Case Summary

Joseph Lewis filed a writ of Habeas Corpus on grounds that a bond was never accepted by Police Chief Donahue to prevent his release from custody. Lewis had been arrested on the complain of a dissatisfied customer on the charge of "obstructing the street." Since he was denied the option of paying a bond for his release, Lewis claimed that a writ of habeas should be issued and he should be discharged from unlawful imprisonment. Eventually, the writ was dismissed due to his lack of ability to pay costs by Joseph Lewis.

Case Information

Petition type(s)

• Carceral

Petition subtype(s)

• Obstructing a street

Sites of significance

• Omaha City Jail (Omaha, Nebraska)

Outcome

Writ dismissed

Fate of bound party

Remained in custody

Case Citation

Douglas County District Court, Criminal Appearance Docket Books, Vol. 6: ca.1901 - 1902, p. 372; Douglas County District Court, RG230 Douglas County Records, Subgroup 10: District Court, 1855-1972, Series 7: Criminal Case Files, 1897-1920, Roll 9: Doc. 6-278 to 7-11, Feb. 19, 1902 - Mar. 28, 1902, No. 6-372 (microfilm)

Source material(s)

Docket | Case File

Length of case file

Between 11 and 20 pages

Repository(s)

• History Nebraska (Lincoln, Nebraska)
• Douglas County District Court (Omaha, Nebraska)

State

• Nebraska

People

• Baxter, Irving F. (judge)
• Lewis, Joseph (petitioner)
• Lewis, Joseph (bound party)
• Donahue, John J. (Donahoe) (respondent)
• Donahue, John J. (Donahoe) (holding party)
• Boucher, J. J. (petitioner attorney)

• Additional parties

  Broadwell, Frank (clerk)

  Mulvihill, M. E. (property owner)