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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.

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  • between 11 and 20 pages 589

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Length of Case File : between 11 and 20 pages

589 results

In the matter of the Petition of Bertram Mulcahy for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 6, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: peddling without a license | Carceral: refusal or inability to pay fine | Carceral: municipal violation
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Carson Titus by Frank Titus parent and next friend for Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 5, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: failure to provide for spouse
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In re application of Joseph W. Fleming for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 23, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fraud
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of application of Harry Greenwald for writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 24, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of James Gannon for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 31, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: bootlegging
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of George Rigby for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 27, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy | Carceral: Pimp
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Nora Sullivan v. Henry M. White

  • Earliest record date: July 16, 1916
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: immigration
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the Application of Wm Braniff for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 23, 1919
  • 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 Mamie Allen for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 25, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy | Carceral: prostitution
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application for Ruth Mathews for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 27, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy | Carceral: prostitution
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Released on bail

In the matter of the application of Agnes Marshall for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 28, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: prostitution
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released on bail

In re app of Mack Dwyer for writ of H.C.

  • Earliest record date: August 28, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy | Carceral: refusal or inability to pay fine
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In re app Mack Sterns for writ H.C.

  • Earliest record date: August 28, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of application of Wade Gregory and Clarence J. Burress for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 13, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: grand larceny
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of application of Stanley Fox for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 18, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: statutory rape | Carceral: default of bail
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of application of Joseph O'Hara for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 18, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: assault with intent to commit rape
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Arthur Treichel, minor on the part of Marie Holz and Adolph Holz for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 2, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Dismissed

In re application of Frank Kreishutz for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 14, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: insanity
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of James Cummings for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 11, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In matter of the application of Carol Williams for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 9, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: prostitution | Carceral: vagrancy
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Frederick Jacobsen for Writ of Habeas Corpus for Helen Jacobsen

  • Earliest record date: December 29, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Thomas F. Kelly F.A. Kane and Wiley Compton for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 4, 1920
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: larceny | Carceral: fugitive from justice
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Mario Lozito for writ of Habeas Corpus for Francesca Lozito

  • Earliest record date: February 16, 1920
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: insanity
  • Petition outcome: Writ vacated
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Carl O. Nelson for a writ of Habeas Corpus for Georgia Catherine Nelson

  • Earliest record date: February 24, 1920
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Gussie Burns for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 28, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Petition of Russell Eyerly and Raymond Eyerly for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 22, 1920
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice
  • Petition outcome: Petition withdrawn
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of application of Carl Gunther for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 31, 1920
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Moy Share Park for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 2, 1920
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration | Carceral: Chinese Exclusion Act
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of application of Ethel Siefken for and on behalf of Marvel Siefken, Elmo Siefken and Kennard Siefken, minors for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 3, 1920
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of Application of H. S. Scott and J. H. Rogers for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 1, 1920
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: robbery
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Clara E. Heaston for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 17, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Application of Edna Sullivan and Geraldine Sullivan for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 10, 1920
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: convent
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Oscar J. Quinn, for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 6, 1920
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: drunkenness | Carceral: reckless driving
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Marie Paulson Hislop on behalf of Herbert Paulson and Robert Paulson for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 16, 1920
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Earl Thomas Beni for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 24, 1920
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: impersonating an officer | Carceral: disorderly conduct
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the petition of Kichitaro Kubota and Ise Kubota, his wife, for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 4, 1920
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration | Carceral: public charge
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Henry Bonnemeyer for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 17, 1920
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: aiding and abetting
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of application of Fred Sailor for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 8, 1920
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Custody transferred to third party

The State of Nebraska, upon the relation of Mattie Cahill, Complainant, vs. Marshall Eberstein, Chief of Police of Omaha, Nebraska and Alta Berger, Matron and Superintendent of Omaha Detention Hospital, Eleventh and Dodge Streets, Omaha, Nebraska, Respondents.

  • Earliest record date: September 16, 1920
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: public health detention | Carceral: inmate of ill-governed house
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

The State of Nebraska, upon the relation of Opal Rogers, Complaint, vs. Marshall Eberstein, Chief of Police of Omaha, Nebr. and Alta Berger, Matron and Superintendent of Omaha Detention Hospital, Eleventh and Dodge Sts., Omaha, Nebraka, Respondents.

  • Earliest record date: September 16, 1920
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: public health detention | Carceral: inmate of ill-governed house
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In re application of Daisy Hartman for Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 13, 1920
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: inmate of ill-governed home
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Released on bail

In the matter of the application of Ruth McLane for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 5, 1920
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: inmate of ill-governed home
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Stella Taylor for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 14, 1920
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: public health detention | Carceral: vagrancy | Carceral: prostitution
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the Matter of the Application of George Kotros for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 12, 1921
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: prostitution | Carceral: immigration
  • Petition outcome: Petition denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody | deported | exhibits withdrawn

In the matter of the application of Amos Milling for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 15, 1921
  • Petition type(s): Carceral | Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Agnes Smith for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 24, 1921
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: disability
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of Application of Robert Swinney for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 24, 1921
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Petition of Lee Suey, for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 5, 1921
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of application of Harold Savage for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 27, 1921
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

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
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