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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
- Washington 19
- Nebraska 13
Petition Subtype
- Carceral 6
- Carceral: peddling without a license 3
- Interpersonal: child custody 3
- Interpersonal: kidnapping 3
- Carceral: assault and battery 2
- Institutional: child custody 2
- Institutional: imprisoned for longer than term 2
- Carceral: being a disorderly person 1
- Carceral: bootlegging 1
- Carceral: burglary 1
- Carceral: cause unspecified 1
- Carceral: desertion 1
- Carceral: fugitive from justice 1
- Carceral: maintaining a solicitor without having a license 1
- Carceral: obstructing a street 1
- Carceral: obtaining money under false pretenses 1
- Carceral: painting on private bill boards 1
- Carceral: parole violation 1
- Carceral: posting bills or advertisements 1
- Carceral: refusal or inability to pay fine 1
- Carceral: smuggling 1
- Carceral: violation of city ordinance 1
- Institutional: insanity 1
- Institutional: juvenile detention 1
- Institutional: underage military enlistment 1
Sex of Bound Party
- Male 25
- Female 5
- Unindicated 2
Age of Bound Party
- Adult 14
- Minor 9
- Unindicated 9
Race of Bound Party
- Unindicated 29
- Asian 1
- Black 1
- White 1
Court Name
- King County Superior Court (Seattle Washington) 14
- Douglas County District Court (Omaha Nebraska) 11
- Us District Court For The Western District Of Washington (Seattle Washington) 3
- Lancaster County District Court (Lincoln Nebraska) 1
- 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 District Court For The Northern District Of Washington (Seattle Washington) 1
Repository
- Washington State Archives, Puget Sound Regional Branch (Bellevue, Washington) 14
- History Nebraska (Lincoln, Nebraska) 12
- Douglas County District Court (Omaha, Nebraska) 10
- National Archives and Records Administration, Seattle Branch, Washington (Seattle, WA) (Seattle, Washington) 5
- National Archives and Records Administration, Kansas City (Kansas City, Kansas) 1
Points of Law Cited
- Sec. 4 of Ordinance No. 1065 2
- Act of Congress approved June 21, 1902, Sec. 1, 2, and amendment of April 27, 1906 Act of Congress approved June 21, 1910 National Banking Act An Act to Parle United States Prisoners, and for other purposes, approved June 25, 1910, Sec. 2-10 Sec. 4 of the Act of March 3, 1891 Federal Statutes, Vol. 6, Sec. 40 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
- Ordinance number 977 1
- Sec. 6 & 7 of Ordinance NO. 710 of City of Seattle, approved Feb. 6 1886 Yick Wo v. Hopkins, 118 US, 356; Case of Re Wo Lee 26 Federal Reporter 471, Circuit Court of California Jan 26 1886; Stockton laundry case, Tie Lot, 26 Fed Reporter 611 to 616; Sam Kee reported 31st Fed Reporter 680 to 681; Hong Wah 82 Fed Reporter 623, Northern Dist. of California on Sept 7 1897; Grice Federal Reporter 627, 633, Circuit Court of Northern Texas; Minneapolis Brewing Co. vs. McGilloway 104 Fed Reporter 258; Gundling v. City of Chicago rep 177, 725 1
People
- Sullivan, John J. 7
- Baxter, Irving F. 6
- Broadwell, Frank A. (clerk) 6
- Bell, William R. 5
- Griffin, Arthur E. 5
- Power, John (sheriff) 5
- Cudihee, Edward (Cudahee) 4
- Estelle, Lee S. 4
- Koepfli, C. A. (Clerk) 4
- Roach, James (deputy) 4
- Crosby, Frank L. (clerk) 3
- Cushman, Edward E. 3
- De Bruler, Ellis 3
- Ellington, E. C. (deputy clerk) 3
- Halligan, O. P. 3
- Harshberger, F. M. (deputy) 3
- Koepfli, C. A. (Clerk); Corcoran, William (Deputy); Cudihee, Edward (Sheriff) 3
- Van Dusen, James H. 3
- Brewster, J. M. (Deputy Clerk) 2
- Allen, Frank Jr. (deputy) 2
- Beyer, F. W. (Berger) 2
- Briggs, John 2
- Broadwell, Frank (clerk) 2
- Gaines, F. H. 2
- Hanford, Cornelius Holgate 2
- Heuly, Neil O. (notary public) 2
- Marcil, James A. (Marcel) 2
- Mulvihill, M. E. (property owner) 2
- Power, John 2
- Sims, Frank E. 2
- Sloup, A. J. (deputy) 2
- Tallman, Boyd J. 2
- Tucker, Fred. M. 2
- Wassman, John H. (deputy) 2
- Bentick (first name unclear, notary) 1
- Cudihee, Edward (Sheriff); Koeplfi, C. A. (Clerk); Brewster, J. M (Deputy); Hall, Calvin S. (Notary) 1
- Holloway, George M. (clerk) 1
- Humes, Thomas J. (judge); Carroll, H. W. (deputy) 1
- Raymond, A. F. (Deputy Clerk); Brewster, J. M. (Deputy Clerk) 1
- Riplinger, John (City comptroller); Raymond, A. F. (deputy) 1
- Ewart, Irving [Ruth's older brother] 1
- Ewart, J.S. [Ruth's father and Mrs. Dodder's ex-husband] 1
- McKinnon, Charles (witness); Koepfli, C. A. (Clerk); Snook, Herbert E. (notary) 1
- Allen, Clay 1
- Allen, John H. 1
- Allen, Jr., Jay Cooke 1
- Andrews, E. W. (Surety) 1
- Armstrong, H. 1
- Aust, George F. 1
- Ayres, A. Reeves (Clerk) 1
- Bartlett, Leon 1
- Bartlett, Michael 1
- Bassett, Sarah D. 1
- Battin, John W. 1
- Becker, Schuler D. 1
- Benson, E. D. 1
- Bostwick, Harrison 1
- Boucher, J. J. 1
- Boyle, John M. (U. S. Marshal) 1
- Branson, Z. S. (sheriff) 1
- Brockway, Earl B. 1
- Brown, James 1
- Bryant, F.E. (Sheriff) 1
- Buller, Ellis 1
- Calhain , John C. 1
- Cann, T. H. 1
- Chapin, Ida 1
- Clark, A. W. (superintendent of the Child Saving Institute) 1
- Cohn, Henry 1
- Cooper, John (plaintiff's witness) 1
- Cooper, Kenneth (Albert Silas) 1
- Cooper, Maude 1
- Cooper, Mund (plaintiff's witness) 1
- Cornish, Albert J. 1
- Cunningham, W. G. (deputy) 1
- Dawes, Joseph H. 1
- Day, George A. 1
- de Pazzi, Sister Mary 1
- Debruller, Ellis (attorney for John Sullivan) 1
- Dee, Harry 1
- Dee, Sarah 1
- Denny, Ruby Gertrude 1
- Denny, William 1
- Dickinson, Charles T. (witness) 1
- Dishbanor, G. P. 1
- Dodder, Edward L. 1
- Dodder, Ruth N. [Ruth's grandmother and Edward L. Dodder's wife] 1
- Dodder, Sarah Elizabeth 1
- Donahue, John J. (Donahoe) 1
- Douglas, A. L. (witness) 1
- Duffy, Margaret 1
- Emory, George Meade 1
- Ewart, Inez [Ruth's older sister] 1
- Ewart, Ruthie (Ruth Ewart) 1
- Farleigh, Marion 1
- Farleigh, Nelson 1
- Fishburne, George P. 1
- Fleharty, 1
- Fong, Lee 1
- Forrest, W. L. (Clerk) 1
32 results
Download JSON Download CSVIn the matter of the application of John H. Allen for writ of Habeas Corpus for J. C. Allen Jr.
- Earliest record date: January 25, 1902
- Petition type(s): Interpersonal: kidnapping
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of Edward L. Dodder for writ of Habeas Corpus for Ruthie Ewart
- Earliest record date: February 3, 1902
- Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In the matter of the application of Edward Ladd for writ of Habeas Corpus Case No:34690
- Earliest record date: February 11, 1902
- Petition type(s): Carceral | Carceral: fugitive from justice
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In the matter of the application of Lewis G. Walsh for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: February 13, 1902
- Petition type(s): Carceral: painting on private bill boards
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the matter of the application of Joseph Lewis for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: March 1, 1902
- Petition type(s): Carceral: obstructing a street
- Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In the matter of the application of James Brown for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: March 4, 1902
- Petition type(s): Carceral: posting bills or advertisements
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the matter of the application of Andrew Knup for writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: March 16, 1902
- Petition type(s): Carceral: assault and battery
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the matter of the application of Ruby Gertrude Denny a minor for writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: April 2, 1902
- Petition type(s): Institutional: child custody
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: New custody arrangement reached
In the matter of the application of R. D. Watson for writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: April 3, 1902
- Petition type(s): Carceral: obtaining money under false pretenses
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of Frances Palmer for writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: April 18, 1902
- Petition type(s): Carceral
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of Sarah D. Bassett for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: April 18, 1902
- Petition type(s): Institutional: juvenile detention
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the matter of the application of Schuler Becker for writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: May 7, 1902
- Petition type(s): Carceral: peddling without a license
- Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the app of Florence Garrison et ux for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: June 2, 1902
- Petition type(s): Carceral: assault and battery
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the re-application of Thomas S. Thompson for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: July 2, 1902
- Petition type(s): Carceral: peddling without a license
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of Max Rosenthal, for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: July 25, 1902
- Petition type(s): Carceral: maintaining a solicitor without having a license
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the matter of the Imprisonment C. C. Smith Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: August 18, 1902
- Petition type(s): Carceral: being a disorderly person
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the matter of the application of Lee Fong for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: July 14, 1902
- Petition type(s): Carceral: refusal or inability to pay fine | Carceral: violation of city ordinance
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the Matter of the Application of Sarah Dee for a Writ of Habeas Corpus for Harry Dee
- Earliest record date: October 28, 1902
- Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
- Petition outcome: Unknown
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of Geo Nelson for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: November 11, 1902
- Petition type(s): Carceral: burglary
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of Maude Cooper for a writ of Habeas Corpus for Kenneth Cooper, otherwise known as Albert Silas
- Earliest record date: November 29, 1902
- Petition type(s): Institutional: child custody
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: New custody arrangement reached | released from custody
In the matter of the Application of Thomas Janda and Frances Janda, for a writ of Habeas Corpus for the body of Joseph Janda, a minor under the age of 21 years
- Earliest record date: December 2, 1902
- Petition type(s): Carceral: desertion | Institutional: underage military enlistment
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the matter of the Petition of Frank E. Sims for Habeaus Corpus for F. W. Beyer
- Earliest record date: December 10, 1902
- Petition type(s): Carceral
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the Petition of Frank E. Sims for Habeaus Corpus for F. W. Beyer
- Earliest record date: December 10, 1902
- Petition type(s): Carceral
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the petition of M. Bartlett for a writ of Habeas Corpus for L. Bartlett
- Earliest record date: December 20, 1902
- Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of Wallace Gemmill Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: December 24, 1902
- Petition type(s): Interpersonal: kidnapping
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of Mand Schwingler for Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: December 30, 1902
- Petition type(s): Interpersonal: kidnapping
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus of O. D. Moore
- Earliest record date: December 20, 1902
- Petition type(s): Carceral: bootlegging | Carceral: peddling without a license
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
Ex Parte: Donald McKarrecher - Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: September 18, 1902
- Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
- Petition outcome: Unknown
- Fate of bound party: Released on bail
In the Matter of the Application of J. A. Marcil for Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: June 21, 1902
- Petition type(s): Carceral | Carceral: parole violation
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Remained in 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 the Matter of the Application of Milton F. Lamaster for Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: July 5, 1902
- Petition type(s): Institutional: insanity
- Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
