in behalf of the trustee and referee indicate the fact was.

The statement, 'and is a preferred claim,' is a mere conclusion, and not equivalent to a statement that he was clerk and manager for John F. Dunn or in his employ, or that the 'wages' were 'earned within three months before the date of the commencement of proceedings. ' Section 64 of the bankruptcy act ...