If any person, persons, firm, limited partnership, joint-stock company or corporation, being insolvent or in contemplation of insolvency, with a view to give a preference to any creditor or person having a claim against, or who is under any liability for, such insolvent, shall procure, suffer or permit any judgment to be entered, by confession or otherwise, or any execution to be levied, or any attachment or sequestration to be made of any part of his, their or its real or personal property, or shall make any payment, pledge, assignment, transfer, conveyance or encumbrance thereof, either absolutely or as collateral security for a debt then existing, whether due or not, such judgment, execution, attachment, sequestration, payment, pledge, assignment, transfer, conveyance, or encumbrance shall inure to the benefit of all the creditors of such insolvent, if an assignment for the benefit of creditors be made or proceedings in insolvency be commenced within four months after such judgment, execution, attachment, sequestration, payment, pledge, assignment, transfer, conveyance, or encumbrance shall have been entered, issued, commenced, made or recorded, and in the case of personal property exclusive possession given.