Case Summary

William Ryan enlisted in the U.S. Army. His brother, John Ryan, Jr. declared that William was a minor and petitioned for a writ of habeas corpus to retrieve him, which was granted. John was also a minor, but had been granted power of attorney by the boys' father, John Ryan, Sr. After hearing the evidence, William 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, October Term 1855, No. 110

Source material(s)

Case File

Length of case file

Between 6 and 10 pages

Repository(s)

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

State

• Missouri

Tag(s)

• Children

People

• Ryan, William (bound party)
• Ryan, John (petitioner)
• Hardee, William Joseph (responding party)
• Hardee, William Joseph (holding party)
• Colvin, John W. (judge)
• Levi, S. J. (petitioner attorney)

• Additional parties

  Dogree, James J. (commissioner)

  Kearn, Mr. (referenced)

  Ryan, Sr., John (father of bound party and petitioner)