the Mobilier Company met with almost universal execration; but subsequent investigation has shown that the charges were greatly exaggerated, and were at least never conelusively proved. Consult: Crawford, The Credit Mobiler of America, Its Origin and History (Boston, 1880); and Hazard, The Credit Mobilier of America (Providence, 1881), the latter being a paper read before the Rhode Island Historical Society in February, 1881.
CRED'ITON, or KIRK'TON. A market- town of Devonshire, England, on the Creedy, a tributary of the Exe, eight miles northwest of Exeter (Map: England, C 6). It lies in a narrow vale between two steep hills. Its chief industry is the manufacture of boots and shoes, but it has also chemical manufactures. Crediton was the birthplace of the Anglo-Saxon Winfred, or Saint Boniface. It was the seat of the bishopric of Devonshire until 1050, when the see was re- moved to Exeter. Population in 1891, 4359; in 1001, 3074.
CREDITOR (Lat. creditor, one who trusts, from credere, to trust) . In its broadest sense, any person in whose favor a legal obligation exists, whether that obligation arises from the mutual assent of the parties, as in the case of contract (q.v.), or from a rule of law, as in the case of a tort (q.v.). The term is ordinarily applied, however, in legal usage only to him who has voluntarily given credit to another.
A general (simple or unsecured) creditor is one who has no lien (q.v.) on any property, and has only a personal claim or right of action against the debtor. If a lien on property has been given to him by way of collateral security, mortgage, or pledge, he is called a secured creditor. If the debtor or the law secures a priority to one creditor, or to a class of creditors over others, such favored ones are said to be preferred creditors. In the absence of statutory provision to the contrary, a debtor may pay one creditor in preference to others, or he may make an assignment for the benefit of creditors, and direct that one or more shall be paid in full before anything is paid to the others.
The common law gave certain creditors a priority over others. For example, creditors of a deceased person were to be paid out of his estate in the following order: (1) those having claims for funeral and probate expenses ; (2) the State; (3) judgment creditors; (4) landlords having claims for rent, and bond creditors, that is, those who held bonds or sealed contracts of the deceased ; (5) creditors by simple contract. This order has been modified to some extent by statute in the different States, and such legislation must be examined for detailed information on this point. The insolvency statutes of some States give a preference to the employees of an insolvent debtor over other creditors. Under the United States Bankruptcy Law of 1898. a preference given by the bankrupt to a creditor within four months before the institution of bankruptcy proceedings may be avoided by the trustee in bankruptcy; but the act secures a preference to workmen, clerks, or servants for wages earned within three months before the commencement of proceedings, not to exceed $300 to each claimant.
When a person obtains a judgment for money against another, he is called a judgment creditor; and if an execution is issued and levied, he becomes an execution creditor. See Contract; Arrest; Attachment; Debtor; Co.mposition ; etc., and consult the authorities there referred to.
CREDNER, krad'ner, Kahl Fkiedkich Heinricc (1809-70). A German geologist, born at Waltershausen (Saxe-Coburg-Gotha). He studied at the universities of Freiberg and Götingen, and in 1830 was appointed by the Ducal Government warden of the mint. In 1839 he became surveyor of mines, ill 1850 mining councilor, and in 1854 State and mining councilor. He was in 1858 appointed by the Government of Hanover superior mining councilor and reporting councilor to the Finance Ministry, in which capacity he had under his supervision all the Hanoverian mining works, including the important ones of the Harz. From 1808 until his death, he was mining privy councilor and director of mining in the Halle district. As a scientist, he was known for his study of the geology of those regions of Germany connected with his duties in the mining industry. He discovered a compound of oxides of copper and manganese, called in his honor Crednerite, and published some valuable treatises, including Versuch einer Bildungsgeschichte dcr geognostischen Verhullniee des Thüringer Waldes (1855), and Ueber die Gliederung der oberen Juraformation und die Wülder-Bildung im nordwestlichen Deutschland (1863).
CREDNER, Hermann (1841—). A German geologist, son of the preceding, born at Gotha. and educated at Clausthal, Breslau, and Göttingen. He has made extensive geological investigations in North and Central America ( 1804-68), the results of which were published in the Zeitschrift der Deutschen Oeologischen Gescllschaft, and the Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie. In 1870 he became professor of geology at the University of Leipzig, and director of the Geological Commission for the Kingdom of Saxony. In addition to a geological chart of the Kingdom of Saxony (1877 et seq.), and numerous works on the geological formations of that country, his works include Elemente der Geologie (8th ed., 1897).
CREDULOUS, Justice, and Mrs. Bridget. In Sheridan's farce Saint Patricia's Day, an ignorant, good-natured couple. The wife is a person of the Mrs. Malaprop type, and at times very amusing.
CREE, kre (possibly a corruption of creek). One of the largest and most important tribes of Algonquian stock, living chiefly in the British American territories of Manitoba, Assiniboia, Saskatchewan, about Lake Winnipeg and the Saskatchewan River. They are on friendly terms with the Assiniboin, but until brought under Government control were constantly at war with the Sioux and Blackfeet. They have numerous bands, commonly grouped under two main divisions, viz. Plains and Wood Crees. Soon after obtaining firearms from the traders, they began a war of conquest against the weaker Athabascan tribes, as far even as the Great Slave Lake and the Rocky Mountains, but afterwards retired to their present position. In language and customs they differ but little from the Ojibwa, to whom (hey are closely related. They number now probably 10,000, on several reservations within the territories mentioned.
CREECH, Thomas (1659-1700). An English translator. He was educated at Wadham
