81
that are submitted. far decision'now. I ca.ll attention to the other question, also, to show what must have been the result as to the first plea on the ground of duplicity. The real points in the case, as now submitted, are, tbat there· is no evidence in the case to support the second plea; consequently, the affirmative being on the party pleading the matter to the jurisdiction, the plea must be overruled for want of evidence; and the other plea in abatement is bad in substance. The plea is therefore overruled, with oosts, with leave to answer to the merits within 30 days.
CttEWETT v. MORAN and others. (Oirouit Oourt, E. D··VicMgan. 1884.)
REB
After a decree of the probate court of Wayne county, Michigan had been made closing administration of the estate of D., complainant filed her petition in that court praying that the de(jreemight be set aside, that the administration might be reopened, and that she be allowed to prove her claim upon a covenant of D. against his estate, and after hearing her petition was denied. Held, that complainant was not barred by the proceedings in the probate court, llnd that she could maintain a suit in eqnity to obtain satisfaction against the heirs at law of D. out of real esLate dedcended to them.
ADJUDICATA-CLAIM AGAINST EsTATE,.-ADMINISTRATION-SUIT TO SUBJECT REAL EsTATE TO PAYMENT OF CLAIM.
In Equity. MATTHEWS, Justice. The former decision of this court, overruling the demurrer to the bill for want of equity, is conclusive of the question of the right of the complainant to the relief prayed for, upon the facts stated in the bill. The object of the bill is to obtain satisfaction against the heirs at law of Peter Desnoyers, out of real estate descended to them, upon a covenant of their ancestor, notwithstanding the fact that administration of his estate in the probate court according to the laws of Michigan has been settled and closed, and the administrator discharged, so that no suit at law or in equity could now bl:l prosecuted in any state court for the recovery of the debt. The new matter relied on as a, defense in the answer of the defendants, and not covered by the decision of the demurrer. is that the complainant is bound and barred by the proceedings in the probate court of Wayne county. Michigan. where the administration was prosecuted. Whether this is so or not, depends upon whether the complainant became a party to those proceedings. It is alleged that she did so, because on May 6, 1882, after a decree of the probate court had been made closing the said administration, the complainant filed hel'petition in that court praying that such decree might be set aside. that the administration might be reopened, and that complainant might be let into prove her claim against the estate; that this
39
I'BDBBA.L BBPOBTBB.
petition was resistell, anll, after hearing, denied. In my opinion this is not an adjudioation that answers the present bill. The merits 0\ the claim as a liability of the estate were not passed on. The complainant did not in fact become a pa.tty to the proceeding by which the administration of the estate was closed without the allowance of her claim. The object of her petition was that she might become a party to the proceeding under the adU;linistration, so as to be permitted to present and prove her claim. This was refused, the court in effect deciding that she should not be allowed to become a party to the proceeding in that court. She is not, therefore, bound by the settlement and closing of the administration. It follows that there must be a decree for the complainant according to the prayer of the bill. & O. R. Co. and another v. ADAMS EXPRESS Co.t
BALTIMORE
(Circuit Court, E. D. Mis8ouri. October 21, 1884.) COMMON CARRIERS-PAYMENT OF ANTECEDENT CHARGES.
It is not the duty of common carriers to pay antecedent charges on freight tendered to them lJy connecting carriers, eveu where it is customary to do so.
In Equity. The bill states that it is the usage and custom among express companies, known to and heretofore acted upon by the defendant and by all other express compa.nies, "that when a package of express matter is tendered to the connecting express company it receives the same and pays the express company the charges which have accrued thereon for the services rendered by it, and thereupon transmits said parcel to another express company, or the point of destination, if the same is reached by it, and collects the same, with its own charges, from the consignee," and that the defendant and other specified express companies, with which the complainants "have heretofore conducted a very large business upon the basis of the usage aforesaid, have combined, confederated, and conspired for the purpose of destroying the express business of your orators, and for that purpose have suddenly, from different points, given verbal and other notices to the agents of your orators that on and after the fifteenth day of October, 1884, the said companies would not advance charges on express matter transferred to them by your orators." The other material facts are stated in the opinion of the court. Garland Pollard, for complainant. Rumsey, MaxweU Matthews and Samuel Breckenridge, for defendant. TREAT, J., (orally.) This is an application for an injunction to restrain the defendants from refusing to receive packages in the same lReported by Benj. F. Rex, Esq., of the St. Louis bar.
BALTIMORE & O. R. 00. V. ADAMS EXPRESS 00.
83
IDltnner they have heretofore received them., and to compel them to prepay the charges. It is very well known that like questions have heretofore been presented to this court, in regard to wmch I have been a dissenting judge. In the conduct of business by these corporations, or quasi corporations, which to a greater or less extent fasten themselves upon the common business of the country through railroads and otherwise, very conflicting questions arise, because a railroad is bound, as a common carrier, to perform all the duties imposed upon it as such. It chooses to sublet, if you please, or fasten upon itself contracts with regard to these outside co.rporations, and by so doing puts itself in a condition that sul>jects the public at large to obligations or difficulties which, if the railroads themselves performed what they are required by law to perform, the shippers would be relieved of those difficulties. For illustration, a railroad exists; it is bound by law as a common carrier to perform its duties through one or the other contrivance. It fastens upon itself a fastfreight contract, or an express contract. Where are its obliga.tions? Is it to relieve itself of those, and remit the party to these outside corporations? Constant complications are arising with regard to such organizations. My brother judges would say that the courts might, to a large extent, regulate the mode of transacting business, each with the other, and one company enforce on the other and enforce upon the railroads a duty, as Mr. Pollard says, of doing business each for the other without discrimination. Now, as far as I am concerned judicially, I have no faith in any such doctrine, hut authorities superior to myself have, and in the light of the authority that is thus presented I must pass upon the question before me. Accepting, then, the proposition in the light of such authorities, all who act as common carriers must perform their functions without discrimination. Does that discrimination go so far as to say that they pay antecedent charges, and trust the opportunity at the other end of the route of ever receiving anything? it advance to the shipping company all prior expenses incnrred, and run the chances of ever collecting anything? What is the policy? At this end of the line, so to speak, shall they pay all these antecedent charges from Portland, Maine, for instance,.under a C. O. D., and, not knowing the contents of the package, allow it to go forward? Is that the proposition of law? If the compan.}' at this end of the line, for illustration, has paid the advance charges, who is responsible therefor? The shipper and the company transporting? The charges advanced for the benefit of tbe company from whom it receives, as well as for the shipper of the article itself? Suppose it does not choose to trust the shipper or the company. Suppose both are insolventutterly insolvent. Is it bound to pay, day in and day outl the money required in such matters, with no possibility of receiving a siKpence remuneration for the transaction? Now, I do not know, in the case here submitted, whether this disv.22F,no.1-8
84
crimination, if there be suoh, does not rest on a sound proposition, towit, that the shipping oompany cannot respond for the advances. I do not know how that is. I think, from the statement made here, that nothing appears in regard to that matter: Is that so? Mr. Pollm·d. I think there is nothing said in regard to the responsibilityof the oompany; but that is a point that will, I think, be conceded. The Court. Very well; the defendant has a perfect and that is my judgment, to refuse to pay charges on shipments made to it by any express company or any railroad company, unless a sufficient guaranty in some form is given to it whereby no discrimination may occur. Mr. Pollard. I suppose neither of these gentlemen will complain that this corporation is not responsible? The Court. I have to te.ke the case as I find it. It is not a question of the responsibility of the railroad. If we take them, we have to take them on the responsibility of the consignor. The part I am determining, and that is all there is in this case, is that an express company or a railroad company is not bound to prepay antecedent charges for anybody. It mayor may not. If it chooses to do it for one company, because it considers it perfectly solvent, it can do it. If it chooses to doubt the solvency or responsibility of the other companyor shipper, it has a right in the conduct of its affairs so to do. lt is not bound to advance money for anybody. It has a right to transport goods without prepayment if it chooses, - I mean it is bound to do it, - but without being compelled to prepay charges. That is my theory of the administration of the business in this country, and I shall refuse the injunction. You ask these companies to advance payment for previous transportation, and they are not bound to advance anything to anybody. Mr. Pollard. I understand your honor does not put it on the ground that it does not appear the complainants are not responsible for these charges? The Court. No; I do not put it on that ground. I put it on this direct and positive ground: that no common carrier is bound to pay advances on packages brought to it to be transported thereafter, if it chooses to object thereto. Mr. Pollard. Whether it carries for others or not? The Court. Yes; anybody. That is the proposition I have been contending for during 30 years, and I have been over it so often that the older I grow the more positive I am in regard to it. Mr. Pollard. On that theory, of course, it will be' of no use to amend the bill. 'l'he Court. Well, you may amend it, and it will be heard in that form; but I decide it now on the distinct ground that no common carrier is bound to pay the charges of a prior carrier at all. Mr. Polla1'd. That covers the ground.
FEDERAL REPORTER. , ..
BALTIMORE & O. B. 00. V. 'ADAMS EXPRESS 00.
35
The Court. That is all there is of it. It is not bound to advance money to pay somebody else. It is the business of the shipper to look out for that himself. Mr. Maxwell. Then r understand the order will be that the application for an injunction is refused, and the temporary order heretofore issued dissolved? The Court. Certainly. As r have already said, the obligation of one carrier to the other is not that the carrier receiving the goods is bound to pay the advance charges. He mayor may not. at his tion. There may be reasons why he should pay for one and not for the other, precisely the same as an individual might be willing to acoept an obligation as a matter of courtesy and not as a matter of duty; and if the corporation chooses to say, "r will not advance your charges for the purpose of transportation," it has a perfect right so to do, and will not be held liable for the obligations, not only of itself, but of all the corporations over whose lines goods are being shipped indefinitely. For the outcome may be, while it may nominally appear that the goods are of great value, in reality they may be of no worth. Then what? There is the ordinary C. O. D. transaction. It has to go back, necessarily, seriatim, to collect from this, that, and the other company all their respective charges, and there may be half a dozen intervening roads before it reaches the end. Why is it bound to carry that burden? It is not bound to do it. That is the view of this court, and has been for 30 years, and I still adhere to it. There is another proposition connected with this matter that I may as well state. For illustration, a shipment is made by a railroad from Portland, Maine, to Denver, whereby there is a through shipment without any agreement between the intervening roads. The original shipper, to-wit, the Portland, Maine, road, may be reaponsible for the safe delivery at Denver; but suppose a road from Kansas City to Denver is not a party to that agreement, is it to be bound by the arrangement thus made? It is only bound as a common carrier from the time the shipment came to it, and not as to anything antecedent thereto. It is not responsible for what occurred, theretofore, unless it is an express party to the contract. The application for this injunction will therefore be denied.
86 BLAIR
DDIlR.lL Bm'OBTIlBe
v.
ST. LOUIS,
H. & K. R. Co. a.nd others.1 October 20, 1884.)
(Circuit Court, E. D. Mi8BOu1'i.
1.
CORPORATIONII-FRAUDULENT CONVEYANOES.
A transfer of all the assets of one corporation to another, whereby, through a mere change of name, an attempt is made to defraud creditors, or which would operate a fraud, will not be upheld as against creditors, and the transferee, it he takes with notice, takes cum OMre.
l.
8AME.-MoRTGAGE-PRIORITY.
If, in such a case, the transferee mortgages Its property to secure the pay· ment of bonds, the lien of creditors of the old corporation upon the property transferred will be prior in right to that of bondholders with notice. SAME-ULTRA VIRES.
S.
Where a railroad company was created by a special act of the general assembly of :Missouri, which contained minute provisions as to the rights of stockholders and as to their duties to each other, the public, and the state, to which last, annual reports were to be made, and which provided that the construction of the road was to be begun within 10 years and completed within 20, and that a fair record of the whole expense of construction should be kept, and reo served to the state the privilege of purchasing the road after the expiration of 50 years, held, that the corporation had no authorit,}' to transfer all its assets to another corporation.
Demurrer to Answer and Cross·bill. The St. Louis & Keokuk Railroad Company being largely ind"hted, the stockholders and officers of the company organized the Louis, Hannibal & Keokuk Railroad Company, to which they transferred the assets of the St. Louis & Keokuk Railroad Company, in consideration of stock in the new company. The other materiaJ facts are stated in the opinion of the court. Walter G. Larned and Theodore G. Gase, for complainant. Geo. D. Reynolds and JaB. Garr, for defendant. TREAT, J; As the allegations are necessarily taken as true on the demurrers submitted, the question may be briefly stated: A former railroad corporation, being largely indebted, transferred to another corporation all of its assets. The latter corporation proceeded with the contemplated and unfinished work, taking possession of all the railroad bed, etc., of the prior corporation, with notice of the respondent's demand, not then reduced to judgment. It subsequently issued secure its bonds, and the plaintiff filed his bill to' fore· a mortgage close the same, with an intervening receiver, duly appointed. The bill makes the respondent a defendant, and he has answered, setting up his demand, now reduced to judgment, and by a cross·bill, praying for a decree establishing his demand as a lien prior in right to the mortgagee, as against so much of the property of the old corporation as is included in the mortgage by the new corporation, etc.; that a transfer of the assets of one corporation to another, whereby, through a mere change of name, an attempt is made to defraud creditors, or which would operate a fraud, cannot be upheld against 1 Reported
by Benj. F. Rex, Esq., of the l:3t. Louis bar.