In re Merkle

BENEDICT, District Judge.

This is a motion, on the part of an alleged bankrupt, made before the return of the order to show cause why he should not be adjudged a bankrupt, to set aside the proceedings against him, for the reason that since the commencement of the proceedings, the petitioning creditors have caused him to be arrested and held to bail in an action, commenced in a state court, to recover a debt composed in part of the note set forth as protested in the petition.

AVliatever force there might be in the position that the taking of the bankrupt upon an order of arrest amounts to a satisfac*68tion of the debt, is destroyed, in this ease, by the fact disclosed, that although an action was commenced by the petitioners, in which the bankrupt and another person were joined as defendants, and an order to arrest both defendants was granted by the state court, specific instructions were given to the sheriff, not to arrest the bankrupt, nor to serve him with the summons in this action, and that the arrest of the bankrupt was made because he voluntarily surrendered himself to the sheriff, and voluntarily gave bail, in that action, without the knowledge or assent of the petitioners, who now disclaim the proceeding, as against the bankrupt, and offer to give their consent to cancel the bail bond, If any consent on their part be necessary.

A person proceeded against as a bankrupt, does not, by voluntarily placing himself under arrest, or in jail, or in any other place of confinement, remove himself from the effect of the bankruptcy act The motion is denied.