Cases
Habeas petitions described a broad range of carceral, institutional, and interpersonal confinement over the long nineteenth century, including those used to demand due process, resist enslavement, challenge child removal and reservation confinement, avoid deportation, present child custody claims and protest child marriage, and to challenge institutionalization and detention in private and state institutions. As a legal mechanism borrowed from British common law and guaranteed as a civil right in US federal and state constitutions, habeas provides a lens on a diverse community of legal actors.
Our encoding practice allows us to identify petitions in these three categories and to indicate where those categories overlap. In addition to these three general categories, our team has identified the specific carceral charge being challenged as well as the particular forms of institutional and interpersonal confinements being questioned.
You may also browse or search petitions by location and/or jurisdiction to learn more about the myriad complaints petitioners brought before judges in Arizona, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oregon, and Washington between 1812 and 1924. Each case entry includes a full citation, a summary, links to people with a role in the case, a list of other people named, and any sites of significance. Visitors wanting access to full case files can contact the cited repository for information about obtaining copies. Those without institutional affiliations may request image scans from Dr. Jagodinsky directly. The Glossary defines the attributes used to structure data from the habeas petitions. The Code Book explains the relational structure of the data and functionality of the database website.
Featured story: The Habeas Corpus and Divorce Proceedings of Katie Mayes
Basic Search
Simply enter the word you wish to find and the search engine will search for every instance of the word in the journals. For example: Fight. All instances of the use of the word fight will show up on the results page.
Wildcard Searches
Using an asterisk (*) will increase the odds of finding the results you are seeking. For example: Fight*. The search results will display every instance of fight, fights, fighting, etc. More than one wildcard may be used. For example: *ricar*. This search will return most references to the Aricara tribe, including Ricara, Ricares, Aricaris, Ricaries, Ricaree, Ricareis, and Ricarra. Using a question mark (?) instead of an asterisk (*) will allow you to search for a single character. For example, r?n will find all instances of ran and run, but will not find rain or ruin.
Capitalization
Searches are not case sensitive. For example: george will come up with the same results as George.
Phrase Search
Searching for a specific phrase may help narrow down the results. Rather long phrases are no problem. For example: "This white pudding we all esteem".
Subsequent Searches
Because of the creative spellings used by the journalists, it may be necessary to try your search multiple times. For example: P?ro*. This search brings up numerous variant spellings of the French word pirogue, "a large dugout canoe or open boat." Searching for P?*r*og?* will bring up other variant spellings. Searching for canoe or boat also may be helpful.
Filter by:
State
- Washington 7
- Nebraska 2
Petition Subtype
- Institutional: imprisoned for longer than term 9
- Carceral: smuggling 3
- Carceral 2
- Carceral: immigration 2
- Carceral: assault with a deadly weapon 1
Age of Bound Party
- Adult 6
- Minor 1
- Unclear 1
- Unindicated 1
Court Name
- Us District Court For The Western District Of Washington (Seattle Washington) 5
- Douglas County District Court (Omaha Nebraska) 2
- Fourth Judicial District Court Of Washington Territory Spokane County (Cheney Washington) 1
- Third Judicial District Court For The Territory Of Washington (Seattle Washington) 1
Repository
- National Archives and Records Administration, Seattle Branch, Washington (Seattle, WA) (Seattle, Washington) 5
- Douglas County District Court (Omaha, Nebraska) 2
- History Nebraska (Lincoln, Nebraska) 2
- Washington State Archives, Eastern Regional Branch (Cheney, WA) (Cheney, Washington) 1
- Washington State Archives, Puget Sound Regional Branch (Bellevue, Washington) 1
Points of Law Cited
- Act of Congress, approved June 21, 1902, and amended April 27, 1906 (vol. 6, Fed. Stat. Ann., p. 41, and Supp. 1909, p. 529) Sec. 9 Act of Sept. 13, 1888 Sec. 8, Act of Feb. 20, 1907 Sec. 2, Act of June 24, 1902 1
- Act of Congress approved June 21, 1902, Sec. 1, 2, and amendment of April 27, 1906 Act of Congress approved June 25, 1910, Sec. 2-10 Parole Law (vol. 1 Supp. 1912 Fed. Stat. Ann., p. 304) Commutation Law (vol. 6 Fed. Stat. Ann., p. 41, as Amended April 27, 1906, Supp. 1909, p. 529) Section 3, 6, 10 of the Parole Act National Banking Act 1
- Act of Congress, Approved June 21st, 1902 1
- Sec. 1042 Revised Statutes of the United States Law of 1878 1
- Sec. 8 & 9, Act of September, 1888 Sec. 8, Act of February 20. 1907 Woo Wai et al. v. United States, the Circuit Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit O’Brien v. State, 6 Tex. App. 665 Connor v. People, 18 Colo. 373, 25 L.R.A. 341, 36 Am St. Rep. 295 Johnson v. State, 3 Tex. App. 593 Love v. People, 160 Ill. 501, 32 L.R.A. 139 State v. Walker, 124 Iowa 414, 100 N.W. 354 State v. Kennedy, 177 Mo. 98, 75 S.W. 989 Rhodes v. State, 39 Tex. Cr. R. 332, 45 S.W. 1009 Renner v. State, 43 Tex. Cr. R. 347, 65 S.W. 1102 Blain v. State, 30 Tex. App. 702, 18 S.W. 861 Washwood v. United States, 136 Pac. 184 State v. Crofford, 121 Iowa 395, 96 N.W. 889 People v. Parker, 67 Mich. 222, 34 N.W. 720, 11 Am. St. Rep. 578 Spies v. People, 122 Ill. 1, 12 N.E. 865, 17 N.E. 898, 3 Am. St. Rep. 320, and note 497 McKenzie v. State, 32 Tex. Cr. R. 568, 25 S.W. 426, 40 Am. St. Rep. 795 McCaskey v. Graff, 23 Pa. 321, 62 Am Dec. 336 Pickett v. United States, 216 U.S. 456, 30 Sup. Ct. 265, 54 L. Ed. 566 Mendenhall v. United States, 119 Pac. 594 Mattox v. United States, 156 U.S. 237, 15 Sup. Ct. 337, 39 L. Ed. 409 Johnson v. State, 29 Tex. App. 151 S.W. 647 Summers v. United States, 231 U.S. 92 Act of Congress, approved June 21, 1902, and amended April 27, 1906 (vol. 6, Fed. Stat. Ann., p. 41, and Supp., 1909, p. 529) 13th Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, Sec. 1 1
People
- Cushman, Edward E. 5
- Halligan, O. P. 5
- Harshberger, F. M. (deputy) 4
- Crosby, Frank L. (clerk) 2
- Ellington, E. C. (deputy clerk) 2
- Gerald, William 2
- Heuly, Neil O. (notary public) 2
- Allen, Clay 1
- Allen, Frank Jr. (deputy) 1
- Allen, John B. (attorney in criminal case) 1
- Archbald, Harry R. (Assistant U. S. Attorney) 1
- Babb, A. B. (witness) 1
- Barthalomew, W. R. (witness) 1
- Bew, Hong (Chinese laborer Gerald tried to smuggle) 1
- Boggs, T. D. (witness) 1
- Boyle, John M. (U. S. Marshal) 1
- Broadwell, Frank A. (clerk) 1
- Buell, William (witness) 1
- Call, Mel (witness) 1
- Cane, John (witness) 1
- Chuck, Wong (acquitted on same charges as Gerald) 1
- Clement, D. A. (clerk) 1
- Cochran, William (Cochrane) 1
- Corsby, Frank L. (clerk) Wellbron, Olin (Judge) 1
- Coyle, Wilson D. 1
- Craft, John (witness) 1
- Crane, John (witness) 1
- Crosby, Frank L. (clerkk) 1
- Davison, J. S. (chief deputy) 1
- Dingle, E. (deputy) 1
- Dishbanor, G. P. 1
- Dr. Pomeroy (witness) 1
- Ellington, E. C. (deputy) 1
- Ellis, Gordon (police court judge) 1
- Feuerbach, Kate W. (clerk) 1
- Fishburne, George P. 1
- French, D. R. (witness) 1
- Freud, D. R. (witness) 1
- Galow (witness) 1
- Galow, Andy (witness) 1
- Gilbert, Catharine 1
- Gilbert, Thomas 1
- Gilson, John E. (witness) 1
- Gobbi, Ernesto (agent of the immigration bureau/involved in immigration conspiracy) 1
- Good, David (witness) 1
- Greivston, James (witness) 1
- Griardy, C. H. (witness) 1
- Hannon, H. T. (deputy clerk) 1
- Hatlen, Mike (witness) 1
- Hayward, B. D. (superintendent of the industrial school of Nebraska) 1
- Hennesen, Emma (Margaret Mary) 1
- Hing, Lee Yip (Chinese laborer Gerald tried to smuggle) 1
- Hooker, W. F. (Justice of the Peace) 1
- Houghton, Horace E. (attorney in criminal case) 1
- Hover, C. L. 1
- Hyde, S. C. 1
- Jalinson, J. W. (witness) 1
- Jan, Lee (Chinese laborer Gerald tried to smuggle) 1
- Jen, Lee Yuen (Chinese laborer Gerald tried to smuggle) 1
- Jeong, Leong Ging (Chinese laborer Gerald tried to smuggle) 1
- Jeong, Leong Lin (Chinese laborer Gerald tried to smuggle) 1
- Johnston, Charles B. (deputy) 1
- Jones, Richard A. 1
- Jung, Chan (Chinese laborer Gerald tried to smuggle) 1
- Kee, Ung Bing (Chinese laborer Gerald tried to smuggle) 1
- Kennedy, Howard 1
- Ki, Enrique Sin (involved in immigration conspiracy) 1
- Kidd, William (witness) 1
- Kin, Lee Won (Chinese laborer Gerald tried to smuggle) 1
- Kincaid, Elmer L. (reporter) 1
- King, Susie (Delia) 1
- Knox, H. W. (notary public) 1
- Krohn, H. G. (Foreman of Jury) 1
- Lai, Yee Tin (Chinese laborer Gerald tried to smuggle) 1
- Laudor, Daniel 1
- Ledgerwood, W. E. (clerk) 1
- Ling, Lee Yip (Chinese laborer Gerald tried to smuggle) 1
- Litch, J.W 1
- Lloyd, Harry (involved in immigration conspiracy) 1
- Lump, Jake (witness) 1
- Marcil, James A. (Marcel) 1
- Mason, H. B. (deputy) 1
- McBee James (witness) 1
- McCarthy, Mary (Cresentia) 1
- McCormick, A. I. (U. S. Attorney) 1
- McDonald, John W. (sheriff) 1
- McGowin, John (witness) 1
- McKeeby (attorney) 1
- McKeeby, George L. (attorney) 1
- McMillen, George (witness) 1
- McReynolds, James C. (attorney general) 1
- Messenger, E. (witness) 1
- Messenger, Isaac (witness) 1
- Murray, W. M. (deputy) 1
- Nam, Lee Gip (involved in immigration conspiracy) 1
- Ngee, Jeow (Chinese laborer Gerald tried to smuggle) 1
- Nging, Lei Fat (Chinese laborer Gerald tried to smuggle) 1
- Ngow, Gon Sut (Chinese laborer Gerald tried to smuggle) 1
- Nquin, Lee Dung (Chinese laborer Gerald tried to smuggle) 1
- Nun, Yee (Chinese laborer Gerald tried to smuggle) 1
9 results
Download JSON Download CSVTerritory of Washington V. Wilson D. Coyle
- Earliest record date: April 5, 1885
- Petition type(s): Institutional: imprisoned for longer than term | Carceral: assault with a deadly weapon
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
Thomas and Catherine Gilbert v. William Cochrane
- Earliest record date: May 2, 1888
- Petition type(s): Institutional: imprisoned for longer than term
- Petition outcome: Unknown
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of Willie Vangart for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: September 24, 1906
- Petition type(s): Institutional: imprisoned for longer than term
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the Matter of the Application of Emma Bell Wenzel (Class name Celeste), Emma Hennesen (Class name Margaret Mary), Mary McCarthy (Class name Cresentia), and Susie King (Class name Delia)
- Earliest record date: March 18, 1913
- Petition type(s): Institutional: imprisoned for longer than term
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the Matter of the Application of Paul Webster on Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: June 21, 1902
- Petition type(s): Carceral: smuggling | Institutional: imprisoned for longer than term
- Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
Application of James A. Marcil for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: June 21, 1902
- Petition type(s): Carceral | Institutional: imprisoned for longer than term
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In re: E. Stubley on Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: February 1, 1909
- Petition type(s): Institutional: imprisoned for longer than term | Carceral
- Petition outcome: Unknown
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
Petition of William Gerald for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: September 13, 1888
- Petition type(s): Carceral: smuggling | Carceral: immigration | Institutional: imprisoned for longer than term
- Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In the Matter of William Gerald on Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: July 1, 1912
- Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration | Institutional: imprisoned for longer than term | Carceral: smuggling
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
