143 F.2d 942 - In re Steinberg — 143 F.2d 942

How this case has been cited

Cited by 18 later decisions — most recently May 2018

7 federal appellate · 2 district ·

Later decisions citing this case, by decade. The current decade is in progress, and our corpus holds fewer opinions from the most recent years, so the latest bars are undercounted — not a real decline.

¶1 *943Louis Engelberg, of New York City, for bankrupt-appellant.

¶2Henry W. Parker, of New York City (Martin B. Nadie, of New York City, on the brief), for objecting creditor-appellee.

¶3Before L. HAND, CHASE, and FRANK, Circuit Judges.

¶4FRANK, Circuit Judge.

¶5The referee’s finding that the bankrupt “knowingly” made a false oath binds us, for the referee saw and heard the bankrupt testify and we cannot, therefore, go behind his conclusions as to credibility. The only question is whether the oath was “fraudulently made.” We would be inclined to say no, if this were a case of first impression; as the bankrupt had no assets, the omission of the claims of his relatives could not have been designed to prefer them, and it is difficult to perceive any fraudulent purpose, either in those omissions or the failure to include the claim for taxes. Perhaps the omission of the insurance agent’s claim shows a fraudulent purpose. But we need not consider that question. For we bow to the precedents which, in practical effect, have read the word “fraudulently” out of the statute by the use of the phrase, “an intentional untruth in a matter material to the issue which is itself material.” In re Slocum, 2 Cir., 22 F.2d 282, 285; In re Zoffer, 2 Cir., 211 F. 936; In re Marshall, 2 Cir., 47 F.2d 209. Under those authorities it is enough that the false oath here was knowingly made.

¶6Affirmed.