obtain the prayer of my petition, that I have not done, suffered or been privy to any act, matter or thing which, if accomplished, would be ground for withholding my discharge under the provisions of this act, or invalidate such discharge if granted. [AM'D BY CH. 278 of 1896; in effect May 1, 1896.]

§ 2164. Order to show cause. The petition and other papers, specified in the foregoing sections of this article, must be presented to the court, and filed with the clerk. The court must thereupon make an order, requiring all the creditors of the petitioner to show cause before it, at a time and place therein specified, why an assignment of the insolvent's property should not be made, and he be thereupon discharged from his debts, as prescribed in this article; and directing that the order be published and served, as prescribed in the next section.

§ 2165. How order published and served. The order must be published and served in the following manner:

1. The petitioner must cause a copy thereof to be published in a newspaper, designated in the order, published in the county; and also, if one-fourth part of the insolvent's debts accrued or are due to creditors residing in the city of New York, in a newspaper published in that city, designated in the order. The publication must be made at least once in each of ten weeks, immediately preceding the day in which cause is to be shown, unless all the creditors reside within one hundred miles of the place where cause is to be shown, in which case the publi cation must be made at least once in each of the six weeks, immediately preceding that day. [AM'D CH. 231 OF 1890; in effect Sept. 1, 1890.] 2. The petitioner must also serve upon each creditor, residing within the United States, whose place of residence is known to him, a copy of the order to show cause, either personally, at least twenty days before the day when cause is to be shown, or by depositing it, at least forty days before that day, in the post-office, inclosed in a post-paid wrapper, addressed to the creditor at his usual place of residence.

Where the State is a creditor of the petitioner, a copy of the order must be served upon the Attorney-General, who must represent the State in the subsequent proceedings.

§ 2166. Hearing. On the day specified in the order, and before any other proceedings are taken in the matter, the petitioner must present to the court, and file with the clerk, proof, to the satisfaction of the court, that the order has been published and served, as prescribed in the last section; and thereupon, on the same day, or upon the day to which the hearing is adjourned, the court must hear the allegations and proofs of the parties appearing. Proof of personal service of a copy of the order upon any person, must be made, in like manner as proof of personal service of a summons, in an action brought in the supreme court.

§ 2167. Putting cause on calendar. Where the insolvent's discharge is opposed, the court may direct the special proceeding to be placed upon the calendar for trial. In that case, the parties must appear, and the proceedings are the same, as in an action, except as otherwise prescribed in this article; and costs, as in an action, except for proceedings before notice of trial, may be awarded to either party, in the discretion of the court.

§ 2168. Opposing creditor to file specifications, and may demand jury trial. In order to entitle a creditor to oppose the discharge of the insolvent, he must, on the day fixed to show cause, or at such other time as the court directs, file with the clerk a specification of his objections; and he

may then, but not afterwards, demand a trial, by a jury, of the questions of facts arising thereupon. If a trial by a jury is not then demanded, the questions of facts must be tried by the court, without a jury. Where one of two or more opposing creditors demands a trial by a jury, all the material questions of fact, arising upon the objections of all the creditors, must be tried in like manner, and at the same time. The court may, in its discretion, direct the questions to be settled, and plainly stated, in an order, as where an order is made by the supreme court, in an action pending therein, for the trial of questions of fact by a jury.

§ 2169. Id.; to file proofs, if not named in schedule. Where the name of an opposing creditor does not appear in the schedule, he must file, with the specification of his objections, proof, by affidavit, that he is a creditor; and, if his debts is not set forth in the schedule, he must also file his affidavit, to the effect specified in subdivisions first and second of section 2160 of this act.

§ 2170. Proceedings if jurors do not agree. There shall be but one trial by jury. If the jurors cannot agree, after being kept together for such a time as the court deems reasonable, the court must discharge them, and determine the questions of fact, or those questions as to which the jurors have not agreed, upon the evidence taken before the jury, as if a jury had not been demanded.

§ 2171. When insolvent required to produce his non-resident wife. Where the petitioner's wife resides without the State, the court, or a judge thereof out of court, may, upon the application of any creditor, make an order, requiring the petitioner to bring his wife before the court, at the hearing or trial, to the end that she may be examined as a witness. А серу of the order must be personally served upon the petitioner, at least three weeks before the hearing. If it appears, upon the hearing, that service could not, with due diligence, be so made, in consequence of the petitioner's sickness or absence, the court may, in its discretion, adjourn the hearing or trial, and prescribe the time and manner of service of the order for the adjourned day. If, after due service, the petitioner's wife does not attend at the time and place appointed, the petitioner is not entitled to his discharge, unless he proves, to the satisfaction of the court, by his affidavit, or upon his oral examination, or otherwise, that he was unable to procure her attendance.

§ 2172. Examination of insolvent. At the hearing or trial, the petitioner must be examined under oath, at the instance of any creditor, touching his property or debts, or any other matter stated in his schedule, or any changes that have occurred in the situation of his property, since the making of the schedule; and particularly whether he has collected any debts or demands, or made any transfers of, or otherwise affected, his real or personal property. Any creditor may contradict or impeach, by other competent evidence, the testimony of the insolvent, or of his wife.

In either of the fol

§ 2173. When insolvent cannot be discharged. lowing cases, the petitioner is not entitled to a discharge:

1. Where it appears, upon the hearing or trial, that, after making the schedule annexed to his petition, he has collected a debt or demand, or transferred, absolutely, conditionally, or otherwise, any of his property, not exempt by law from levy and sale by virtue of an execution, and he neglects or refuses forthwith to pay over to the clerk, the full amount of all debts and demands so collected, and the full value of all property so transferred, except

so much of the money, and of the value of the property, as appears to have been necessarily expended by him for the support of himself or his family. 2. Where it appears, in like manner, that the petitioner, within two years before presenting the petition, has, in contemplation of his becoming insol vent, or of his petitioning for his discharge, or knowing of his insolvency, made an assignment, sale, or transfer, either absolute or conditional, of any of his property, or of any interest therein, or confessed a judgment, or given any security, with a view of giving a preference to a creditor for an antecedent debt.

§ 2174. When assignment to be directed. An order, directing the execution of an assignment, must be made by the court, where it appears, by the verdict of the jury; or, if a jury has not been demanded, or the jurors have been discharged by reason of their inability to agree, where it satisfactorily appears to the court; as follows:

1. That the petitioner is justly and truly indebted to the consenting creditors, in sums which amount, in the aggregate, to two-thirds of all the debts, which the petitioner owed, at the time of presenting his petition, to creditors residing within the United States.

2. That he has honestly and fairly given a true account of his property. 3. That he has, in all things, conformed to the matters required of him by

this article.

§ 2175. Assignment; contents, and to whom made. The order must designate one or more trustees, residents of the State; and must direct the petitioner to execute, to him or them, an assignment of all his property, at law or in equity, in possession, reversion, or remainder, excepting only so much thereof, as is exempt by law from levy and sale, by virtue of an execution. The assignment must be acknowledged or proved, and certified, in like manner as a deed to be recorded in the county, and must be recorded in the clerk's office of the county. Where it appears, from the schedule or otherwise, that real property will pass thereby, it must be also recorded as a deed, in the proper office for recording deeds, of each county where the real property is situated.

§ 2176. Id.; trustees, how designated. The trustee or trustees may be nominated by a majority in amount of the consenting creditors. If no person is so nominated, one or more persons must be appointed by the court for the purpose. The nomination may be included in the consent, or made in a separate paper, or orally upon the hearing or trial, and entered in the minutes. § 2177. Effect of assignment. The assignment vests in the rustee or trustees all the petitioner's interest, legal or equitable, at the time of its execution, in any real or personal property, not exempt by law from levy and sale by virtue of an execution; and any contingent interest which may vest within three years thereafter. When a contingent interest so vests, it passes to the trustee, in the same manner as it would have vested in the petitioner, if he had not made an assignment.

$2178. When discharge to be granted. Upon the production by the petitioner of a certificate of the trustee or trustees, duly acknowledged or proved, and certified, in like manner as a deed to be recorded in the county, to the effect that the insolvent has assigned, for the benefit of all his creditors, all his property so directed to be assigned, and all the books, vouchers, and papers relating thereto, and that he has delivered so much thereof as is capable of delivery; and also of a certificate of the county clerk, that the assignment has been duly recorded in his office; the court must grant to the insolvent a discharge from his debts, which has the effect declared in the following sections of this article.

§ 2179. Proceedings where trustee refuses to give certificate, etc. If a trustee refuses or neglects, upon payment or tender by the petitioner

of the expense of so doing, to execute or acknowledge a certificate, as prescribed in the last section, or to cause the assignment to be recorded, as therein prescribed, the court, upon proof by affidavit of the facts, must make an order, requiring the trustee to show cause, at a time and place therein specified, why the petitioner should not be discharged, notwithstanding his neglect or refusal; and why the trustee's appointment should not be revoked. § 2180. The same. If, upon the return of the order, it appears that the assignment has been duly executed, and that the petitioner has duly delivered all his property directed to be assigned, and all the books, vouchers, and papers relating thereto, which are capable of delivery, the court may, either 1. Grant a discharge of the petitioner, notwithstanding the neglect or refusal of the trustee; or

2. Make an order revoking the appointment of the trustee. Upon the entry of such an order, the powers of the trustee, and his interest in the assigned property cease. If there is no other trustee, the court must, by the same or another order, appoint one or more new trustees. Such an appointment has the same effect, as if the person or persons so appointed were named as trustees in the original assignment.

§ 2181. Discharge, etc., to be recorded. The discharge, and the petition, affidavits, orders, schedule, and other papers, upon which the discharge is granted, exclusive of the minutes of testimony, must be recorded in the clerk's office of the county, within three months after the discharge is granted. In default thereof, the discharge becomes inoperative, from and after that time. The original discharge, the record thereof, or a transcript of the record duly authenticated, is conclusive evidence of the proceedings and facts therein contained. The other papers specified in this section, the record thereof, or a transcript of the record duly authenticated, are presumptive evidence of the proceedings and facts therein contained.

§ 2182. Effect of discharge. Except as prescribed in the next two sections, a discharge, granted as prescribed in this article, exonerates and discharges the petitioner from every debt, due at the time when he executed his assignment, including a debt contracted before that time, though payable afterwards, and from every liability incurred by him, by making or endors ing a promissory note, or by accepting, drawing, or indorsing a bill of exchange, before the execution of his assignment, or incurred by him, in consequence of the payment, by any party to such a note or bill, of the whole or any part of the money secured thereby, whether the payment is made before or after the execution of the assignment. At any time after one year has elapsed, since the recording of the discharge, and the petition, affidavits, orders, schedule and other papers upon which the discharge was granted, as prescribed in section twenty-one hundred and eighty-one of this act, the petitioner may apply, upon proof of his discharge, to the court in which a judgment shall have been rendered against him, for an order directing the judgment to be cancelled and discharged of record. If it appears that he has been discharged from the payment of that judgment, an order must be made accordingly, and thereupon the clerk must cancel and discharge the docket thereof, as if the proper satisfaction piece of the judgment was filed. Notice of the application, accompanied with copies of the papers upon which it is made, must be given to the judgment creditor, unless his written consent to the granting of the order, with satisfactory proof of the execu tion thereof, and if he is not the party in whose favor the judgment was rendered, that he is the owner thereof, is presented to the court upon the application. [AM'D CH. 402 OF 1883.]

§ 2183. Id.; exception as to foreign contracts or creditors. In either of the following cases, such a discharge does not affect a debt or liability, founded upon a contract, unless it was owing, when the petition was presented to a resident of the State; or the creditor has executed a consent to

the discharge; or has appeared in the proceedings; or has received a dividend from the trustee :

1. Where the contract was made with a person, not a resident of the State. 2. Where it was made and to be performed without the State.

3. Where the creditor was not at the time of the discharge, a resident of the State.

§ 2184. Id.; as to debts, etc., to the United States and the State Such a discharge does not affect:

1. A debt or duty to the United States; or

2. A debt or duty to the State, for taxes or for money received or collected by any person as a public officer, or in a fiduciary capacity, or a cause of action specified in section 1969 of this act, or a judgment recovered upon such a cause of action.

Except as prescribed in this section, the discharge exonerates the peti tioner from a debt or other liability to the State, in like manner and to the same extent, as from a debt or liability to an individual.

§ 2185. Insolvent to be released from imprisonment. If, at the time when the discharge is granted, the petitioner is under arrest, by virtue of an execution against his person issued, or an order of arrest made, in an action or special proceeding, founded upon a debt or liability from which he is discharged, as prescribed in the foregoing sections of this article, he must be released from the arrest, upon producing to the officer his discharge, or a certified copy of the record thereof. If the adverse party wishes to test the validity of the discharge, he may procure a new order of arrest, or cause a new execution to be issued, as the case requires.

§ 2186. Discharge; when void. A discharge, granted as prescribed in this article, is void, in either of the following cases:

1. Where the petitioner wilfully swears falsely, in the affidavit annexed to his petition or schedule, or upon his examination, in relation to any material fact, concerning his property or his debts, or to any other material fact.

2. Where, after presenting his petition, he sells, or in any way transfers or assigns, any of his property, or collects any debt or demand owing to him, and does not give a just and true account thereof, upon the hearing or trial, and does not pay the money so collected, or the value of the property so sold, transferred, or assigned, as prescribed in this article.

3. Where he secretes any part of his property, or a book, voucher, or paper relating thereto, with intent to defraud his creditors.

4. Where he fraudulently conceals the name of any creditor, or the sum owing to any creditor, or fraudulently misstates such a sum.

5. Where, in order to obtain his discharge he procures any person to become a consenting creditor, willfully, intentionally and knowingly, for a sum not due from him to that person in good faith, or for a sum greater than that for which the holder of a demand, purchased or assigned, is deemed a creditor, as prescribed in this article. [Aм'D CH. 231 OF 1890; in effect Sept. 1, 1890.]

6. Where he pays or consents to the payment of any portion of the debt or demand of a creditor, or grants or consents to the granting of any gift or reward to a creditor, upon an express or implied contract, trust, or understanding, that the creditor so paid or rewarded should be a consenting creditor, or should abstain or desist from opposing the discharge.

7. Where he is guilty of any fraud whatsoever, contrary to the true intent of this article.

$2187. Invalidity may be proved on motion to vacate order of arrest. Where a person, who has been discharged as prescribed in this article, is afterwards arrested by virtue of an order of arrest made, or an execution issued, in an action founded upon a debt or liability from which he is so discharged, the adverse party may oppose his application to be released from the arrest, by proof, by affidavit, of any cause for avoiding the discharge, for want of jurisdiction or as specified in the last section. If such a cause is established, the application must be denied.

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