Case Summary

In May 1885, Arthur Powell petitioned for a writ of Habeas Corpus on the basis he was illegally restrained of his liberty by E.J. Whittier, Sheriff of Spokane County. Powell, along with Asa Shuck, was charged with stealing a stallion worth $40. Each were granted recognizance in the sum of $250, however, both failed to post bond and were kept in custody awaiting their appearance. Powell's petition alleged the charge of "horse stealing" was not an offense against the laws of the Washington Territory and that testimony showed no probable cause that Powell was guilty. The fate of the petition and the fate of Arthur Powell is unknown.

Case Information

Petition type(s)

• Carceral

Petition subtype(s)

• Horse stealing

Sites of significance

• Spokane County Jail (Cheney, Washington)

Outcome

Unknown

Fate of bound party

Unknown

Case Citation

Spokane County Government, Clerk, Territorial Case Files, 1879-1889, No.1588

Source material(s)

Case File

Length of case file

Between 11 and 20 pages

Repository(s)

• Washington State Archives, Eastern Regional Branch (Cheney, WA) (Cheney, Washington)

State

• Washington

People

• Powell, Arthur (petitioner)
• Powell, Arthur (bound party)
• Turner, George M. (judge)
• Whittier, E.J. (respondent)
• Whittier, E.J. (responding party)
• Whittier, E.J. (holding party)
• Weid, O.F. (justice of the peace)
• Peel, J. J. L. (Paul) (authority ordering detention)
• Peel, J. J. L. (Paul) (justice of the peace)

• Additional parties

  Shuck, Asa (Charged with Arthur Powell)

  Thomas, Newton (Complainant)

  Bettis, J.A. (Notary Public)

  Feuerbach, Kate.W (Clerk)

  Strobach, R. (Deputy Clerk)

  Mandsen, Newton (Witness)

  G.B, James (Witness)

  Lee, Lewis (Witness)

  Murray, E.S. (Witness)

  Crenshaw, James (Witness)

  Brophy, J.G. (Witness)

  Martin, William (Witness)

  Hubband, E.J. (Constable)