IN RE HERZBERG.
699 Code
the manner in which such powers shall be exercised by the courts."
Ga. 5078.
This provision of the state constitution has been interpreted by the highest court of appeals in the state to confer on the legislature the exclusive power to charter telegraph companies. In Kehler v. Jack Manllfg Co., 55 Ga. 641, the supreme court say: "In our judgment. it was the true intent and meaning of the constitution to confer upon the general assembly the exclusive power to grant charters to all the excepted companies named therein."
Now,a telegraph company is an "excepted company named therein." It follows, therefore, that since the charter of the Doboy & Union lsI· and Telegraph Company was granted by a court and not by the Legislature, not only does its cable which obstructed the anchor of the Industria appear to be unauthorized by the state, but the plaintiff corporation disappears from the record, and "leaves not a wrack be. hind." It follows that the proceedings against the Industria must be dismissed.
In re
HERZBERG,
Bankrupt. November 24,1885.'
(District Oourt, S. D. New York.
BANXRUPTCY-INJUNcTION-DrsCHARGE-SECTION
5106. An injunction is authorized by section 5106, to await the determination of the question of the bankrupt's discharge only. After the discharge has been granted, the bankrupt's relief against the further prosecution of suits in the state courts must be obtained in those courts only, where the effect of the discharge must be determined. Held, therefore, that an injunction obtained ex parte in the bankruI;Jtcy court. after the discharge had been granted, continuing the previous mjunction, was improvidently granted, and should be vacated.
In Bankruptcy. N. L. Hahn, for bankrupt. Van Loon cf: Capron, for creditors. BROWN, J. bankrupt in this case procured from this court an injuuction staying the proceedings against him in the state court until the determination of the question of his discharge. His discharge was obtained on the twenty.fifth of June, 1885. On the following day he obtained from this court ex parte a further injunction perpetually staying thfl prosecution of the action in the state court. A motion is now made to vacate the last-named order as improvidently granted. Section 51060f the Revised Statutes authorizes thecourt in bankruptcy to stay prosecution of suits against the bankrupt "to await the determination of the court in bankruptcy on the question of his discharge." In the Case of Rosenbe1'g, 3 Ben. 14, 18, BLATCHFORD, J., says: "The manifest object of the provision is to relieve the bankrupt, while he is proceeding in good faith to obtain his discharge, and until the question
700
FEDERAL
BEI'ORTER.
of his discharge is determined, and he either obtains it or is refused it, from being harassed by Buits for the recovery of provable debts. If the amount of a debt is in dispute, the suit may proceed so as to put the debt in a condition of provability, and then it must stop. If a discharge is granted, then the bankrupt is able to plead the discharge in any suit that may have been stayed, and the stay ceases."
The same lea.rned judge, in the Case of Wright, 2 Ben. 509, says: "The question whether the discharge affects the debt in question can only arise and be determined between the parties in a suit prosecuted to collect the debt, in which the discharge, after it shall have been granted, shall be pleaded or set up as a bar to a recovery."
It would be manifestly improper, therefore, for this court, a.fter the bankrupt's discharge had been granted, to undertake to determine its final effect upon the creditor's claim in the state court. The bank. rupt is justly entitled to a fair opportunity to present the question in the state court, and have it litigated there. It cannot be doubted that, upon proper application in that court, such an opportunity will be granted, unless the debtor has in some way forfeited his right thereto. In any event, it is not a matter for further adjudication or injunction in this court, after the order granting the discharge. The motion to vacate must therefore be granted.
In re BAXTER and another, Bankrupts. (DistJrict Oourt, 8. D. New York.
November 30,1885.)
1.
BANKRUPTCy-PROOF OF DEBT-PREFERENCE-REV. ST. PAYMENTS.
§
5084-RETURN 011'
A return of part payments as a condition of proof of debt is not required by section 5084, except upon the concurrence of an intent in the bankrupt, when the payment was made, to create a preference, together with knowledge of his unlawful intent by the creditor.
2.
SAME-STATEMENT OF THE CASE.
Where B. & Co., of New York, being indebted to D., C. & Co., of London, remitted to the latter by mail on JUly 29th, in the usual course of business, and with no intent to create a preference, a bill of exchange for £1,000, payable to D., C. & Co., drawn upon J. Bros., of London, factors, on account of produce consigned to the latter by B. & Co., and the bill was received by D., C. & Co. on August 9th, and sent the same day to J. Bros. for acceptance, who delivered it to D., C. & Co. on the 10th; B. & Co. failed on Saturday, August 7th, and made an assignment for the benefit of their creditors; but J. Bros. had no knowledge of the failure at the time the acceptance was delivered by them to D., C. & Co.; but D., C. & Co. were informed thereof by telegram the even· ingprevious: held, that the bill being accepted in good faith byJ. Bros., in the usual course of business, was binding upon them from the time of its delivery to D., C. & Co., and operated as an equitable charge or lien upon the produce in J. Bros.' hands, notwithstanding the prior voluntary assignment of B. & Co.; that the draft having been mailed 12 days before by the bankrupts, also in the usual course of business, and with no intent to prefer, was not an act in violation of any provision of the bankrupt law, and that the CRse was not,