In re Houghton
District Court, D. Massachusetts
[In the matter of S. S. Houghton, a bankrupt.) The case is now heard on the questions submitted. The bankrupt carried on a very large retail business in three shops in Boston, and hired many girls to wait on his customers. When he failed, he owed them various sums, from less than a dollar to ten dollars. Before the first meeting of creditors was held, certain persons, who wished to use the votes of the girls, procured their debts to be proved in due form before a register.
Read the full summary
[In the matter of S. S. Houghton, a bankrupt.) The case is now heard on the questions submitted. The bankrupt carried on a very large retail business in three shops in Boston, and hired many girls to wait on his customers. When he failed, he owed them various sums, from less than a dollar to ten dollars. Before the first meeting of creditors was held, certain persons, who wished to use the votes of the girls, procured their debts to be proved in due form before a register. Upon each proof was a certificate by that officer that the fees paid by the creditor amounted to one dollar and…
1Opinion of the Court
LOWELL, District Judge.
After the first meeting, a motion was made to reject these proofs, on the ground that they were procured for the purpose of influencing the proceedings in the choice of the assignee. As the evidence was that the debts were just and valid, and had not been transferred, but were proved in the name and on behalf of the creditors, I could not interfere with their rights to prove them through any attorney they might choose to name, although he might be the bankrupt, or might be acting in the bankrupt’s interest. All I could do was to refuse to confirm an assignee who might…
2Cited by1 opinion
- In re Dayville Woolen Co.District Court, D. Connecticut · 1902