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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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Filter by:
State
- Nebraska 60
- Washington 19
- Oregon 2
Petition Type
- Carceral 57
- Institutional 17
- Interpersonal 10
Petition Subtype
- Carceral: immigration 13
- Carceral: advocating or teaching the unlawful destruction of property 9
- Interpersonal: child custody 9
- Carceral: public charge 8
- Carceral: vagrancy 8
- Carceral: Violation of Immigration Act of 1917 8
- Institutional: public health detention 8
- Carceral 7
- Carceral: unlawful possession and transport of intoxicating liquor 5
- Carceral: fugitive from justice 4
- Carceral: prostitution 4
- Carceral: unlawful possession of intoxicating liquor 4
- Carceral: disorderly conduct 3
- Institutional: seeking exemption from draft 3
- Carceral: advocating for unlawful destruction of property 2
- Carceral: cause unspecified 2
- Carceral: inmate of ill-governed home 2
- Carceral: wanted for questioning 2
- Institutional: insanity 2
- Carceral: advocating for unlawful destruction 1
- Carceral: advocating for unlawful distruction of property 1
- Carceral: advocating or teaching destruction 1
- Carceral: assault with a deadly weapon 1
- Carceral: conspiracy to use United States mails for scheme to defraud 1
- Carceral: drunkenness 1
- Carceral: espionage act 1
- Carceral: grand larceny 1
- Carceral: non-support of wife 1
- Carceral: possession of intoxicating liquor 1
- Carceral: social disease 1
- Carceral: suspicion of draft evasion 1
- Carceral: treason 1
- Carceral: unlawful detention 1
- Carceral: violation of liquor law(s) 1
- Institutional: conscription 1
- Institutional: convent 1
- Institutional: disability 1
- Institutional: vagrancy 1
- Interpersonal: kidnapping 1
Sex of Bound Party
- Male 58
- Female 21
- Unindicated 1
Age of Bound Party
- Adult 54
- Unindicated 15
- Minor 11
Race of Bound Party
- Unindicated 73
- Greek 4
- Russian 2
- German 1
Court Name
- Douglas County District Court (Omaha Nebraska) 51
- Us District Court For The Western District Of Washington (Seattle Washington) 17
- Lancaster County District Court (Lincoln Nebraska) 6
- Marion County Circuit Court (Salem Oregon) 2
- Us District Court For The Northern District Of Washington (Seattle Washington) 2
- Us District Court For The Omaha Division Of The District Of Nebraska (Omaha Nebraska) 2
- Gage County District Court (Beatrice Nebraska) 1
- Nebraska Supreme Court (Lincoln Nebraska) 1
Repository
- Douglas County District Court (Omaha, Nebraska) 51
- History Nebraska (Lincoln, Nebraska) 37
- National Archives and Records Administration, Seattle Branch, Washington (Seattle, WA) (Seattle, Washington) 19
- National Archives and Records Administration, Kansas City (Kansas City, Kansas) 2
- Oregon State Archives (Salem, Oregon) 2
- Gage County District Court (Beatrice, Nebraska) 1
Points of Law Cited
- U.S. Const. amend. V. 5
- Ordinance No. 9852 2
- 1917 Immigration Act 1
- 21 A. & E. Page 1075, Note 4. 1
- Angelus v. Sullivan et al. US Circuit Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit 1
- Application of Victor Larrucea for a Writ of Habeas Corpus before the District Court of the US in for the Southern District of California, Southern Division 1
- Blitz v. United States 38 L. Ed. 725 1
- City of Omaha, Ordinance No. 9852 - Making it unlawful to expose another to venereal infection. 1
- Cubyluck v. Bell, US District Court, Eastern District of New York (DOJ Bulletin No. 28) 1
- Espionage Act, Section 3 1
- Ex Parte Gifford, 25 Nevada (57 Pac. 484) 1
- Ex Parte Hunt, 28 Texas App. (13 S.W. 145.) 1
- Fotson vs. Elbert County, 43 S. E. 492 (Georgia) 1
- Howard v. Moyer 206 Fed. 555 1
- Howard v. United States 75 Fed. 986 1
- In re Breton, 93 Maine (44 Atl. 125) 1
- Kirkman vs. McLaughry, 152 Federal, p. 255-8 1
- Myers v. Morgan 224 Fed 413 1
- Nebraska State Statutes Page 450 Section 56 1
- Omaha City Ordinance #9852 - Making it unlawful to expose others to venereal disease (full copy of ordinance in case file) 1
- Omaha City Ordinance No. 9853, that it is unlawful for any person to expose others to infection, and must submit to examination (full text included in CF) 1
- Petition of Trinkhoff before the US District Court, Northern District of Illinois 1
- Section 1923 of Lord's Oregon Laws 1
- Section 2, Chapter 146, Session Laws of 1917 1
- Section 215 of the US Penal Code, devise a scheme and artifice to defraud diverse persons and for the purpose of executing such scheme and artifice, did deposit in the United States mail certain letters, writings, and circulars 1
- Section 240 of the Penal Code, and Section 5, of the Act of March 3rd, 1917 in WA 1
- Selective Service Act, Sec. 135 1
- Selective Service Law 1
- United States v. Patterson 29 Fed. 775 1
- Unites States v. Peeke 153 Fed. 166 1
- U.S. Congressional Act of February 5, 1917 1
- U.S. Const. amend. IV. 1
- U.S. vs. Patterson, 29 Federal, p. 775. 1
- U.S. vs. Peeke, 153 Federal, p. 166. 1
- Vol. 15 Foster's Federal Procedure 1741 1
- Vol. 8, Ruling C. L., Section 242. 1
People
- Smith, Robert (Clerk) 43
- Redick, William A. 38
- Steere Jr., Asel (Deputy) 33
- Clark, Michael L. 29
- Clark, Michael L. (sheriff) 12
- Neterer, Jeremiah 12
- Pierce, Ralph S. 12
- White, Henry M. 12
- Foster, W. A. 11
- Vanderveer, George F. (George T. Vanderveer) 11
- Magney, George A. (County Attorney) 10
- Saunders, Robert C. 10
- Fitzgerald, James M. (James J.) 9
- Manning, Ernest T. (Ernest C.) 9
- Estelle, Lee S. 8
- Moore, Ben L. 8
- Cushman, Edward E. 7
- Sears, Willis G. 7
- Briggs, John 6
- Dempsey, Michael F. 6
- Foster, W. A. (Deputy) 6
- Macfarland, John M. 6
- Madden, Ray J. 6
- Bumbaugh, Edward R. (Notary Public) 5
- Horrigan, Daniel H. (Daniel H. Harrigan) 5
- Lovely, William E. 5
- Magney, George A. 5
- Shepherd, Frederick 5
- Boyle, John M. 4
- Boyle, John M. (U.S. marshal) 4
- Crosby, Frank L. (clerk) 4
- Harshberger, F.M. (clerk) 4
- Horton, Richard S. 4
- Simmons, Lorenzo A. (sheriff) 4
- Wilson, William B. 4
- Bremers, R. H. 3
- Burger, John M. (Complainant) 3
- Day, L. B. 3
- Eberstein, Marshall 3
- Fishburne, George P. 3
- Folsom Jr., H. D. 3
- Greene, H. A. (Green) 3
- Harshberger, F. M. (clerk) 3
- Hoye, Charles W. (Deputy) 3
- Morearty, J. F. (Notary Public) 3
- Murray, J. B. (Complainant) 3
- Murray, Thomas B. 3
- O'Keefe, T. J. (Y. J.) 3
- Payne, Ike 3
- Adams, George A. 2
- Bell, William R. 2
- Boyer, U. G. (clerk) 2
- Britt, C. W. 2
- Burford, S.J. (Immigration Inspector) 2
- Callahan, W.P. (immigration inspector); 2
- Clark, Michael L. [sheriff] 2
- Dahlan, James C. (Mayor and President of City Council) 2
- Day, George A. 2
- Donohue, Agnes 2
- Donohue, Frank 2
- Dunn, John T. (John J. Dunn) 2
- Eliot, S. (deputy) 2
- Fitzgerald, James M. (Judge of Police Court) 2
- Foster, W. A. (Notary Public) 2
- Harrington, Gerald F. 2
- Holmes, George 2
- Hoyt, R. C. (clerk) 2
- Huggins, Alice (deputy clerk) 2
- Leitch, S.E. (Deputy) 2
- Leslie, Charles 2
- Lindburg, Lorene (notary public) 2
- Lovely, Joe M. (Notary Public) 2
- McGaffee, Robert (Deputy) 2
- Miller, Ira (sheriff) 2
- Mixon, William A. 2
- Morearty, Edward F. (Ed. F.) 2
- Morning, William McClellen 2
- Morrissey, Andrew Marcus 2
- Noonan, Fannie 2
- Noonan, Kittie F. 2
- O'Connor, T. J. (City Clerk) 2
- Olsen, George R. 2
- Porter, George C. (George Clark Porter) 2
- Seward, Bernard 2
- Shotwell, A.V. (County Attorney) 2
- Simmons, G. A. (deputy sheriff) 2
- Smith, Robert (Clark) 2
- Smith, Robert [clerk] 2
- Steere, Asel Jr. (Deputy Clerk) 2
- Strong, George V. 2
- Suepwisk, J. B. (Deputy) 2
- Vanous, Anton 2
- Wakeley, Arthur C. 2
- Woodrough, Joseph William 2
- Abercrombie, John W. (Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor) 1
- Adams, J. W. (Notary Public); Harshberger, F. M. (Clerk); Leitch, D. E. (Deputy Clerk); Boyle, John M. (U.S. Marshall); Colligan, F. J. (Deputy U.S. Marshall) 1
- Ahrendersen, C. P. (Witness) 1
- Alexsa, Joseph 1
- Allyn, Arthur E. 1
- Amick, Erwin H (Notary Public) 1
81 results
Download JSON Download CSVIn the Matter of the Application of Charles Jackson for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: November 19, 1918
- Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In the matter of the application of Carl Berg for a writ of habeas corpus
- Earliest record date: May 15, 1918
- Petition type(s): Carceral: advocating or teaching the unlawful destruction of property | Carceral: public charge | Carceral: immigration
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In the matter of the application of Martin DeWall for a writ of habeas corpus
- Earliest record date: July 13, 1918
- Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration | Carceral: advocating or teaching the unlawful destruction of property
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In the matter of the application of Edwin Ekstrom, for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: November 14, 1918
- Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration | Carceral: advocating or teaching the unlawful destruction of property | Carceral: Violation of Immigration Act of 1917 | Carceral: public charge
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In the matter of the application of Tom Weber, for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: November 29, 1918
- Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration | Carceral: advocating or teaching the unlawful destruction of property | Carceral: Violation of Immigration Act of 1917 | Carceral: public charge
- Petition outcome: Unknown
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of Mike Oumpu, for a writ of habeas corpus
- Earliest record date: November 29, 1918
- Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration | Carceral: advocating or teaching the unlawful destruction of property | Carceral: Violation of Immigration Act of 1917 | Carceral: public charge
- Petition outcome: Unknown
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the matter of the application of Frank Sulak, for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: November 29, 1918
- Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration | Carceral: advocating or teaching the unlawful destruction of property | Carceral: Violation of Immigration Act of 1917 | Carceral: public charge
- Petition outcome: Unknown
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of William Reitman for a writ of habeas corpus
- Earliest record date: November 29, 1918
- Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration | Carceral: advocating or teaching the unlawful destruction of property | Carceral: Violation of Immigration Act of 1917 | Carceral: public charge | Carceral: advocating or teaching destruction | Carceral: advocating for unlawful destruction | Carceral: advocating for unlawful destruction of property | Carceral: advocating for unlawful distruction of property
- Petition outcome: Unknown
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of Pearl Wilson for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: December 2, 1918
- Petition type(s): Carceral: prostitution | Carceral: vagrancy | Carceral: disorderly conduct
- Petition outcome: Petition withdrawn
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of Henry Slack for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: December 2, 1918
- Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy | Carceral: disorderly conduct
- Petition outcome: Writ dismissed for want of prosecution
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of Peter Williamson Merta, for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: December 9, 1918
- Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration | Carceral: Violation of Immigration Act of 1917 | Carceral: advocating or teaching the unlawful destruction of property | Carceral: public charge
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In the matter of the application of Sam Walton for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: December 13, 1918
- Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
- Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of Mrs. Alice Stanley for writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: December 13, 1918
- Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
- Petition outcome: Writ dismissed for want of prosecution
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of John Lievo, for a writ of habeas corpus
- Earliest record date: December 17, 1918
- Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration | Carceral: Violation of Immigration Act of 1917 | Carceral: public charge | Carceral: advocating or teaching the unlawful destruction of property
- Petition outcome: Unknown
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of Rudolph Tschahle for a writ of habeas corpus
- Earliest record date: December 23, 1918
- Petition type(s): Carceral: advocating for unlawful destruction of property | Carceral: immigration | Carceral: Violation of Immigration Act of 1917
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the matter of the petition of Raleigh M. Falconer for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: July 5, 1918
- Petition type(s): Carceral: violation of liquor law(s)
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
Ike Payne, Relator vs. Michael L. Clark, Sheriff, Respondent
- Earliest record date: October 10, 1918
- Petition type(s): Carceral: unlawful possession and transport of intoxicating liquor
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Released on bail
Pete Jelott Relator vs. Michael L. Clark Sheriff, Respondent
- Earliest record date: December 30, 1918
- Petition type(s): Carceral: possession of intoxicating liquor
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Released on bail
In the matter of the application of Wendell Phillips Herrick for Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: September 16, 1918
- Petition type(s): Carceral: non-support of wife | Carceral: fugitive from justice
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the Matter of the Application of George Harrision For a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: June 13, 1918
- Petition type(s): Carceral: assault with a deadly weapon
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In the matter of the application of Apolonio Trugillo and Apolonia Trugillo for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: December 5, 1918
- Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
- Petition outcome: Writ denied | writ dismissed
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In the matter of the application of Andy Pappas for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: December 31, 1918
- Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration | Carceral: prostitution
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Released on bail
In the matter of Jay D. Crary for writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: March 27, 1918
- Petition type(s): Carceral: conspiracy to use United States mails for scheme to defraud
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the Matter of the Petition of George Arthur Brown for a writ of Habeas Corpus for George Uber
- Earliest record date: May 16, 1918
- Petition type(s): Institutional: insanity
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the matter of the application of Agnes Smith for a writ of habeas corpus
- Earliest record date: January 19, 1918
- Petition type(s): Institutional: disability
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In re-application of Grace Baker for writ of habeas corpus
- Earliest record date: September 9, 1918
- Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
State of Nebraska ex rel Agnes Donohue, et al. vs. Kittie F. Noonan, et al.
- Earliest record date: August 22, 1918
- Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
- Petition outcome: Unknown
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of Charles Chandler, for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: March 4, 1918
- Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In the matter of the application of Edith Uhling, for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: May 7, 1918
- Petition type(s): Interpersonal: kidnapping
- Petition outcome: Petition withdrawn
- Fate of bound party: Custody transferred to third party
State of Nebraska ex rel Richard Seward by Kittie F. Noonan, his next friend, etc. vs. Agnes Donohue, et al.
- Earliest record date: July 12, 1918
- Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
- Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In re application of Virginia May LaVonne, by Grace LaVonne, her mother and next friend, for a writ of habeas corpus
- Earliest record date: December 11, 1918
- Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
