340
92 FEDERAL REPORTER.
under the bankrupt act, unless made to a purchaser not iu' complicity with the insolvent, and for a "present fair consideration." The order of the district court is affirmed, with costs.
In re SAPIRO. (District Court, E. D. Wisconsin. BANKRUPTCy-PRODUCTION OF CRIMINATING EVIDF.NCE.
January 30, 1899.) SELF
BANKRUPT'S BOOKS-PRIVILEGE AGAINST
A voluntary bankrupt cannot refuse to deliver the books of account kept by him in his business, and necessary to an investigation of his affairs, to his trustee, on the ground that matter contained therein might tend to criminate him. If the constitutional privilege extends to civil proceedings, the filing of a voluntary petition in bankruptcy operate>l both as a waiver of such privilege, in relation to the bankrupt's bool,>l, and as a transfer of the right of custody of the same to the court and its officers.
In Bankruptcy. Louis Sapiro, having been adjudged bankrupt on his voluntary petition. was ordered by the referee to deliver to his trustee in bankruptcy certain books of account kept in the business which the bankrupt was condnding at the time of filing his petition. Upon the failure of the bankrupt to comply with this order, proceedings were instituted against him for contempt of court. The bankrnpt contended that he should be excused from producing the account books, on the ground that matter contained therein, or the evidence thus furnished, might tend to criminate him, and claimed privilege UIldel' the fifth amendment to the constitution of the United States. 'l'he referee found, as facts, that the said books were in the possession or control of the bankrupt, and that they were necessary to enable the trustee to determine the state of the bankrupt's affairs and for his other purposes; and, as conclusions of law, that the title to said books vested in the trustee as of the date of his appointment, and that the bankrupt, in refusing to deliver them, was guilty of contumacious contempt of the orders and directions of the court. The referee's findings were certified to the judge for review.
Bloodgood, Kemper & Bloodgood, for trustee. Timlin & Glicksman, for bankrupt. SEAMAN, District Judge. Upon careful review of the authorities, I am satisfied that the bankrupt cannot be excused from production of the account books in question upon the ground of constitutional privilege. Whether the privilege exists in favor of a witness or party in a civil proceeding, as here presented, does not clearly appear from the decision of the supreme court in Counsel· man v. Hitchcock, 142 U. S. 547, 12 Sup. Ct. 195, or in the later case of Brown v. Walker, 16 Sup. Ct. 644; but I assume, for the purposes of this case, that it may be invoked in civil, as well as in criminal, proceedings. Although much stl'ess in these opinions is placed upon the distinction that the investigation by the grand jury is of criminal natUl'e there is fOl'ce in the argument that the l'easoning' of the opinions applies equally to any proceeding in which a witness is required to testify; and such view has the support of recent decisions cited by counsel and of In re Emel'y, 107 Mass. 172, cited with approval in the Counselman Case. But the privilege is
UNl'rED STATES V. BREWER.
341
asserted here in favor (}f the bankrupt t() excuse him from prooucing the books of account kept in the business which he was conducting when his voluntary petition was filed to invoke the benefits, and submit to the requirements, of the bankruptcy law. He thereby elected t(} place all his property (aside from exemptions), including these books of account, which contain apparently the only evidence of credits outstanding, at the disposition of this court. If he were otherwise privileged' t(} withhold the books, his petition operates both as a waiver and as a transfer of the right of custody, and the books cannot now be withheld or withdrawn upon the assertion that they may contain criminating evidence or matter. If within the knowledge or control of the petitioner, the books must be disclosed and produced. Ruling upon the facts is postponed for the hearing of further testimony.
UXITED STATE8 v. BREWER et a1. (Circuit Court of Appeals, Second Circuit. No. 5:2. CUSTO)!S -THEASUHY OF AMEmCAN-MADE
January 30, IS!)!).)
Under paragraph 4!l3 of the tariff act of Oetober 1, 1890, which permits the free reimportation of certain articles of American manufacture, including bags whieh have been cxported filled with American products. or exported empty and returned tilled with foreign products, but requires proof of identity to be "made under general regulations to be prescribed by the secretary of the treasury," the provision as to the manncr of proof is of the essence of the exemption; and, the secretary having promulgated such general regulations, reasonahle in their requirements, an importer cannot ignore them, and obtain the exemption by substituting other evidence satisfaetory to the customs officers. Bags claimed to have been exported filled from another port, but of which fact no certificate of the collector is furnished, as required by article 331 of the treasury regulations, are properly dutiable.
Appeal from the Cireuit Court of the United States for the Southern District of NewYork. This cause comes here upon appeal from a decision and judgment of the circuit conrt, Southern district of Kew Yark, which affirmed the deeision of the board of United /'itates general appraisers. which had reversed the decision of the colledor in regard to the classification for duty of certain empty bags. D. Frank Lloyd, Ass1. U. S. Atty. Stephen G. Clarke, for appellees. Circuit Judges. Before WALk\CE, LACOMBE, and LACOMBE, Circuit Judge. The importers do not object to the rate of duty if the bags are dutiable, but contend that they are entitled to free entry, under paragraph of the tariff act of October 1, 1890. That paragraph provides that, among the articles exempt from duty, there shall be included "bags * * * of American manufacture