Case ID: ill-app_183/html/0283-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Mr. Justice Baume", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

The People of the State of Illinois ex rel. Clarence H. Venner, Appellee, v. Chicago City Railway Company et al., Appellants.
    Gen. No. 17,868.
    (Not to be reported in full.)
    Appeal from the Superior Court of Cook county; the Hon. Richard E. Burke, Judge, presiding. Heard in the Branch Appellate Court at the October term, 1911.
    Affirmed.
    Opinion filed November 21, 1913.
    Statement of the Case.
    Petition by the People of the State of Illinois, ex rel. Clarence H. Venner, against Chicago City Railway Company, a corporation, T. E. Mitten, president, and R. B. Hamilton, secretary, to compel an inspection of the books, records and accounts of the company. From a judgment awarding a writ of mandamus on the respondents electing to abide by their answer after a demurrer thereto was sustained, respondents appeal.
    
      Abstract of the Decision.
    1. Corporations, § 179
      
      —when mandamus to compel inspection of records will he denied. Where it appears that a shareholder seeks inspection of the records and books of account of the corporation for an unlawful purpose, as for levying blackmail, as distinguished from a merely improper purpose, a writ of mandamus to compel such inspection will be denied.
    2. Corporations, § 179
      
      —when answer to petition to compel inspection of records is insufficient. Where an answer to a petition for a writ of mandamus by a shareholder to compel inspection of the books of the corporation alleges by argument, conjecture and conclusion that the purpose of the petitioner is to levy blackmail and does not allege any actual threats or demands, the answer is insufficient.
    3. Corporations, § 179
      
      —when demand to inspect records is sufficient. Where the answer to a petition for a writ of mandamus by a shareholder to compel inspection of the hooks of the corporation admits a general demand to inspect by the petitioner and asserts the right and intention of the respondents to ignore and refuse such demand, the demand is sufficient.
    Shope, Zane, Busby & Weber, E. R. Bliss and Geo. Gillette, for appellants.
    Elijah N. Zoline, for appellee.
    
      
      See Illinois Notes Digest, Vols. XI to XIV, same topic and section number.
    
   Mr. Justice Baume

delivered the opinion of the court.