People v. St. Louis & Cairo Railroad

This was an action of debt, commenced in the circuit court of Alexander county by the State’s attorney of that county, in the name of the People of the State of Illinois, against the St. Louis and Cairo Railroad Company, for the recovery of penalties for alleged extortion and unjust discrimination, in violation of the “Act to prevent extortion and unjust discrimination,” etc., by railroad companies, passed May 2, 1873. (Rev. Stat. 1874, p. 816.) The circuit court, on motion by the defendant, dismissed the case, on the ground of want of authority in the State’s attorney, of his own motion, to…