Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 2.djvu/61



such condition, as fully as the bankrupt might have done; and the commissioners, after such performance or tender, shall have power to assign such lands, goods and estate, for the benefit of the creditors, as fully and effectually as any other part of the estate of such bankrupt.

. And be it further enacted, That the commissioners aforesaid shall have power to assign, for the use aforesaid, all the debts due to such bankrupt, or to any other person for his or her use or benefit; which assignment shall vest the property and right thereof in the assignee or assignees of such bankrupt, as fully as if the bond, judgment, contract, or claim, had originally belonged or been made to the said assignees; and after the said assignment, neither the said bankrupt, nor any person acting as trustee for him or her, shall have power to recover or discharge the same, nor shall the same be attached as the debt of the said bankrupt; but the assignee or assignees aforesaid shall have such remedy to recover the same, in his or their own name or names, as such bankrupt might or could have had, if no commission of bankruptcy had issued. And when any action in the name of such bankrupt shall have been commenced, and shall be pending for the recovery of any debt or effects of such bankrupt, which shall be assigned, or shall, or might become vested in the assignee or assignees of such bankrupt as aforesaid, then such assignee or assignees may claim to be, and shall be thereupon admitted to prosecute such action in his or their name, for the use and benefit of the creditors of such bankrupt; and the same judgment shall be rendered in such action, and all attachments or other security taken therein, shall be in like manner holden and liable, as if the said action had been originally commenced in the name of such assignee or assignees, after the original plaintiff therein had become a bankrupt as aforesaid: Provided, that where a debtor shall have, bona fide, paid his debt to any bankrupt, without notice that such person was bankrupt, he or she shall not be liable to pay the same to the assignee or assignees.

. And be it further enacted, That if complaint shall be made or information given to the commissioners, or if they shall have good reason to believe or suspect, that any of the property, goods, chattels, or debts, of the bankrupt, are in the possession of any other person, or that any person is indebted to, or for the use of the bankrupt, then the said commissioners shall have power to summon, or to cause to be summoned, by their attorney or other person duly authorized by them, all such persons before them, or the judge of the district where such person shall reside, by such process, or other means, as they shall think convenient, and upon their appearance, to examine them by parole or by interrogatories, in writing, on oath, or affirmation, which oath or affirmation they are hereby empowered to administer, respecting the knowledge of all such property, goods, chattels, and debts; and if such person shall refuse to be sworn or affirmed, and to make answer to such questions or interrogatories as shall be administered, and to subscribe the said answers, or upon examination shall not declare the whole truth, touching the subject matter of such examination, then it shall be lawful for the commissioners, or judge, to commit such person to prison, there to be detained until they shall submit themselves to be examined in manner aforesaid, and they shall, moreover, forfeit double the value of all the property, goods, chattels, and debts, by them concealed.

. And be it further enacted, That if any of the aforesaid persons shall, after legal summons to appear before the commissioners or judge, to be examined, refuse to attend, or shall not attend at the time appointed, having no such impediment as shall be allowed of by the commissioners or judge, it shall be lawful for the said commissioners or judge to direct their warrants to such person or persons as by them shall be thought proper, to apprehend such persons as shall refuse to appear, and to bring them before the commissioners or judge, to be examined,