City of East St. Louis v. St. John

This was an application by the city of East St. Louis to condemn and appropriate a lot belonging to appellee, for the purpose of erecting a city prison. Appellant claims to derive authority to condemn and appropriate this property for the purpose indicated, under the fourth article of the city charter, adopted on the 16th day of February, 1865. (Sess. Laws, 352.) It declares that “ The city shall have power to acquire, to open and to lay out public grounds, or squares, streets, alleys and highways, and to alter, widen, contract, straighten and discontinue the same. * * * They shall cause all…