No president, secretary, receiver, accounting or tax officer, servant, or agent of a railroad company shall refuse to attend before a lawful board of appraisers and assessors when required to do so, or refuse to submit to the inspection of such board any books or papers of such company in his possession, custody, or control, or refuse to answer any question put to him by the board or upon its order concerning the business, property, money, and credits, or the value thereof, of the company.
R.C. §5727.71