In the United States v. Weitzel case of 1917, the Supreme Court ruled on a matter concerning bankruptcy law and fraudulent conveyance. The defendant, Weitzel, was accused of fraudulently transferring property to his wife in order to avoid paying creditors after declaring bankruptcy. The lower court found him guilty but he appealed the decision arguing that under Section 67e of Bankruptcy Act (1898), any transfer made within four months prior to filing for bankruptcy could be deemed void only if it had been done with intent to defraud creditors or prefer one over another; and since there was no evidence proving such intention, his conviction should be overturned. However, the Supreme Court disagreed with this interpretation stating that actual fraudulent intent wasn't necessary for a transaction to be considered voidable under said section - it would suffice if circumstances surrounding such transfers were suspicious enough as per 'reasonable cause' clause mentioned therein which allowed courts discretion in determining what constituted as 'fraudulent'. Thus upholding his conviction.

In the dissenting opinion for United States v. Weitzel, Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. argued that the defendant's conviction should be upheld because he had knowingly and willingly committed fraud against the government by impersonating a federal officer to obtain money from unsuspecting victims. He disagreed with the majority's interpretation of "intent to defraud" in this context, asserting that it was not necessary for Weitzel to have intended specifically to harm or cheat the U.S. Government; rather, his intent simply needed to involve deceitful practices aimed at gaining an unfair advantage over others. Furthermore, Holmes contended that even if one were required under law to intend specifically defrauding Uncle Sam (as opposed merely intending dishonest gain), there was sufficient evidence presented during trial showing such specific intent on part of Weitzel – including his use of false credentials purporting him as a federal official and promises made about securing government contracts for those who paid him fees upfront.