People ex rel. Bryant v. Sheriff of Erie County

The relator has been arrested on the charge of violation of the Civil Rights Law, article V-A, sections 53 to 56, inclusive, "added by Laws 1923, chap. 664, effective May 23, 1923, and comes into court pursuant to a writ of habeas corpus, claiming that the law is unconstitutional, and that he should, therefore, be discharged.

The sections in question read as follows:

“ § 53. Copies of documents and statements to be filed.— Every existing membership corporation, and every existing unincorporated association having a membership of twenty or more persons, which corporation or association requires…