Case Summary

Hugh Maganity enlisted in the U.S. Army. He later claimed he was a minor and petitioned for a writ of habeas corpus, which was granted. His mother, Elizabeth Maganity, may have compelled him to file the petition. After hearing the evidence, Hugh was released.

Case Information

Petition type(s)

• Institutional

Petition subtype(s)

• Underage military enlistment

Sites of significance

• Jefferson Barracks (St. Louis, Missouri)

Outcome

Writ allowed

Fate of bound party

Released from custody

Case Citation

St. Louis Law Commissioners' Court, April Term 1857, No. 91

Source material(s)

Case File

Length of case file

5 or fewer pages

Repository(s)

• Missouri State Archives-St. Louis (St. Louis, Missouri)

State

• Missouri

Tag(s)

• Children

People

• Maganity, Hugh (McGentry) (bound party)
• Maganity, Hugh (McGentry) (petitioner)
• Johnson, Joseph F. (respondent)
• Johnson, Joseph F. (holding party)
• Tilford, H. (responding party)
• Tilford, H. (holding party)
• Colvin, John W. (judge)

• Additional parties

  Spenger, S. (sergeant)

  Williams, Matthew (clerk)

  Maganity, Elizabeth (mother of bound party)