People ex rel.Damron v. McCormick

Mr. Chief Justice Scott delivered the opinion of the Court: This is an original proceeding in this court, and the petition is for a writ of mandamus. The suit is brought in the name of the People of the State of Illinois, on the relation of Almus G. Damron, who represents himself to be “the State’s attorney, and also a citizen and tax-payer, of Johnson county,” against T. J. McCormick, W. T. Davis and L. F. Walker, county commissioners of Johnson county, and Francis M. Jones, county clerk of the same county. It is alleged in the petition that the respondent (Jones) was elected county clerk of Johnson county at the general election in November, 1877, and thereafter entered upon the discharge of the duties of such office, and continued to hold siich office up to the first Monday of December, 1882, being for a period of five years, and that prior to his election the county board had fixed the salary of the county clerk at $1000 per annum, and the allowance for clerk hire at $240 per annum. It is then alleged that such clerk, after deducting his salary and the sum allowed for clerk hire, had still in his hands a certain sum received by him as fees earned in his office, and also that the county board had made him certain allowances for extra clerk hire, and for making the tax books, as required by statute they should be made, and that such allowances had been paid to him, either by fees in his hands or out of other funds in the county treasury, and that such allowances were made without authority of law, and therefore it is unlawful for respondent to have or retain the sums of money so paid to him. The prayer of the petition is for a writ of mandamus to compel the county commissioners of such county forthwith to enter an order of record requiring the county clerk tó pay to the county treasurer the sum or sums of money alleged to be in his hands that of right belong to the county, and in default thereof, that the county commissioners be required immediately to enter an order of record authorizing petitioner, as such State’s attorney, to commence suit upon the official bond of such county clerk for the recovery of the money so alleged to be due to the county. Two of the commissioners,—McCormick and Davis,—and the county clérk, have filed an answer to the petition, in which they admit many of the principal facts, and then state minutely and definitely all the county clerk has done in the management of his office, and what disposition he has made of the earnings of his office during his incumbency, and what allowances have been made to him by the county board and on what account, affirming that such allowances were authorized by the statute; and, in substance, it is further stated the county clerk has managed his office to the entire satisfaction of a majority of the county board, and that the county board had and did appoint a committee of citizens of the county to investigate the accounts, earnings, receipts and disbursements of the county clerk’s office; that the committee were afforded the fullest opportunity to make a thorough investigation, and that the report of such committee 'was a “full and complete vindication” of the official conduct of the county clerk. The other commissioner (Walker) filed no answer. To the answer of respondents, setting forth these and other facts concerning the conduct and management of the office of the county clerk, with the usual formalities, the relator filed a demurrer. The cause has been submitted for decision on the petition, the answer of respondents, and the demurrer of the relator. It is suggested by relator, if the demurrer be overruled he be at liberty to plead to or traverse any or all of the material facts alleged in the answer or return. The practice in that-respect is, the court, in its discretion, may or may not allow an issue of fact to be made after the case has been onde submitted on demurrer to the petition or answer. When the ends of justice seem to demand it, an issue of fact will be allowed, otherwise it will be disallowed. The familiar rule that a demurrer will be carried back and made to reach the first defect in the pleading of either party, has its application in proceedings by mandamus, as well as to other pleadings, either at law or in equity. That may be done in this case, and hence the inquiry arises, does the petition herein show any such clear right to the relief sought as would authorize a writ of mandamus to issue ? It seems clear no such case is made by the petition. Although the county clerk is made a defendant, it will be perceived the court is not asked by the prayer of the petition to compel him to do or perform any act which it is his duty, by law, to perform. It is sought to compel the county board, first, to require the county clerk forthwith to pay to the county treasurer certain moneys alleged to be in his hands belonging to the county, and in default thereof, second, to immediately require relator, as State’s attorney, to commence suit on the bond of such county clerk for the recovery of the sums of money alleged to be in his hands. Both acts it is sought to have the county board perform are matters purely within its discretion. The acts required to be done involve duties in the nature 'of judicial powers, with the exercise of which this court has no rightful authority to interfere. Both the petition and the answer show the county board has once acted in the premises, and decided not to make the orders demanded. No principle is perceived on which an inferior tribunal, invested by law with authority to decide any matter that may be submitted to it, can be compelled to decide a given question, one way or the other. Such a tribunal may be compelled to act, but how it shall decide a given case is always a matter for its judgment, and with the exercise of which no other tribunal or court may interfere. That is precisely the case here, and whether the answer is sufficient or not is a matter of no consequence, and concerning which no opinion will be expressed. The petition itself makes no case that calls for the exercise of the extraordinary powers of the court by mandamus. The demurrer will be carried back and sustained to the petition, which is done, and the petition dismissed. Petition dismissed.