(a) Every general assignment made by a debtor or a conveyance by a debtor of substantially all of his property subject to execution in payment of a prior debt by which a preference or priority of payment is given to one or more creditors over the remaining creditors of the grantor shall be and inure to the benefit of all the creditors of the grantor equally.
(b) This section shall not apply to or embrace mortgages, pledges, or pawns given to secure a debt contracted contemporaneously with the execution of the mortgage, pledge, or pawn and for the security of which the mortgage, pledge, or pawn was given.
(c) A "general assignment" within the meaning of this section shall include, in addition to the conveyances now defined as such by law, every judgment confessed, attachment procured by a debtor or other disposition of property by which a debtor conveys all, or substantially all, of his property subject to execution in payment of, or as the security for, a prior debt or charges such property with the payment of such debt.