In re Merrell

19 F. 874

Opinion

Coxe, J.

Section 5067 of the Revised Statutes provides: “That all debts due and' payable from the bankrupt at the time of the commencement of the proceedings in bankruptcy * * * may be proved against the estate of the bankrupt.” The proceedings are commenced (section 4991) when the petition is filed. These provisions were in force at the time the proofs in this matter were presented to the register. The indebtedness upon which the proofs are founded was not contracted until 13 days after the proceedings were commenced. The conclusion follows, therefore, that the proofs should not be permitted to stand. Even before the Revised Statutes, and before the substitution of the words “commencement of proceedings in bankruptcy” for the words “adjudication of bankruptcy” in section 19 of the bankrupt law, the weight of authority favored a construction limiting the proof of debts to those existing at the time of filing the petition.

The proofs should be expunged.