Buell v. Hoffman

EVAN A. EVANS, Circuit Judge. Prior to his adjudication as a bankrupt, Hoffman was engaged in buying and selling waste paper. He failed in business and was duly adjudged a bankrupt. The 'trustee appointed by the creditors to administer his bankrupt estate petitioned the referee for an order compelling him to turn over moneys which were being unlawfully withheld. Bankrupt denied any withholding of assets. A hearing was had upon the petition and the answer, and considerable oral testimony was received. The referee found for petitioner and ordered the bankrupt to pay the trustee $4,783 75 The District Court vacated the order of the referee. To review and revise this order of the District Court petitioner comes to this •court. The evidence is conflicting. While certain statements prepared by petitioner’s accountants and based upon bankrupt’s books would indicate that Hoffman had failed to turn over all of his assets, there is testimony to the effect that Hoffman withheld nothing. According to his story, he engaged in a fierce competitive warfare shortly before his failure, which was most ruinous, and his accumulations melted away. In short, the evidence is such that this •court would refuse to disturb a finding by the trial court, even were this an appeal in an ■equity suit. For added reasons must we decline to weigh the evidence and substitute our judgment thereon for that of the District •Judge in a proceeding such as this, where we •can review only question of law. In re Hoyne (C. C. A.) 277 F. 670. It is urged, however, that the court erred (and the error was one of law), in that it required the trustee to establish its case beyond .a reasonable doubt. In support of this position counsel refer to the order, a portion of which is as follows: “This is a motion to vacate and set aside an order of the referee in •bankruptcy. The matter has been fully ar.gued, and the court, having ascertained the facts, finds that the court in this particular -case should be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt, and * * * this court cannot say the defendant has been guilty as charged in the petition.” While there are cases holding to the contrary, the weight of authority1 repudiates the test which the District Judge applied in this ease, viz. proof beyond a reasonable doubt. We see nq good reason why the rule governing the quantum of proof necessary to convict in criminal cases should be extended to this or any other civil proceeding. _ • _ Petitioner charged the bankrupt with having concealed and withheld some of his assets from the trustee. The burden was upon it to prove its allegations. Such proof should satisfy the court of the truthfulness of the charge. It was not necessary that the proof convince the court beyond all reasonable doubt. We are not satisfied, however, that the cause should be remanded to the District Court. We have examined the evidence, and are clearly satisfied that the District Court reached the correct conclusion. It would seem our plain duty under such circumstances to affirm. Judicial Code, § 269, as amended by Act Feb. 26,1919 (Comp. St. § 1246). The order is affirmed. Footnotes [1] Free, Trustee v. Shapiro (C. C. A.) 5 F.(2d) 578; In re Cole (C. C. A.) 144 F. 392; In re Powers (C. C. A.) 229 F. 370, Ann. Cas. 1917B, 1094; In re Cramer (D. C.) 175 F. 879.