State ex rel. Smith v. Belden

The action was brought for a writ to compel the Hon. E. B. Belden, Circuit Judge, to proceed to trial of actions pending in Kenosha county and was heard on a motion for a peremptory writ, based upon the petition and return.

The actions, nineteen in number, are to recover for fire losses and are against non-resident insurance companies upon policies issued by them. They all involve the same fire which occurred in Chicago. The plaintiff owners of the burned building are natural persons citizens and residents of Illinois and brought six actions. The other plaintiff is a corporation organized…