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34 Me. 15

Howe v. Newbegin

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine

Decided July 1, 1852

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine · decided 1852-07-01

On Exceptions from Nisi Prius, Howabd, J. presiding. Assumpsit. The principal defendant, pursuant to R. S. chap. 148, sect. 10, moved that the execution, to be issued in this suit, should be so framed as to run, not against his body, but against his estate only, and oifered to submit himself to examination, as to his property affairs.

Decided 1852-07-01

Wells, J.

¶2The facts contained in the disclosure, by which the case must be decided, in connection with the documents referred to, do not show that any fraud was practised, or intended to be by that instrument.. It applies by its terms to all the creditors, who should become parties to the assignment. It is not a promise to a part, but to all of them. And it does not appear that the knowledge of it was concealed from any one. So far as can be perceived, its object was to induce all the creditors to come into the assignment. It is suggested that the purpose was to have a few only to become parties, so that after paying them, a balance would remain to the assignor. But no such conclusion can be drawn from the facts disclosed. And such balance would be subject to the claims of other creditors. No measures were taken to deter any one. All of the creditors were at liberty to become parties, and if they did, the assignor agreed to waive the release in favor of them.

¶3If the instrument could be considered as giving a preference to some of the creditors to induce them to become parties, and should therefore be objectionable in reference to, *19others, who also became parties, it could not have the effect to defeat the assignment.

¶4It does not appear but that the plaintiffs might have ascertained, that this instrument was in the hands of the assignee upon making inquiry, and what its provisions were, and they cannot justly complain, if they have met with any loss, by the want of due diligence.

¶5If they have failed in obtaining a share of the property assigned, because as they allege, they were ignorant of this instrument, and supposed they should be bound to release the balance of their debt, the creditors, who have become parties, are not in any fault by acquiring the knowledge of a fact, whieh the plaintiffs did not ascertain, and which such creditors used no means to conceal. They ought not for this reason to be deprived of the benefit of the property holden for them by the trustee.

¶6The exceptions are overruled.

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