In re the Estate of Voeller

1 D. Haw. 191

• Court: District Court, D. Hawaii
• Decided: January 6, 1902
• Status: Published

Opinion

Ester, J.

On' November 20th, 1901, a petition duly verified, was filed herein by three of the creditors of one Paul J. Yoeller,, alleging among other things, that the said Paul J. Yoeller ‘has, for the greater portion of six months next preceding the date-of the filing of this petition, had his domicile at Honolulu and has property in the city of Honolulu aforesaid subject to execution, and owes debts to the amount of $2729.73.”

Said petition also sets up the nature and character of their provable claims showing that the same amount in the aggregate, in excess of securities held by them, to the sum of five hundred dollars.

Among the other allegations of said petition it appears that one J. J. Byrne had obtained a preference by legal proceedings whereby said J. J. Byrne had on the 14th day of October,, 1901, obtained a judgment against said Paul J. Yoeller, in the Circuit Court of the First-Judicial Circuit of this Territory, in the sum of $650.90, and had procured execution to> be issued under the said judgment, and under which execution the property, of said Paul J. Yoeller had been levied upon and advertised to be sold and disposed of under said execution on "Wednesday, the 20th day of November, 1901, at 12 -o’clock m.

Upon the showing made by said petition and affidavit this Court issued an order to the High Sheriff of the Territory, A. M. Brown, directing and ordering him to desist from and enjoining and restraining him from selling the property of the said Paul J. Yoeller and every part thereof until the further order of this Court; and directing the said Iiigb Sheriff as aforesaid to be and appear at the Court room of this Court on Friday, the 22nd day of November, 1901, at 10 o’clock a. m., to show cause if any he had, why the said property of the said Paul J. Yoeller should not be turned over to the United States Marshal for the Territory of Hawaii, and also to> show cause why he should not be enjoined and restrained from selling or exposing .said .property for sale until after the hearing’; upon the said petition herein.

Upon the day set for the hearing of the petition and order 'to show cause, postponed until the 3rd day of January, 1902, J. J. Byme, the judgment creditor aforesaid, and A. M. Brown, the High Sheriff, appeared by their attorneys, Messrs. Kinney, Ballou & McOlanahan and FI. A. Bigelow, and opposed any action by this Court in the matter upon the following grounds:

1. That this Court had no jurisdiction, as the said Paul J. Yoeller is not now nor has he ever been for the six! months preceding the date of the petition, either a resident or domiciled within the jurisdiction of the Court; nor had he his principal place of business within the jurisdiction of the Court as required by Subdivision 1, Chapter 2, Section 2 of the Bankruptcy Act of 1898.

2. That this Court had no jurisdiction to remove the property in the hands of the High Sheriff of the Territory under the judgment hereinbefore referred to.

. First. Section 2 of Chapter 2 of the Bankruptcy Act, after providing for the Courts of bankruptcy, confers upon them jurisdiction to: 1. “Adjudge persons bankrupt who have had their principal place of business, resided or had their domicile within their respective territorial jurisdictions, for the preceding six months or the .greater portion thereof, or who do not have their principal place of business, reside or have their domicile “within the United States, but have property within their jurisdictions, or who have been adjudged bankrupts by courts of competent jurisdiction without the United States and have property within their jurisdictions......”

It is apparent therefore, that either one of three conditions must exist in order to enable this Court to have jurisdiction to adjudge a person a bankrupt to wit:

1. The person adjudged to be a bankrupt must either have had his principal place of business, resided, or had his domicile within the territorial jurisdiction of the Court for the preceding six months or the greater portion thereof; or

2. While not having his principal place of business, resided or had his domicile within the United States, have property within the jurisdiction of the Court; or

3. Elave been adjudged a bankrupt by a court of competent jurisdiction without the United States and have “property within their jurisdictions.”

The petition in this case shows on its face two grounds of jurisdiction:

1st. That Paul J. Yoeller of Honolulu, Island of Oahu, Territory of Hawaii, has for the greater portion- of six months next preceding the date of the filing of this petition, had his domicile at Honolulu aforesaid; and (2) has property in the city of Honolulu aforesaid, subject to execution; and owes debts to the amount of two thousand seven hundred and twenty-nine and 73-100 dollars ($2729.73). Either of which two grounds if borne out by the facts adduced at the hearing would be sufficient to give this Court jurisdiction.

It was testified to- upon the hearing that Yoeller had formerly lived here in Honolulu; that he owned certain real estate in this city; that he was suffering fromi leprosy and a warrant was out for his arrest, and to avoid arrest he left the Islands some three years ago; that he left his wife 'and children here in the Islands and they are still resident here; that he was known to be in California at one time but was afterwards believed to have gone to Japan. The judgment creditor contends that the said Yoeller left here never intending to return, and that he has therefore lost his domicile in the Islands. It has been held that “A man’s domicile, as the word implies, is his house, his home; and it may continue to be such for years- without being actually inhabitated. by him..........domicile as . a question of fact is often one of great difficulty to determine. Yet, in contemplation of law, every one has a domicile somewhere, because upon it generally depends his personal status, rights and duties and the disposition of his property after his death. Abington v. North Bridgewater, 23 Pick. 176; Mitchell v. The United States, 21 Wall. 351; Desmare v. The United States, 93 U. S. 609. Furthermore, a person, who, in contemplation of law, has a domicile, may, nevertheless,' as a matter of fact be a mere wanderer and not an inhabitant of any place.” Holmes, administrator, v. Oregon and California Ry. Co., 5 Fed. 523-527.

“Where a change of domicile is alleged, the burden of proof rests upon the party making the allegation.” Desmare v. The United States, 93 U. S. 605-610; Nixon v. Palmer, 10 Barb. (N. Y.) 175; In re Filer, 108 Fed. 209.

There was not tire slightest proof adduced on the hearing of this matter that Voeller had acquired a domicile beyond this Territory, and until such proof is made the law presumes his domicile remains in the Territory. The fact that he left because he was in dangler of arrest as a leper gives added forc'e to this proposition. Morris v. Gilmer, 129 U. S. 315; Cobb v. Rice, 130 Mass,. 231-235, where the Court says: “That, at the time of the adjudication and assignment he (the bankrupt) was merely a fugitive from justice who has gained no domicile elsewhere; and therefore he remained a resident within the jurisdiction of the District Court in this District and liable to be proceeded against in bankruptcy..........ITis domicile being here, continues until 'he acquires one elsewhere.” Desmare v. United States, Supra.

“A change of domicile must -be clearly shown.” Gravillon v. Richard’s Executor, 33 Am. Dec. 563, (13 La. 293.)

But conceding that the petitioning creditors have failed to show that Voeller had a domicile within this territorial jurisdiction for the six months preceding the filing of the petition yet it clearly appears that he has property within this jurisdiction and subject to the jurisdiction of the court, to-wit, certain real estate set forth in the schedule attached fo the petition and estimated to be of the value of some two thousand dollars. This would, independently of the provision of domicile or residence, bring him within the purview of the bankruptcy jurisdiction of this Court.

The essential facts which give a court jurisdiction of bank ruptcy proceedings appearing .affirmatively and distinctly in this proceeding, I am therefore of opinion that unless some other reasons are given why said Voeller should not be adjudged a bankrupt, the petitioning creditors are entitled to an order adjudging him such.

Second: Upon the second objection raised by counsel to the jurisdiction of this Court, namely, its power to issue the restraining order to the High Sheriff of the Territory, it is clear that the Court was fully within its jurisdictional powers when it issued said order, and it is not a fact that the Territorial Courts and the District Courts of the United States have concurrent or co-ordinate jurisdiction in bankruptcy proceedings.

“When the bankruptcy law cannot be properly administered by the court having jurisdiction, in consequence of the interference of a state court and its determination to adjudicate upon the rights of the parties and property in the bankruptcy court, the latter ought no^to hesitate to assert its authority; for in this matter the courts of the United States and the courts of the state are not of co-ordinate authority but the Federal Court is superior.” In re Miller, Fed. Case No 9, 551; (6 Biss. 30.)

It would seem quite: unnecessary to state, were it not for ihe point raised by counsel’s brief, that the United States District Courts are made courts of bankruptcy and “are invested with such jurisdiction in law and -in equity as will enable them to exercise original jurisdiction in bankruptcy proceedings in vacation, in chambers and during their respective terms......” Section 1, Subdiv. 2, and Section 2 of the Bankruptcy Act of 1898. Anri are given jurisdiction “to appoint receivers and marshals, upon application of parties in interest........to take charge of the property of bankrupts after the filing of the petition and until it is dismissed or the trustee is qualified.” Section 2, Subdivision 3 of said Act. And in addition to the jurisdictional powers specifically enumerated, it is further provided that this Court shall have “power to make such orders, issue such process and enter such judgments in addition to those specifically provided for as may be necessary for the •enforcement of the provisions of this Act.” (Sec. 2, Subdivision 15.)

Indeed it has been held that a bankruptcy proceeding is in the nature of a proceeding in rem; the acquisition of jurisdiction is based upon the taking’ possession by the Court of the debtor’s whole property and effects; and upon its adjudication as to his status. Hence the Federal Court in which the bankruptcy procedings are commenced, has jurisdiction of the debtor’s whole estate wherever situate. Markson v. Heaney, Fed. Case No. 9098. (1 Dill. 497.)

It is further provided by Subdivision f. of Section 67 of the Act, that: “All levies; judgments, attachments or other liens obtained through legal proceedings against a person who is insolvent, at any time within four months prior to the filing of a petition in bankruptcy against him, shall be deemed null and void in ease he is adjudged a bankrupt and the property affected by the levy, judgment, attachment or other lien, shall be deemed wholly discharged and released from the same.”

The decisions construing this Section are clearly to' the effect that it was the intention of Congress by the aforesaid Section to prevent any creditor of an insolvent debtor from obtaining any advantage over other creditors by legal proceedings during a period of' four months prior to the filing of a petition in bankruptcy, whether voluntary or involuntary, and that all such ’ liens are dissolved by the adjudication. In re Richards, 96 Fed. 935-939; In re Kenney, 105 Fed. 897-898; Bear, et al., v. Chase, 99 Fed. 920; St. Cyr v. Daignault, et al., 103 Fed. 854; In re Blair, 108 Fed. 529-530; In re Lesser, et al., 108 Fed. 203.

The province of the bankruptcy court is to marshal the assets of the bankrupt so that there may be a proper administration upon his estate, and also that there may b© a fair and just distribution thereof to his creditors -entitled thereto; and in so marshaling the assets of said estate, the Court has full power to restrain any state or territorial court or officer from disposing of any of said assets until the adjudication of the debtor as a bankrupt or the dismissal of tire petition.

The provisions of the bankruptcy act of 1867 and which Act was in force prior to the passage of the Act of 1898, are practically the same as the latter Act so far as the jurisdiction of the Court of bankruptcy is concerned; and there are numerous cases to be found where the United States Courts are sustained •in their exercise of the power to restrain all procedings in state courts affecting the disposition or sale of the property of a debtor pending the decision of the District Court upon the question of his bankruptcy. This is done so- that the rights of all parties may be preserved until the proper court can administer upon the estate of the bankrupt or dismiss the petition, as the facts upon the hearing may disclose to be necessary.

In the case of In re Mallory, 1 Sawyer, 88-98 (Fed. Case No. 8991) afterwards affirmed by Judge Eie-ld on appeal to* the Circuit Court of the Ninth Circuit, it was held that the District Court had power to restrain the State Court in a case similar to the case at bar, and in a well considered opinion the Court said:

“In voluntary cases, the filing of the! petition is an act of bankruptcy, and the debtor a.t the same time surrenders all hisv estate and effects for the benefit of his creditors and is forthwith adjudged a bankrupt. The District Court is thus clothed at once in voluntary cases with jurisdiction over the debtor and his property. But where the proceeding is involuntary, the debtor is not adjudged a bankrupt until the return and hearing; of the order to show cause, and may not be then if he have a sufficient defense. There is therefore good reason for giving the Court power to enjoin between the time of filing the creditor’s petition and the return of the order to- show cause, as there is in these cases no voluntary surrender of the property, and the title cannot vest in the assignee until after adjudication.”

See also the case of Blake, Moffitt & Towne, et al., v. Francis Valentine Co., et al., 89 Fed. 691, (9th Circuit) where the Court held: “A District Court of the United States as a court of bankruptcy, under the Act of July 1, 1898, has the power to enjoin the sale of property of a debtor under process from a state court * * * ”

The Court futher holding that a District Court had the power to take and “preserve the property until the time arrives when a petition in bankruptcy under the Act may be filed against him, where it is shown that such process is the result of an act of bankruptcy committed by the debtor since the passage of the act in suffering one creditor to obtain a preference through legal proceedings.” In re Kimball, 97 Fed. 29.

See also the decision of this Court rendered in the matter of the bankruptcy of Lum Man Suk, decided September 20th, 1901. (i)

I am therefore of opinion:—

1. That the judgment creditor has not shown such proof of a change of domicile by the debtor as to prevent this court from assuming that the domicile of origin still exists1.

2. Assuming that the domicile of origin no longer exists, yet it is clear that the debtor has property within the territorial jurisdiction of the Court, which fact is sufficient to enable this Court to assume jurisdiction, as a bankruptcy proceeding is a proeedings in rem, and this Court has jurisdiction of the. siims.

3. It is the order of this Court that the prayer of the petitioner be granted and the said Paul J. Voeller be adjudged .a bankrupt.

4. That the restraining order heretofore issued in this case was properly issued and the said A. M. Brown, High Sheriff of the Territory of Hawaii, is directed to turn over to the United States Marshal all property in his possession or under his control belonging to the said Paul J. Voeller.

Note: See ante In re Lum Man Suk, P. 135.