Autrey Brothers, Inc. v. Chichester

240 F.2d 498 AUTREY BROTHERS, Inc., Lewis Autrey, Stella Autrey and Sleep E-Z Mattress Co., a Corporation, Appellants, v. Frank M. CHICHESTER, as Trustee in Bankruptcy for the Estate of Veraco, Inc., Doing Business as Airest Mattress Co., Bankrupt, Appellee. No. 15093. United States Court of Appeals Ninth Circuit. Jan. 18, 1957. Bertram H. Ross, Los Angeles, Cal., for appellant. Craig, Weller & Laugharn, Thomas S. Tobin, Buchalter, Nember & Fields, Los Angeles, Cal. (Frank C. Weller, Hubert F. Laugharn, C.E.H. McDonnell, Thomas S. Tobin, Murray M. Fields, Los Angeles, Cal., of counsel), for appellee. Before LEMMON, FEE and BARNES, Circuit Judges. LEMMON, Circuit Judge. 1 We have frequently adverted to the well-established principle that 'courts of bankruptcy are essentially courts of equity.' 2 Judged in accordance with an equitable norm, the individual and corporate manipulations of the appellants herein with reference to the bankrupt's property, are such as to offend the conscience of a discerning chancellor. 3 Within the spatial compass of a judicial opinion, it is impossible to trace the appellants' machinations in detail. We will content ourselves herein in sketching…