City of Alton v. Hartford Fire Insurance

This was an action of debt for a penalty, brought by the city of Alton against the Hartford Fire Insurance Company, alleged to have been incurred by that company for failing to report the amount of premiums earned by it for the year 1872.

A judgment was rendered against the defendant company for the sum of fifty dollars, and an appeal taken to the circuit court, where a trial was had, resulting in a judgment for the defendants. To reverse this judgment, the plaintiffs bring the record here by writ of error.

The plaintiffs, to maintain their case, offered in evidence an ordinance of the city…