Ford v. Henderson

HARRIS, J.

J. D. Tompkins used or disposed of 62 of the 552 sacks of oats delivered to him by the sheriff and hence on November 18, 1916, Tompkins had only 490 sacks; but the evidence shows conclusively that on November 18, 1916, J. D. Tompkins returned the 490 sacks of oats to Henderson and paid the latter $62 for the 62 sacks which had been used. The record does not inform us as to the amount for which Ford was suing in the Justice’s Court, but we may of course assume that the sum sued for did not exceed $250: Section 951, L. O. L. The value of the oats was fixed in the verdict returned by the jury in the action of replevin and it may therefore be assumed that the 490 sacks returned to Henderson and the $62 cash paid to him were mo re. than enough to satisfy any judgment that might be rendered in the action in the Justice’s Court. It is not necessary to determine whether J. D. Tompkins could have compelled Henderson to receive the 490 sacks and $62 for the missing 62 sacks, for the record shows that J. D. Tompkins paid $62 and redelivered 490 sacks and Henderson received the money and oats in absolute good faith. In passing it is proper to say, too, that Henderson was not elected trustee until the creditors and referee, who were present at the first meeting of creditors held on November 28, 1916, were informed of the fact that Henderson, acting as constable, had held the oats in his possession for ten days, and the referee suggested that “it would be a fine thing for” Henderson to act because it would save expense in moving the oats.

It will be recalled that the constable levied on the crop of oats on September 7,1916, and that eight days afterwards, on September 15th, F.B. Tompkins was adjudged a bankrupt. The Bankruptcy Act (Act July 1, 1898, Chap. 451, 30 Stat. 544) provides that all attachments or other liens obtained through legal proceedings at any time within four months prior to the filing of a petition in bankruptcy shall be deemed null and void in case the insolvent person is adjudged a bankrupt, and the property affected by the attachment is discharged and released from the same. • It therefore follows that the adjudication in bankruptcy plus the appointment of the trustee operated to annul, as against the trustee, whatever interest Ford may have acquired under the writ of attachment and to vest Henderson as trustee with the title of F. B. Tompkins as of the date the latter was adjudged a bankrupt: Bankruptcy Act of 1898, § 67f (Comp. Stats., § 9651); 3 R. C. L. 291; 1 Loveland on Bankruptcy, §§ 368, 370.

The decree appealed from is affirmed. Affirmed.

McBride, C. J., and Beeson and Bean, JJ., concur.

Rehearing denied April 1, 1919.