Case Summary

The petitioner, John W Harding, was charged with accessory to murder Peter Gallager. The petitioner filed for habeas corpus on the basis that he was more than 20 miles away from the place where Gallager was killed. However, when he came to court to testify, he was arrested for withholding knowledge about Gallager’s murder and refusing to pay bail at his appearance. The petition and writ were granted on the basis that there was not sufficient grounds for confinement, and the petitioner was released from custody. The county was required to pay the $132.45 in court fees.

Case Information

Petition type(s)

• Carceral

Petition subtype(s)

• Refusal to pay bail

Sites of significance

• Whatcom County Jail (Whatcom, Washington)

Outcome

Writ allowed

Fate of bound party

Released from custody

Case Citation

King County Government, Judicial Administration, Territorial District Court Case Files, 1867-1889, No. 1955

Source material(s)

Case File

Length of case file

Between 21 and 30 pages

Repository(s)

• Washington State Archives, Puget Sound Regional Branch (Bellevue, Washington)

State

• Washington

People

• Harding, John W. (Hardan) (petitioner)
• Allen, G. W. L. (holding party)
• Allen, G. W. L. (respondent)
• Lewis, Joseph R. (judge)
• Stevens, Sariah (authority ordering detention)
• White, William H. (petitioner attorney)

• Additional parties

  Gallager, Peter (victim), Seavy, James (Clerk), Brown, Beniah Jr. (Notary Public), Lewis, Howard (Deputy Clerk)