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The state of Nebraska, on relation of Anna C. Sieck, Relator, vs. Lawrence B. Pillsbury, as Superintendent of the State Hospital for Insane, at Lincoln, Nebraska, and Robert Smith, as Clerk of the District Court and Ex-Office Clerk of the Commissioners of Insanity of Douglas County, Nebraska, Respondents

April 16, 1918 - June 2, 1919

Petitioned on May 7, 1918

Filed before the Douglas County District Court (Omaha, Nebraska)

Case ID: hc.case.ne.1205

Case Summary

Carston Hans Sieck, a German-born resident of Nebraska, was arrested in Millard, Nebraska on April 16, 1918, after making threats, using abusive language, and carrying and shooting off multiple revolvers outside a Soda Shop. Sieck was evaluated for insanity on April 17th and ordered to be detained in the Nebraska State Hospital for the Insane on April 18th. Sieck’s wife, Anna C. Sieck filed for Habeas on behalf of her husband May 7th. A writ of Habeas was allowed, and after several continuances and witness testimony, Carston Sieck was found to be sane by a jury and ordered to be discharged on June 15th, 1918.

Case Information

Petition type(s)

  • Institutional

Petition subtype(s)

  • Insanity

Sites of significance

Outcome

Writ allowed

Fate of bound party

Released from custody

Case Citation

Douglas County (NE) Criminal Appearance Docket Books, Vol. 20: ca.1917-1919, p. 214; RG230 Douglas County Records, Subgroup 10: District Court, 1855-1972, Series 7: Criminal Case Files, 1897-1920, Roll 78: Doc. 20-147 to 20-282, Mar. 12, 1918 - Jun. 22, 1918, No. 20-214 (microfilm)

Source material(s)

Docket | Case File

Length of case file

Between 51 and 75 pages

Repository(s)

State

  • Nebraska

Tag(s)

  • Institutionalization

People

  • Sieck, Anna C. (petitioner)
  • Sieck, Carston Hans (bound party)
  • Pillsbury, Lawrence B. (respondent)
  • Smith, Robert (respondent)
  • Smith, Robert (authority ordering detention)
  • Steere Jr., Asel (authority ordering detention)
  • Magney, George A. (respondent attorney)
  • Redick, William A. (judge)
  • Langdon, A. C. (petitioner attorney)

  • Additional parties

    Pillsbury, Lawrence B. (Superintendent of Nebraska State Hospital for the Insane)

    Smith, Robert (Clerk, Ex-Office Clerk of the Commissioners of Insanity for Douglas County)

    Halter, N. V. (Physician and Deputy)

    Borsky, H. (Physician's Attendant)

    Clark, Michael C. (Sheriff)

    Young, Dr. G. Alexander (Physician and Commissioner)

    Gottueed, Sidlic J. (Deputy)

    Lindsay, James F. (Deputy)

    Johnson, Alvin (President of Commission and Commissioner)

    Hoge, Charles W. (Deputy)

    Simmons, L. A. (Sheriff)

    Rothe, George (Deputy)

    Foster, W. A. (Deputy)

    Yager, William W. (Witness in Insanity Admission Case)

    Edholm, Albert (Jeweler, Witness for Petitioner)

    Brodagaard, Fred (Jeweler, Witness for Petitioner)

    Baseline, Herman (Wholesale Cigar Dealer, Witness for Petitioner)

    Wolf, F. G. (Witness for Petitioner)

    Loch, Peter (Soft Drink Parlor, Witness for Petitioner)

    Tamms, John (Soft Drink Parlor, Witness for Petitioner)

    Mr. Karns (Merchant Hotel, Witness for Petitioner)

    Brundidge, Lon (Witness for Petitioner)

    Hansen, Sergeant (Old Boch Hotel, Witness for Petitioner)

    Younger, Margaret (Calumet Restaurant, Witness for Petitioner)

    Mr. Goldstain (Witness for Petitioner)

    Jones (Proprietor Onimond Shoe Store, Witness for Petitioner)

    O’Connor, Auguste (Witness for Petitioner)

    Horeis, William (Witness for Petitioner)

    Schomer, William (Witness for Petitioner)

    Deicher, Mrs. William (Witness for Petitioner)

    Nelson, Morenos (Witness for Petitioner)

    Paul, August (Witness for Petitioner)

    Devereaux, James (Witness for Petitioner)

    Critice, Charles (Witness for Petitioner)

    Peters, John A. (Witness for Respondents)

    Holling, John (Witness for Respondents)

    Holling Jr., John (Witness for Respondents)

    Sohl, Fred (Witness for Respondents)

    VonDohren, Henry (Witness for Respondents)

    Hansen, Hans (Witness for Respondents)

    Schatz, H. J. (Witness for Respondents)

    Schomer, Mrs. B (Witness)

    Dixon, Alva (Witness)

    Shower, Ben (Witness)

    Lohl, Fred (Witness)

    Ahrendersen, C. P. (Witness)

    Zarbriegih, F. M. (Witness)

    Suich, Mrs. C. H. (Witness)

    Burgmam, W. N. (Witness)

    Frety, Walter (Witness)

    Frahom, Harry (Witness)

    Schmidt, August (Witness)

    Schrosler, Otto (Witness)

    Peters, C. W. (Witness)

    Bloom, John (Witness)

    Kanseir, H. (Witness)

    Paustier, Christian (Witness)

    Sylvester, B. F. (Witness)

    Passion, Christine (Witness)

    Bierman, Rudalph (Jurist)

    Truax, Norman E. (Jurist)

    Salda, Joe E. (Jurist)

    Hivingatent, Milton S. (Jurist)

    Erickson, Olaf (Jurist)

    Rudy, Howard C. (Jurist)

    MCluse, Theo N. (Jurist)

    Hamilton, Charles N. (Jurist, Jury Foreman)

    Meyers, Perry (Jurist)

    Carroll, Patrick J. (Jurist)

    Mrs. Heirer (Jurist)

    Frick, Otto (Jurist)

    Edgar, Samuel C. (Jurist)

    Kapansterin, Mrs. C. (Jurist)

    White, Arthur B. (Jurist)

Citation

Katrina Jagodinsky, Cory Young, Andrew Varsanyi, Laura Weakly, Karin Dalziel, William Dewey, Erin Chambers, Greg Tunink. “The state of Nebraska, on relation of Anna C. Sieck, Relator, vs. Lawrence B. Pillsbury, as Superintendent of the State Hospital for Insane, at Lincoln, Nebraska, and Robert Smith, as Clerk of the District Court and Ex-Office Clerk of the Commissioners of Insanity of Douglas County, Nebraska, Respondents.” Petitioning for Freedom: Habeas Corpus in the American West, 1812-1924, University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Accessed November 21, 2024. https://petitioningforfreedom.unl.edu/cases/item/hc.case.ne.1205

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