Banque Franco-Egyptienne v. Brown

Wallace, J. The defendants 'Duncan & Sherman move for leave to file supplemental answers to the bill, setting up their discharges in bankruptcy, which have been obtained since the cause was at issue. A very long delay has taken place since the discharges were obtained, and, notwithstanding the extenuating circumstances which are offered in explanation, the delay is so unprecedented that, if the complainants had been to any extent prejudiced by it, the application could not be considered with any degree of favor. The transactions assailed by the bill are complicated, and numerous defendants are im-pleaded. Belief is prayed against all of them, assuming that they haye participated in a fraudulent scheme by which the complainants were induced to invest in certain mortgage bonds; but relief is also prayed against some of them as trustees of a fund which came to their hands and was diverted in breach of their duty; and against others upon the theory that complainants can follow the trust funds into their hands. It may well be, under the allegations, that some of the defendants will be adjudged to account who were not guilty of any fraud personally, or who were not acting in a fiduciary relation towards complainants. No relief is prayed against either of the defendants Duncan or Sherman, exclusively, or as to transactions in which other defendants are not joined. The proofs that have been taken would have been necessarily taken if these defendants were not parties to the bill. It is alleged in the moving affidavits that “no witness has been examined solely to establish the pretended claims of the complainants against the said defendants Duncan & Sherman, or either of them; and that, had the discharges in bankruptcy of these defendants been pleaded immediately upon the granting of such discharges, the complainants would not have omitted to examine a single witness whom they have since examined; and that the course of procedure in the suit would in no respect have been different from what it has been had such discharge been so pleaded.” The truth of this statement is not challenged, nor is its effect in anywise impaired by the opposing affidavits. Under such circumstances, as the complainants have not been prejudiced, there is no just reason for denying the defendants the relief they ask. It would be premature upon this application to determine to what extent the discharges in bankruptcy will avail the defendants as a 107 protection against the claims made by the bill. It is sufficient for present purposes that the discharges may be available in part to protect them against the relief sought. The application has been presented as though the discharges may be set up by way of supplemental answer. The correct practice requires this to be done by means of a cross-bill. Miller v. Fenton, 11 Paige, 18; 1 Daniell, Ch. Pr. 607; Story, Eq. Pl. § 393; Taylor v. Titus, 2 Edw. 135. Leave is granted defendants to file a cross-bill setting up their discharges, unless complainants elect to amend the prayer of their bill so as to waive any recovery against the defendants for a debt which was not created by fraud, or while they were acting in a fiduciary character.