Skip to main content
« Back to Explore

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.

Filter by:

Date

Drag slider to explore cases

Dates: 1815 - 1924

Petition Type

Petition Subtype

See more

Petition Outcome

Fate of Bound Party

Sex of Bound Party

Age of Bound Party

Race of Bound Party

Petition Year

Earliest Record Date

Latest Record Year

Court Name

Type of Source

Length of Case File

  • between 11 and 20 pages 589

Points of Law Cited

See more

People

See more
Length of Case File : between 11 and 20 pages

589 results

In the Matter of the Application of George R. Daly for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 15, 1884
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: horse stealing
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Application of G. M. Savage for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 29, 1884
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of Sid Howard for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 10, 1884
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: drug use | Carceral: opium use | Carceral: refusal or inability to pay fine
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the Matter of Herman Hadlan for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 2, 1884
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: selling liquor without a license
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Application of Albert Rhude for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 10, 1884
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Territory of Washington v. Arlington and Johnson

  • Earliest record date: January 23, 1885
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: drug use
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Mary Arlington and Timothy Johnson V. Lewis Byrd

  • Earliest record date: January 23, 1885
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: opium use
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the Matter of the Petition of Arthur Powell for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 30, 1885
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: horse stealing
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Lee Kee for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 21, 1885
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: running an opium den
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Territory of Washington v. William C. Swartz

  • Earliest record date: July 9, 1885
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: stole one cow
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Michael Henan for discharge on a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 20, 1885
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: grand larceny
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Writ of habeas corpus for Sterling P. White, an important witness

  • Earliest record date: October 12, 1885
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: appear to testify (ad testificandum)
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the Matter of the Application of Charles Barnes for a writ of Habeas Corpus.

  • Earliest record date: January 4, 1886
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: breaking and entering | Carceral: refusal or inability to pay fine
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Foong V. William Murphy. Application for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 1, 1886
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: refusal or inability to pay fine | Carceral: peddling without a license
  • Petition outcome: Petition denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of Prosfrio Deffillipps and Filip Perill for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 29, 1886
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: desertion
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of M. J. McDonough for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 21, 1887
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: contempt of court
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Order of discharge

In the Matter of the Application of I. E. Spafford for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 29, 1887
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: administering drug to cause abortion
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of Elnora Cline, an Infant, by B.M. Cline, Her Father, for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 21, 1887
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Unknown

In the Matter of the Application of John Dugan for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 29, 1887
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: accessory to the crime of murder
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Territory of Washington v. George Woodard

  • Earliest record date: July 5, 1887
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: unlawful sale of intoxicating liquor
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Samuel O'Brien v. Nancy O'Brien

  • Earliest record date: July 9, 1887
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody | new custody arrangement reached

In the matter of the application of Charles W. Sawyer for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 13, 1887
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of William W. Tinkham for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 31, 1887
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: false accusation
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody | released on bail

Thomas Reddington and Patrick Gallagher v. William Cochrane

  • Earliest record date: September 15, 1887
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: first degree murder
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Thomas S. Brown et al for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 15, 1887
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: military infraction
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of Mary M. Claybourn by C. H. Kelly on her behalf for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 23, 1888
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Wong Sam et al. for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 10, 1888
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Application of H. J. Mann on Behalf of His Infant Daughter for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 24, 1888
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody | new custody arrangement reached

In the matter of the application of C. F. Reed for Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 23, 1888
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: wrongful imprisonment
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released on bail

In the Matter of the Application of S. M. McFarland for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 8, 1888
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: mortgage fraud
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Charles Smith for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 9, 1888
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: attempt to defraud
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of James A. Balch on Habeas Corpus Proceedings

  • Earliest record date: June 1, 1883
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: insanity
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Louis Brown for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 22, 1888
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the Petition of Michael Shrek for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 23, 1888
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: peace warrant | Carceral: default of bail
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of M. C. Quinn for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 3, 1889
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: threatening violence
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of C. H. Smith for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 8, 1888
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: petty larceny
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

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

  • Earliest record date: February 1, 1889
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: hog theft | Carceral: refusal or inability to pay fine
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Thomas Kerr for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 15, 1888
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Application of Mary Ellen Lyts for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 21, 1889
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: New custody arrangement reached

In the matter of the application of Thomas Allen for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 1, 1889
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: burglary
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Edward Crofery for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 8, 1889
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: burglary
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Not in custody

In the matter of the application of Howard McMillen for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 9, 1889
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: burglary
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Not in custody

In the matter of the application of Jeremiah Mangan for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 20, 1888
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: threatening violence
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of William Warden for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 25, 1889
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of William Warden for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 27, 1889
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: robbery | Carceral: fugitive from justice
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Custody transferred to third party

In the matter of the application of A. A. DeMueles for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 15, 1889
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: assault and battery
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the Matter of the Application of William L. Tobias For Writ of Habeas Corpus.

  • Earliest record date: September 18, 1889
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of George W. Anderson for a Writ of Habeas Corpus.

  • Earliest record date: October 2, 1889
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Application of Frank Krebs and Pat Daugherty for a Writ of Habeas Corpus.

  • Earliest record date: October 8, 1889
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: assault
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Ordered to be re-sentenced

In the matter of the application of Robert White for a writ of habeas corpus and admission to bail.

  • Earliest record date: November 19, 1889
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: assault with a deadly weapon
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released on bail
Back to top