INGLES V.
NEW
ENGLAND MUT. LIFE INS. CO.
249
INGLES and others v. NEW ENGLAND MUT.
LIFE
INs. Co. and others.
(Circuit Court. D. MaBBachuBettl. April 9, 1886.) FR....UD ON CREDITORS-LIFE INSURANCE-PUR.
ST. MASS. CR. 119, § 167. Where a contract of insurance is made in furtherance of a conspiracy between the insured and his wife to defraud and cheat the creditors of the former, the most the creditors can reach, under the Massachusetts statute, (Pub. St. e. 119, § 167,) is an amount equal to the premiums paid with intent to defraud creditors, with interest thereon.
In Equity. C. J. Babbitt and Stearns Butler, for plaintiffs. A. D. Foster, for insurance company. II. L. Harding and Henry Jackson. for Susan D. Harwood. COLT, J. The plaintiffs in this suit, as creditors of 'Norman B. Harwood, seek to reach and apply the proceeds of a policy of insurance issued by the defendant company in favor of Harwood, for the benefit of his wife and children, who are also made parties defendant. The bill alleges that the contract of insurance was made in furtherance of a conspiracy between Harwood and his wife to defraud and cheat the creditors of the former, and that the premiums paid upon the policy were paid out of moneys fraudulently obtained from his creditors. The present motion raises the question whether. under these circumstances, the court should continue the inj unction restraining the insurance company from the payment of the policy to the widow. The policy contains a provision that the contract shall be governed and construed by the laws of Massachusetts. Section 167 of chapter 119 of the Publio Statutes of Massachusetts provides as follows: "A policy of insurance on the life of a person, expressed to be for the benefit of a married woman. * * * whether procured by herself, her husband, or any other person, * * * shall inure to her separate use and benefit, and that of her children. independently of her hnshand or his creditors, or the person effecting * * * the same, or his creditors. * * * When a policy is effected by any person on his own life, or on the life of another, expressed to be for the benefit of such other or his representatives, or a third person, the person for whose benefit it waR made shall be entitled thereto against the creditors and the representatives of the person effecting the same. If the premium is paid by a person with inte-nt to defraud his creditors, an amount equal to the premium so paid, with interest thereon. shall inure to the benefit Of his creditors, subject. however. to the statute of limitations...
The stat.ute seems to provide specifically for the case before us. Admitting the allegations of the bill to be true, it appears that, upon the policy in suit, the premiums were paid by a person or persons with intent to defraud creditors. Under the statute, therefore, it seems clear that the most the creditors can recover is an amount
250
FEDERA.L REPORTER.
equal to the premiums so paid. with interest thereon. The injunction may be vacated, except as to a sum equal to an a.mount of the premiums paid, and interest thereon.
CLEVELAND ROLLING-MILL Co. V. TEXAS & ST. L. Ry. Co. and others.· (Oircuit Oourt, E: 1.
n, Mi8sQuri.
March 24,1886.)
CORPORATION-STOCKHOLDERS-SUIT TO ENFORCE LIABILITY-PARTIES.
A bill in equity to charge holders of nominally paid-up stock cannot be maintained on behalf of a single judgment creditor, but must be on behalf of all entitled to share in such assets.
2. SAME-CORPORATION IN HANDS OF RECEIVER.
Semble, that where the corporation is in the hands of a receiver he is not the only party who can sue.
8.
SAME-LIABILITY OF HOLDERS OF NOMINALLY PAID-UP STOCK-NoTtOE.
Holders of nominally paid-up stock, upon which nothing has been paid, are not liable for the amount due thereon, unless they took with notice.
In Equity. Bill to charge holders of nominally paid-up stock on behalf of a single judgment creditor. Demurrer to bill. 'rhe bill charges, in substance. that all of the defendants except the Texas & St. Louis Railway Company are subscribers to and owners of unpaid-for stock issued to them as purchasers of the company's bonds. as a bonus, and that said stock was issued by said company through one Hubbard. who had ostensibly taken the contract to construct said company's road in consideration of all its stock and bonds. though said road was, in fact, constructed by the company itself. Ira C. Terry and Fisher If; Rowell, for complainant. Dyer. Lee et Ellis. Hough, Overall If; ,Judson, Phillips If; Stewart, John G. Chandler, Farrish et Jones, and John P. Davis, for defendants. BREWER, J., (orally.) In the case of Cleveland Rolling-mill Company v. Texas If; St. Louis Railway Company there is a demurrer to the bill. 'I'he bill is one to charge stockholders in the railroad company for and on behalf of a judgment creditor. Three grounds are alleged: First. That the bill is brought simply on behalf of a single complainant, instead of on behalf of all the creditors. That is a defect: a bill in equity must be in behalf of all entitled to share in such assets. 'l'herefore that calls for a sustaining of the demurrer. Second. That the receiver is the party to bring suit. On the face of these papers, except by implication and reference to other proceed. ings, it does not appear that there was ever a receiver, and, if there 1 Reported
by Benj. F. Rex, Esq., of the St. Louis bar.