A decree of the circuit court setting aside a deed made by a
bankrupt before his bankruptcy, directing the trustees under the
deed to deliver over to the assignee in bankruptcy all the property
remaining undisposed of in their hands, but without deciding how
far the trustees might be liable to the assignee for the proceeds
of sales previously made and paid away to the creditors, directing
an account to be taken of these last-mentioned sums in order to a
final decree, is not such a final decree as can be appealed from to
this Court.
The circumstances of the case are stated in the opinion of the
Court.
Page 47 U. S. 211
MR. JUSTICE McLEAN delivered the opinion of the Court.
This case arises under the bankrupt law. William Allen a
merchant-tailor in Richmond, being embarrassed, conveyed his whole
property to the plaintiffs, as trustees, to pay his debts. In the
trust deed he divides his creditors into two classes, the first of
which was to be fully paid before the second received anything.
Shortly after this, he took the benefit of the bankrupt law. The
assignee in bankruptcy filed his bill to impeach the above
conveyance as fraudulent under the bankrupt law.
In their decree, the circuit court ordered that the deed
executed by Allen as above stated should be set aside. And without
deciding how far the trustees may be liable to the assignee for the
sums received for the proceeds of the property which may have been
paid over by them to the creditors of
Page 47 U. S. 212
Allen before they received notice &c., the court ordered and
decreed that the trustees should deliver over the property conveyed
to them which had not been disposed of and that they render an
account to one of the commissioners of the court of all the
property which came to their hands, or either of them, by virtue of
said deed, and of moneys paid to the creditors &c., which
account the said commissioner is directed to state and settle, and
report the same to the court with any matters specially stated
deemed pertinent by himself or which may be required by the
parties, in order to a final decree.
This decree is final only as to the trust deed. All the matters
arising under the trust are referred to a commissioner for a
statement of the account, to enable the court to enter a final
decree. There is no sale or change of the property ordered which
can operate injuriously to the parties. Under such circumstances,
the decree not being final as to the whole matter in controversy,
the appeal must be
Dismissed.
Order
This cause came on to be heard on the transcript of the record
from the Circuit Court of the United States for the Eastern
District of Virginia and was argued by counsel. On consideration
whereof, and it appearing to the Court here that the decree of the
said circuit court in this cause is an interlocutory and not a
final one, it is thereupon now here ordered, adjudged, and decreed
by this Court that this cause be and the same is hereby dismissed
for the want of jurisdiction.