598
FEDERAL REPORTER.
PECKHAM V.
COZZENS.
SMITH V. SAME.
(Circuit CO'ltrt, D. Rhode Island.
March 2,1881.)
1.
ILLEGAL PREFERENCE-KNOWLEDGE OF CREDITOR.
The illegality of a preference depends upon the actual knowledgeof the creditor.-[ED.
Appeals from district court. Wm. P. She.ffield, for complainants. Saml. R. Honey and Francis B. Peckham, Jr., for defendant. LOWELL, C. J. E. Truman Peckham was made bankrupt in this district upon a petition filed March 22, 1878, and Willian: J. Cozzens is his assignee. On the twenty-second of January, 1878, the bankrupt had given two mortgages of land and buildings to his relatives, William J. Peckham and John (}. Smith, to secure them for liabilities which they had incurred for him. The land was duly sold by the assignee, free of encumbrances, and the purchase money is in court to answer in its stead. Bills and cross-bills were filed in the district court, the insillting that the mortgages were fraudulent preferences, and the mortgagees maintaining their validity. The district court found the mortgages to be valid. '" The 'question is whether Peckham and Smith-for they stand precisely alike-had reason to believe that E. Truman Peckham was insolvent on the twenty-second of January, and knew that he intended to commit a fraud upon the act. I agree with the district judge that the assignee has failed tit prove the necessary facts. The evidence was unfortunately taken upon written interrogatories, and is very vague. There are suspicious circumstances, but I cannot say that it is proved that the mortgagees knew much about the affairs of the bankrupt, or had any particular reason to believe him insolvent. *Sce 3 FED. REp. 794.
PAGE
V.
CITY
OF
OHILLIOOTHE.
599
It is not the case of a out of the ordinary course of business of the debtor. The mortgage of a hotne. stead has nothing to do out of the course of business. The fact of an attachment having been made was constructively known to all the world by its record, but the illegality a preference depends upon actual knowledge, and there is. no evidence that the fact was actually known to the mortgagees. I have read the evidence carefully, and must repeat that knowledge is not brought home to those parties. As they have absorbed pretty much all the assets, I do not feel bound to give them costs. Decrees affirmed, without oosts.
PAGE and others
'V.
CmLLICoTHE.·
(Circuit OO'lJh't, 8. D. Ohio. 1.
April, 1881.)
JURISDICTION-AcT OF CONGRESS DIVIDING B. D. 'Omo INTO Two DIVISIONS-WHERE SUIT ,TO RE BROUGHT-'-PERBONAL PIUVILEGEWAIVER.
Section 4 of the act of dividing the soqthern district of Ohio into two divisions, which provides " all fluits not of a local nature, in the circuit and district courts, against a single defendant, inhabitant of said state, must be brought in the d,ivision of the district where he resides," does not affect the general jurisdiction of the court, but rather confers a personal privilege' upon the defendant. which he fuay waive. 2. SAME"":'SAME-SAME-8AME-GENERAL ApPEARANCE-WAIVER.
Where a suit was brought in the western division against a resident of the eastern division, who was served with process in the eastern division, and on the return-day of the writ entered its general appearance without exception to the jUrisdiction, anet at the same and a subsequent term had, upon its motion, the time extended in which to answer, held, that tIle defendant, by such appearance and proceedings, waived the right to object to the jurisdiction of court.
Motion to Dismiss -for Want of J unsdiotion· · Reported by Messrs. Florien Giltuqueand nati·bar.
i
C.Harper, of the Cinchi.