People of Illinois Ex Rel. Simpkins v. Village of Kincaid

This is a suit for mandamus to compel the Board of Trustees of the Village of Kincaid to issue permits to one Joe Simpkins to drill for oil within the village limits of Kincaid. Joe Simpkins was in the business of drilling for oil and prior to the institution of this suit, had drilled approximately 100 wells in the Kincaid area, of which some 90 were oil producing wells. Simpkins was the holder of certain leases of oil rights under certain vacant lots within the village limits. Some months prior to the institution of this cause, Simpkins had commenced drilling for oil within the village…