142
FEDERAL REPORTER,
voL 56.
ruled the defendant's demurrer to the plaintiff's complaint. The plaintiff, a married woman, and subject of Great Britain, brought in the United States circuit court an action for libel against the defendant, a corporation of the state of New York. The statute of the state of New York (Code Civil Proc. § 450) provides that the husband is not a necessary or proper party to an action to recover damages to the person, estate, or character of his wife, and all sums that may be recovered in such actions shall be the separate property of the wife. ''l'he defendant's point upon the demurrer is that an alien married woman cannot maintain an action at common law in the United States circuit court for either of the districts of New York without joining her husband, or suing by her prochein ami. It may be remarked that upon the face of the complaint it does not appear that the husband of the complainant was living when the suit was commenced, but we do not place a decision upon that ground, because we are of opinion that an averment that the complainant was a married woman would not create a defect of parties. Section 721 of the United States Revised Statutes provines as follows: "The laws of the several states, except where the constitution, treaties, or statutes of the United States otherwise require or provide, shall be regarded ns rules of decision, in trials at comlUon law, in the courts of the United States, in cases where they apply."
The New York statute is applicable to any married woman, whether alien or citizen, who becomes a plaintiff in the courts of that state. Such statutory modifications of the common law in regard to the rights of husband and wife as plaintiffs in actions at law in the courts of a state are applicable also in the United States courts for such state, if not inconsistent with the laws of the "Cnited States, or with the duties which belong to its judges and courts, and the powers with which they are clothed. This state statute is applicable in actions at common law in the courts of the United States held within the state of New York. 'l'he order of the circuit court is affirmed.
In re S'l'ARR et at (Circuit Court, D. New Jersey. June 3, 1893.)
1.
BANKRUPTCY - SUPERVISORY COURTS OF ApPEAL.
JURISDICTION
OF
CrnCUIT
COURT -
CIRCUIT
'rhe general supervisory jurisdiction conferred by Rev. St. § 4986, upon the circuit courts over causes and questions arising in the district courts in bankruptcy cases was not transferred to the cil'cuit courts of appeal by the judiciary act of March 3, 1891, but still remains with the circuit courts.
2.
SA)!E,...,.COMPOSITION-DELAY OF CREDITOR.
'Vhere a creditor of a bnnkrnpt does not present his proof of debt to the committee, or demand composition notes, until after final distribution among the creditors who complied with the terms of the composition, and the delay is not caused by mere oversight or neglect, but bJ the "belief and promise" that the claim should be paid in full, he is not entitled to any relief.
VERMONT FARM MACH. CO. V. GIBSON.
143
In Bankruptcy. Sur petition of the executors of Isaac S. Waterman, deceased, for review of the decree of the district court made in this matter }lay 5, 1891. Affirmed. H. A. Drake, for petitioners. A. G. Richey, for respondents. AOHESON, Oircuit Judge. In form and substance this is a petition for review under section 4986, Rev. St. U. S. which confers on the circuit court general supervisory jurisdiction over cases and questions arising in the district court in bankruptcy. This jurisdiction is different from the appellate jurisdiction given by section 4980. Coit v. Robinson, 19 Wall. 274. 'l'his appellate jurisdiction under section 4980 was transferred to the circuit court of appeals by the act of March 3, 1891, establishing those courts. This was recently decided by the circuit court of appeals for the third circuit. Duff v. Carrier, 55 Fed. Rep. 433. But, in my opinion, the general supervisory jurisdiction in bankruptcy under section 4986 was not so transferred, but remains in the circuit court. This case, therefore, is properly here, and is to be decided on its merits. A very careful examination ()f the record has brought me to the conclusion that the petitioners have no just cause of complaint against the committee of creditors under the composition. If the petitioners did not receive their pro rata share of the fund, they have only themselves to blame. They did not present their proof of debt to the committee, or demand composition notes, until late in the fall of 1883, after the final distribution had been made among the creditors who had complied with the terms of the composition. Nor was this failure to act the result of oversight or simple neglect. Mr. Barr, the general manager for the executors of Waterman, distinctly testifies that the reason for the delay in presenting the claim was "the belief and promise [made by Starr, Jr.] that it should be paid in full." The petitioners then delayed necessary action in the expectation that they would fare better at the hands of the bankrupts than the creditors who came in under the composition. The account made out by Mr. Weckerly, the representative of the committee, and verified by his oath on February 12, 1884, and which the district court, after investigation, approved, hal'! not been successfully impeached. Nor am I able to discover any error in the decree of the district court here complained of. Therefme, now, this 3d day of June, 1893, the decree of the district court in this matter, made on May 5, 1891, is affirmed.
VERMONT FARM MACH. CO. v. GIBSON. (two cases.) (Circuit Court of Appeals, Second Circuit. Jtme 12, 1893.)
PATENTS FOR INVENTIONS-ANTICIPATJON-WA'rER-SEALED CREAMING VANS.
Letters patent No. 187,516, issned February 20, 1877, to William Cooley, for "a of treating milk for raising cream by sealing with and air the cover applied directly to the veEsel containing the milk," was