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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 21 and 30 pages 192

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Length of Case File : between 21 and 30 pages

192 results

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In the matter of the application of Albert Weston for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 17, 1924
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: unlawful possession of intoxicating liquor | Carceral: unlawful sale of intoxicating liquor | Carceral: maintaining a common nuisance
  • Petition outcome: Petition withdrawn
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of John Surra for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 17, 1924
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: unlawful possession of intoxicating liquor | Carceral: unlawful sale of intoxicating liquor | Carceral: maintaining a common nuisance
  • Petition outcome: Petition withdrawn
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Emma Evers for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 12, 1924
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: unlawful possession of intoxicating liquor | Carceral: unlawful sale of intoxicating liquor
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application Herbert N Humphrey for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 28, 1924
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: violation of game laws | Carceral: possession of Black Bass less than 8 inches
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Released on bail

In the Matter of the Application of Willard V. Mathews for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 31, 1923
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: embezzlement
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of R. H. Johnson for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 2, 1920
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Robert H. Johnson for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 20, 1922
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Daniel O'Connell for Mandamus and Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 14, 1922
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: conspiracy to violate the Espionage Act
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of application of Anna Walter alias Mrs. Robert Walter for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 20, 1922
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of application of Frank Sellers for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 31, 1921
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: grand larceny
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of application of Nick Fort for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 16, 1921
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of Elvie D. Kerby for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 24, 1921
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: first degree murder
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

The United States of America upon the relation of John R. Howard v. James B. Nickerson, Acting United States Marshal for the District of Nebraska, and Edwin C. Boehler, United States Commissioner for the Omaha Division, District of Nebraska and Michael L. Clark, Sheriff of Douglas County, Nebraska

  • Earliest record date: May 7, 1921
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice | Carceral: uttering and passing forged paper | Carceral: robbery and battery | Carceral: obtaining money under false pretenses
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

The United States of America upon the relation of Harry Compton v. James B. Nickerson, Acting United States Marshal for the District of Nebraska, and Edwin C. Boehler, United States Commissioner for the Omaha Division, District of Nebraska and Michael L. Clark, Sheriff of Douglas County, Nebraska

  • Earliest record date: May 7, 1921
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice | Carceral: uttering and passing forged paper | Carceral: robbery and battery | Carceral: obtaining money under false pretenses
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

The United States of America upon the relation of Axel Pierson v. James B. Nickerson, Acting United States Marshal for the District of Nebraska, and Edwin C. Boehler, United States Commissioner for the Omaha Division, District of Nebraska and Michael L. Clark, Sheriff of Douglas County, Nebraska

  • Earliest record date: May 7, 1921
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice | Carceral: uttering and passing forged paper | Carceral: robbery and battery | Carceral: obtaining money under false pretenses
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the Matter of the Application of Sam Gum, for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 26, 1921
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Deceased | exhibits withdrawn

In the Matter of the Application of Yaichiro Goto, otherwise known as Yaichiro Matsuo, for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 21, 1921
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration | Carceral: public charge | Carceral: moral turpitude
  • Petition outcome: Petition denied
  • Fate of bound party: Deported | remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Otto Rose for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 7, 1921
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: juvenile detention
  • 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 Petition of A. C. Hallam for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 11, 1921
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: misuse of government property
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Exhibits withdrawn | unknown

In the Matter of the Application of William M. Zook For a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 14, 1917
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: spousal custody | Institutional: juvenile detention | Institutional: disability
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the Matter of the Application of David D. Goertzen, for writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 24, 1920
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: desertion
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Vito Cheala for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 21, 1920
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: suspicious character
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Blanche Powers for a writ of Habeas Corpus for the body of Walter Powers

  • Earliest record date: April 20, 1920
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: grand larceny | Carceral: fugitive from justice
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Frances Hulm For a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 27, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Frank O'Neill - Dave Gillinsky, A. F. Pirson first and real name unknown Art Williams and William Larsen for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 10, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: breaking and entering
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody | remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Itchitara Matsutsuyu to be released on Habeas Corpus.

  • Earliest record date: December 2, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: Violation of Immigration Act of 1917
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of application of Margaret Grundy by Mrs. Roy Davis her mother and next friend for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 23, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: convent
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from 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 the application of Frank Jones for Writ of Habeas Corpus for Ray Jones and Madeline Jones

  • Earliest record date: July 24, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: New custody arrangement reached

In the matter of application of Charles Hoban for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 26, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: stealing an automobile | Carceral: receiving a stolen automobile
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

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 Margaret Roy, for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 24, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Jim Stevens for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 6, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: drunkenness | Carceral: possession of intoxicating liquor
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in 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

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 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 re application of Lena Heaton for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 20, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: public health detention
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Blanche Barry for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 10, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy | Institutional: public health detention
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the Matter of the Petition of Neil MacDonald for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 15, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: espionage act | Carceral: treason
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Frank M. Ringer for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 26, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: seeking exemption from draft
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Edwin T. Wentz for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 20, 1917
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fraud | Carceral: fugitive from justice
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application for writ of Habeas Corpus for the body of Marion Lavonne Maurer

  • Earliest record date: October 2, 1917
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Harry Davis for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 21, 1917
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: burglary
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of John Reynolds for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 29, 1916
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: violation of Mann Act/White-Slave Traffic Act of 1910
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Fred O. Lane for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 9, 1917
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of Kunijiro Toguchi for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 6, 1916
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of David Livingstone on Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 14, 1916
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: military infraction
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Leroy Smith v. O. P. Halligan

  • Earliest record date: April 7, 1916
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: drug use | Carceral: possession of cocaine leaves
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Order of discharge

In the Matter of the Application of Chin Wah Hing, for a Writ of Habeas Corpus for Chin Doe Tung

  • Earliest record date: July 7, 1916
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
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