Case Summary

Melia, petitioner, filed for a Writ of Habeas Corpus which Judge Lake heard, released him on bail, and then ordered him to be moved to Sarpy County for another appearance during the next term. A newspaper report indicates that Melia turned himself in for the murder of John Thomas in Sarpy County on July 4, 1870 and the habeas petition likely stems from Melia's confinement in Douglas rather than Sarpy County.

Case Information

Petition type(s)

• Carceral

Petition subtype(s)

• Murder

Sites of significance

• Sarpy County District Court (Papillion, Nebraska)
• Unspecified Jail (, )

Outcome

Writ allowed

Fate of bound party

Ordered to be re-sentenced

Case Citation

RG230 Douglas County Records, Subgroup 10: District Court, 1855-1972, Series 2: General Index Books & Court Journals, Vol. E: Aug. 24, 1869 - Jul. 3, 1871, p. 599

Source material(s)

Journal

Length of case file

5 or fewer pages

Repository(s)

• History Nebraska (Lincoln, Nebraska)

State

• Nebraska

People

• Melia, Patrick (petitioner)
• Melia, Patrick (bound party)
• Lake, George B. (judge)