In re Soldiers' Business Messenger & Dispatch Co.

BLATCHFORD, District Judge. I think that the mortgage in question in this ease is, within the 14th section of the bankruptcy act, a mortgage of goods and chattels, made as security for a debt, in good faith and for a present consideration, and not invalid, as having been made in violation of any law of the state of New York or of the United States. I do not think, from the evidence, that the mortgagee, or the persons for whom he acted, had reasonable cause to believe that the mortgage was made with a view or intent to prevent the property of the mortgagors from coming to their assignee in bankruptcy, or from being distributed under the bankruptcy act, or to defeat the object of. or in any way impair, hinder, defeat, impede or delay the operation and effect of, such act, or to evade any of the provisions of such act, or reasonable cause to believe, that A fraud on the act was intended. Nor does the evidence establish that the mortgage was made with any such view or intent. The making of it was duly authorized by the company and it was properly made. The only difficulty in the case is, that the mortgage-was not duly recorded in New Jersey, according to the laws of that state, so as to make it operative, as against the creditors of the mortgagors, in respect to such of the mortgaged property as was, at the time of the delivery of the mortgage, situated in New Jersey. It was duly recorded in the proper office in the city of New York, so as to make it operative, a§ against the creditors of the mortgagors, in respect to such of the mortgaged property as was. at the time of the delivery of the mortgage, situated in the city of New York. As respects such New Jersey property, the mortgage must be regarded as if such property were not embraced in it. But that fact does not affect its validity as regards such New York property. The testimony and the report of the register furnish no'means by which to determine what portion . of the property was, at the time of the delivery of the mortgage, situated in New York and what portion in New Jersey. Unless that question can • be • determined by agreement of the parties, or unless it be agreed that the nett proceeds in the hands of the assignee arising from such New York property are sufficient to pay the amount due on the mortgage, namely, $4,750. with interest, there must be a reference to the register, to take testimony and report as to when the mortgage was delivered and as to what portions of the mortgaged property were severally in New York and New Jersey [782] wlien the mortgage was delivered, and as to what are the nett proceeds in the hands of the assignee, resulting from the sales of such portions severally. The question of costs is reserved.