It appears that the bankrupt became insolvent January 20, 1900. On the 2d of January, 1900, it delivered to the petitioner a check on the Astor Place Bank, dated January 20, 1900, for $215. On that day the petitioner deposited the check with the National Shoe & Feather Bank. On the following day the latter received the money in the ordinary course of business through the clearing house, and the amount was charged by the Astor Place Bank against the account of the bankrupt.
The claim is that when the deposit was made the Shoe & Leather Bank became the absolute owner of the check, and the preference was to it, and not_ to the petitioner. I am unable to coincide with such view. The effect of the delivery of the check to the petitioner was to diminish the assets of the bankrupt, when insolvent, to the detriment of its other creditors. The money was within the control of the bankrupt up to the 21st of January, 1900, and if it had been drawn from the bank before the check was presented there would have been no payment, and the petitioner would have occupied the same position as other unpreferred creditors. There was therefore a payment when *328•insolvent, and it was a payment directly for the benefit of the petitioner, through the medium of its bank. I do not see any merit in the other suggestions.
The order of the referee expunging the claim is affirmed.