Case Summary

William L. Huffman was charged with possessing two forms of drugs (morphine and cocaine) in Arizona and was sentenced to McNeil Island Penitentiary. Huffman filed a writ of habeas corpus on behalf of himself on December 22nd, 1916, claiming that Warden Halligan, the respondent, was depriving him of his liberty. The petition stated that his liberties were being violated as there was no statute up which his indictment rested on for validity during his criminal trial. Judge Cushman allowed the writ and order Huffman to be released from Warden Halligan's custody on January 22nd, 1917.

Case Information

Petition type(s)

• Carceral

Petition subtype(s)

• Wrongful imprisonment
• Possession of opium derivatives

Sites of significance

• McNeil Island Penitentiary (Steilacoom, Washington)

Outcome

Writ allowed

Fate of bound party

Released from custody

Case Citation

RG 21 U.S. District Court for the Southern Division of the Western District of Washington Civil, Criminal, Admiralty, and Bankruptcy Case Files, 1890-1950, No. 2129

Source material(s)

Case File

Length of case file

Between 11 and 20 pages

Repository(s)

• National Archives and Records Administration, Seattle Branch, Washington (Seattle, WA) (Seattle, Washington)

State

• Washington

Point(s) of law cited

Act of Congress, approved December 17, 1914 Forma Pauperis Act of June 25th, 1910 (36 Stat. 886)

Tag(s)

• Forma pauperis

People

• Huffman, William L. (petitioner)
• Huffman, William L. (bound party)
• Halligan, O. P. (respondent)
• Halligan, O. P. (responding party)
• Halligan, O. P. (holding party)
• Cushman, Edward E. (judge)

• Additional parties

  Boyle, John M. (U. S. Marshal)

  Halligan, L. J. (chief deputy)

  Crosby, Frank L. (clerk)

  Harshberger, F. M. (deputy)

  Flynn, Thomas A. (attorney for the district of Arizona)

  Drachman, Mose (Arizona clerk)

  Kitt, George F. (Foreman of the Grand Jury in criminal case)

  Maley, Roy E. (witness in criminal case)

  Curtis, Van E. (witness in criminal case)

  Heuly, Neil O. (notary public);