Perry v. Corby

• Decision Date: 01 October 1884
• Citation: 21 F. 737
• Parties: PERRY and others v. CORBY and another. [1]
• Court: U.S. District Court — Eastern District of Missouri

21 F. 737

PERRY and others v. CORBY and another. ^[1]

United States Circuit Court, E.D. Missouri.

October 1, 1884

Mills & Flitcraft, for complainants.

John D. Johnson and Smith P. Galt, for defendants.

BREWER, J., (orally.)

In the case of Perry against Corby, in which the demurrer to the bill was overruled by me, after argument last spring, a motion was made to set aside that order, and the question involved was heard before the entire bench. That question is whether a conveyance which is not in terms and according to the old technical definition a 'voluntary assignment for the benefit of creditors,' and yet which is in fact a conveyance of the entire property of the insolvent to one creditor, is within the purview of that statute of Missouri which provides that every voluntary assignment for the benefit of creditors shall inure to the benefit of all creditors. My own views were expressed in the opinion that I filed; and yet in the decision I followed the ruling which had been laid down by my predecessor in office. The case was argued before Mr. Justice MILLER and the entire bench, and I am authorized by Mr. Justice MILLER to say that he agrees with Judge McCRARY, and holds that such a transfer, although there is technically no assignee, so long as it is made of the entire property of the insolvent, and is not a mere giving of security by way of mortgage, contemplating payment by the mortgagor in the future, and the retention of possession by him, comes within the scope of the statute, and is to be treated as an assignment, and inures to the benefit of all the creditors.

As to the other questions, he agrees with the views I expressed. Therefore the motion to set aside the order overruling the demurrer will be denied.

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Notes:

^[1] Reported by Benj. F. Rex, Esq., of the St. Louis bar.

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