Case Summary

George W. Lunkin petitioned for a writ of habeas corpus against Captain W. H. Matthews, alleging that he was unlawfully restrained of his liberty in the military at or near Lewiston. Lunkin claimed that he had enlisted in Oregon on February 23, 1861, but that he was only seventeen years old and had enlisted without the permission of his parents. He also stated that he had been promised $31 a month but that he had not been paid. Judge E. P. Oliphant allowed the writ, but it is unclear if allowing the writ meant that the writ was actually granted. Lunkin's fate is unknown.

Case Information

Petition type(s)

• Institutional

Petition subtype(s)

• Underage military enlistment

Outcome

Writ allowed

Fate of bound party

Unknown

Case Citation

Walla Walla County Government, Clerk, Territorial Court Civil/Criminal Case Files, 1860-1889, No. 287

Source material(s)

Case File

Length of case file

5 or fewer pages

Repository(s)

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

State

• Washington

Tag(s)

• Children
• Military

People

• Oliphant, E.P. (Ethelbert Patterson Oliphant) (judge)
• Lunkin, George W. (petitioner)
• Lunkin, George W. (bound party)
• Matthews, W. S. (holding party)
• Matthews, W. S. (respondent)
• Matthews, W. S. (responding party)

• Additional parties

  Seaton, B. A. (Clerk)