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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
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State
- Nebraska 18
- Washington 18
- Iowa 1
Petition Subtype
- Carceral: fugitive from justice 4
- Carceral: forgery 3
- Carceral: prostitution 3
- Carceral: wrongful imprisonment 3
- Interpersonal: child custody 3
- Carceral: cause unspecified 2
- Carceral: first degree murder 2
- Carceral: grand larceny 2
- Carceral: highway robbery 2
- Carceral: larceny 2
- Institutional: child custody 2
- Carceral 1
- Carceral: contempt of court 1
- Carceral: Corruption of a Juror 1
- Carceral: drunk and disorderly 1
- Carceral: embezzlement 1
- Carceral: false imprisonment 1
- Carceral: petty larceny 1
- Carceral: riding a bicycle without a lighted lamp 1
- Carceral: selling liquor without a license 1
- Carceral: unlicensed ticket scalping 1
- Institutional: Indian agent/superintendent 1
- Interpersonal: spousal custody 1
Age of Bound Party
- Adult 18
- Unindicated 8
- Minor 6
Race of Bound Party
- Unindicated 26
- Black 3
- Asian 1
- Indigenous 1
- Multiracial 1
Court Name
- King County Superior Court (Seattle Washington) 15
- Douglas County District Court (Omaha Nebraska) 13
- Lancaster County District Court (Lincoln Nebraska) 4
- Us Circuit Court For The Western District Of Washington (Seattle Washington) 2
- Us Circuit Court For The Ninth District Washington (Seattle Washington) 1
- Us Circuit Court For The Omaha Division Of The District Of Nebraska (Omaha Nebraska) 1
- Us Circuit Court In And For The Northern District Of Iowa (Cedar Rapids Iowa) 1
Repository
- History Nebraska (Lincoln, Nebraska) 17
- Washington State Archives, Puget Sound Regional Branch (Bellevue, Washington) 15
- National Archives and Records Administration, Seattle Branch, Washington (Seattle, WA) (Seattle, Washington) 3
- National Archives and Records Administration, Kansas City (Kansas City, Kansas) 2
Type of Source
- Case File 33
- Docket 15
- Complete Record 4
- Journal 4
Points of Law Cited
- Chapter 205, Sec. 14, of the Public Laws of Massachusetts Section 719, 2 Hill’s Code 1
- Church on Habeas (2nd Ed.) 480 1
- Earl v. Godley 1
- Ex Parte Reggal, 114 U.S. 642 1
- In re Foye, In re Baker, Article 4 Section 2 of the Constitution of the United States, People v. Donohue, 84, N.Y. 438 1
- Indian Appropriation Act 1
- Indian Civilization Act 1
- Kobogum v. Jackson Iron Co. 1
- Matter of Clerk, 9 We nd.212; 1
- Ordinance No. 4573. An Ordinance regulating bicycles, tricycles or tandems with in the city limits of the City of Omaha, Nebr. 1
- Ordinance No. 4604 1
- People v. Pinkerton, 77 N.Y.245 1
- Roberts vs. Reilly, 116 U.S 80 1
- Section 766, Revised Statutes of the United States; In Re Jugiro, 140 U.S. 295; In Re M’ Kane, 61 Fed. 205 1
- United States v. Bridleman 1
- United States v. Kagama 1
- Young v. Imoda 1
People
- Jacobs, Orange 15
- Van De Vanter, A. T. 12
- Frank, Albyn L. (Clerk) 6
- Baker, Benjamin S. 5
- Cann, T. H. 5
- Reed, Charles S. (Reid) 5
- Hawkins, J. E. 4
- McDonald, John W. 4
- Scott, Cunningham R. 4
- Cornish, Albert J. 3
- De Bruler, Ellis 3
- Dore, John Francis 3
- Hanford, Cornelius Holgate 3
- Lewis, James Hamilton 3
- McDonald, John W. (Sheriff) 3
- White, Martin 3
- Albertson, R. B. 2
- Ayres, Reeves A. (Clerk) 2
- Baker, Ben S. 2
- Beal, F. B. 2
- Boom, Frank (witness) 2
- Burch, Frederick 2
- Burden, James (clerk) 2
- Burdick, A. A. (deputy sheriff) 2
- Carr, John (witness) 2
- Colvin, Isaac B. (foreman, witness) 2
- Curtis, Harry (witness) 2
- Demars, John (witness) 2
- Easterday, A. W. (notary public) 2
- Frank, L. Albyn (clerk) 2
- Gillian, Jasper R. 2
- Grebe, Louis (Deputy Sheriff) 2
- Hart, John B. 2
- Hogate, W. W. (witness) 2
- Holdredge, Harry (witness) 2
- Holloway, George M. (Clerk) 2
- Jacobs, Joseph A. (complainant) 2
- Kyle, J. W. (witness) 2
- Lacey, T. (witness) 2
- Larson, Ed. 2
- Leidigh, George W. 2
- May, B. F. (witness) 2
- McCoy, James (witness) 2
- McCullen, Jr., John (witness) 2
- McElroy, James E. 2
- McNerney, Bernard 2
- Molley, Charles (foreman, witness) 2
- Norris, W. H. (witness) 2
- Patterson, W. H. (witness) 2
- Peltz, Fred (witness) 2
- Peterson, Fred H. 2
- Ramey, O. E. (witness) 2
- Reed, Albert (witness) 2
- Riley, Austin (witness) 2
- Rinkle, William (witness) 2
- Rose, Angelo 2
- Smith, Fred L. 2
- Smyth, Constantine J. 2
- Steere Jr., A. (Deputy) 2
- Thompson, Will H. (William Henry Thompson) 2
- Trompen, John J. (sheriff) 2
- Webber, G. P. (witness) 2
- Zimmerman, Phillip (witness) 2
- Ziteck, Frank (witness) 2
- Eberhart, P. (Justice of the Peace) 1
- , Ta-Ta-Pi-Cha 1
- Abbott, 1
- Allan, James (deputy U.S. marshal) 1
- Allen, Jay A. (Notary), Holloway, George M. (Clerk), Coreall(?), Walt (Deputy Clerk), Burk, J. W. (Deputy), Pruner, George D.C. (U.S. Commissioner and original judge who ordered petitioner’s deportation before stayed by Judge Hanford). 1
- Alling, H. (Chief Clerk) 1
- Altschuler, Alex 1
- Anders J. (Circuit Judge) 1
- Anderson, Ole (Surety for Petitioner) 1
- Ashley, M. (Deponent) 1
- Aspland, Andrew (Witness) 1
- Aspland, Ella May (Witness) 1
- Aspland, Jennie (Witness) 1
- Aspland, John H. (Witness) 1
- Aspland, Lise C. (Murder victim) 1
- Austin, C. G. 1
- Backus, C.F. (Justice of the Peace) 1
- Baldwin, Harris (Deputy Prosecuting Attorney) 1
- Barry, E. D. (Agent for the Governor of Ohio) 1
- Bebout, Alvin Adams 1
- Bent, June 1
- Bent, June (co-defendant) 1
- Bernhardt, Benjamin J. (Surety for Petitioner) 1
- Bigelow, Alice 1
- Bigelow, Edith 1
- Bigelow, Edna 1
- Bingham, W. W. (President of City Council) 1
- Bishop, J.H. (Election Judge, Spokane) 1
- Blackburn, John T. (Notary Public) 1
- Bluy, James F. M. 1
- Boettcher, C. O. (deputy clerk) 1
- Bond, Daniel W. (Judge of case where alleged crime of juror corruption occurred) 1
- Bories, Emil (Physician) 1
- Boyd, L.F. (Clerk of Spokane, Washington) 1
- Bradley (Dickey), Arah 1
- Bradley, Blanche A. 1
37 results
Download JSON Download CSVIn the matter of the application of Jack Norton for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: January 12, 1899
- Petition type(s): Carceral: selling liquor without a license
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
Application of Fred L. Smith for a Writ of Habeas Corpus on Red Johnson
- Earliest record date: January 12, 1899
- Petition type(s): Carceral: wrongful imprisonment
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the Matter of the Application of George M. Roe for writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: February 1, 1899
- Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the matter of the application of Fred L. Smith for writ of Habeas Corpus for Frank Fryson
- Earliest record date: February 13, 1899
- Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice
- Petition outcome: Unknown
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
Application of Alice Bigelow for a Writ of Habeas Corpus on Behalf of Edith and Edna Bigelow, her Daughters
- Earliest record date: March 22, 1899
- Petition type(s): Institutional: child custody
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the matter of the application of W. S. Summers, U.S. Dist. Atty., and Howell Morgan, acting U.S. Indian agent for the Winnebago and Omaha Indians, for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: March 24, 1899
- Petition type(s): Carceral: false imprisonment
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released on bail
In the Matter of the Application of Abraham Jacobs for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: March 25, 1899
- Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Custody transferred to third party
In the matter of the application of John E. Foye for Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: March 11, 1899
- Petition type(s): Carceral: Corruption of a Juror | Carceral: fugitive from justice
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of Stella S. Joy for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: June 3, 1899
- Petition type(s): Interpersonal: spousal custody
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the matter of the Application of Edward Shelmidine and Mrs. Edward Shelmidine, for a writ of habeas corpus
- Earliest record date: June 9, 1899
- Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the Matter of the Illegal confinement of Adelaide Shawl and Hazel Shawl
- Earliest record date: June 10, 1899
- Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
- Petition outcome: Unknown
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In Re Application of William Hayes for Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: April 4, 1899
- Petition type(s): Carceral: highway robbery
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In re application of June Bent for writ of habeas corpus
- Earliest record date: April 4, 1899
- Petition type(s): Carceral: highway robbery
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In the Matter of the Application of Salfest A. Sylvester for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: December 26, 1898
- Petition type(s): Carceral: embezzlement | Carceral: fugitive from justice
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody | unknown
On the Matter of the Application of Jacob S. Bradley on Behalf of Blanche A. Bradley for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: July 8, 1899
- Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the matter of the application of G. W. Gardner for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: June 23, 1899
- Petition type(s): Carceral: riding a bicycle without a lighted lamp
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In The Matter of the Application of C. Larson for Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: July 12, 1899
- Petition type(s): Carceral: unlicensed ticket scalping
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In the matter of the illegal confinement of Nellie Louisa Lopez
- Earliest record date: July 17, 1899
- Petition type(s): Institutional: child custody
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Custody transferred to third party
In the matter of the application of Stephen Lyts for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: July 19, 1899
- Petition type(s): Carceral: grand larceny
- Petition outcome: Unknown
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the Matter of the Application of George Webster for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: May 13, 1897
- Petition type(s): Carceral: first degree murder
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In the Matter of the Application of Charles W. Nordstrom for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: November 27, 1891
- Petition type(s): Carceral: first degree murder
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In the matter of the application of George Davis for writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: July 2, 1898
- Petition type(s): Carceral: forgery
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the Matter of the Application of Angelo Rose for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: August 28, 1899
- Petition type(s): Carceral: wrongful imprisonment
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the Matter of Angelo Rose for Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: August 1, 1899
- Petition type(s): Carceral: wrongful imprisonment
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In Matter of the Petition Ed Larson for Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: September 14, 1899
- Petition type(s): Carceral: larceny
- Petition outcome: Unknown
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
Dennis Griffin v. Julia Sullivan and John Sullivan in a petition for writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: October 13, 1899
- Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody | new custody arrangement reached
In the matter of the Pet of Ed Larson for Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: October 11, 1899
- Petition type(s): Carceral: larceny | Carceral: petty larceny
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of H. G. Martin for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: February 10, 1898
- Petition type(s): Carceral: contempt of court
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the matter of the Application of Edward Filger for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: October 20, 1899
- Petition type(s): Carceral: forgery
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In re application of Adam Treger for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: November 14, 1899
- Petition type(s): Carceral
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In Re Petition of Do Gin for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: November 18, 1899
- Petition type(s): Carceral: forgery
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the Matter of the Application of Harry Ferguson for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: November 9, 1899
- Petition type(s): Carceral: grand larceny
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of Lelah Puc-Ka-Chee, and Ta-Ta-Pi-Cha, for a writ of habeas corpus
- Earliest record date: November 25, 1899
- Petition type(s): Institutional: Indian agent/superintendent
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the Matter of the Application of Walter Britton and John Trigg for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: December 21, 1899
- Petition type(s): Carceral: drunk and disorderly
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the Matter of the Application of Dora Foster for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: December 28, 1899
- Petition type(s): Carceral: prostitution
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the Matter of the Application of Lola Williamson for Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: December 28, 1899
- Petition type(s): Carceral: prostitution
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the Matter of the Application of Leon Richardson for Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: December 28, 1899
- Petition type(s): Carceral: prostitution
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
