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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 Anna Berg et al for Writ of Habeas Corpus, Wasgreu

  • Earliest record date: October 26, 1903
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Bert Lockerby for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 15, 1890
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: bastardy
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Israel/Israil, a man of color vs. William Rector, Isaac Luther

  • Earliest record date: December 3, 1825
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: wrongful enslavement
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Abigail Clauey v. King County

  • Earliest record date: May 5, 1875
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: disorderly conduct
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Abraham Franklin, Plantiff V. Henry Dunn as Chief Police of City of Omaha Nebraska, Stephen Maloney, Fred Heil, Defendant

  • Earliest record date: October 17, 1914
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: embezzlement | Carceral: suspicious character
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Alexander Hughes vs. King County Writ of Habeaus Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 4, 1875
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: perjury
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Allen R. Kelly vs. John Power, Sheriff of Douglas County

  • Earliest record date: April 3, 1900
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: bribery
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Andrew H. Derrick v. Mary J. Whitesides

  • Earliest record date: May 1, 1866
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

App. of Charles E. McHugh for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 6, 1896
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: seduction
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Application of Robin Holmes for a Habeas Corpus directed to Natheniel Ford to bring up the bodies of Jenny or Mary Jane Holmes, Roxanna Holmes and James Holmes, children of said Robin Holmes

  • Earliest record date: January 1, 1841
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: wrongful enslavement
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Carey, a man of color vs. Benjamin Wilder

  • Earliest record date: March 8, 1831
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: wrongful imprisonment
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Charles I. John v. Thomas J. Flynn (U.S. Marshal) and Henry Schroeder (Jailer)

  • Earliest record date: February 24, 1916
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: violation of the Harrison Act | Carceral: possession of opium derivatives
  • Petition outcome: Petition withdrawn
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

City of Spokane v. Frankie Sutsinger

  • Earliest record date: November 23, 1885
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: drug use | Carceral: running an opium den
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Habeas Corpus in the matter of Joseph Didier

  • Earliest record date: August 27, 1855
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: assault with intent to kill
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Habeas Corpus of Charles Deidrich against Bannick, Chief of Police

  • Earliest record date: January 19, 1912
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: wife abandonment | Carceral: wife desertion
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Habeas Corpus of Lawrence Holland by Margaret Holland against Edward Cudihee

  • Earliest record date: June 7, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: insanity
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Custody transferred to third party

Habeas Corpus of Louisa Tubbs for Samuel Tubbs against Charles and Caroline Spink

  • Earliest record date: November 15, 1912
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: spousal custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Habeas Corpus of O. R. Blystone against Robert Hodge, Sheriff

  • Earliest record date: December 5, 1912
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: grand larceny | Carceral: forgery
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Habeas Corpus of Theodore Mazzine for Martha Mazzine against Missionary Sisters of Sacred Heart

  • Earliest record date: February 22, 1912
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Harry Smith v. United States

  • Earliest record date: July 1, 1916
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: drug use
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In Re: Application of Joseph Walton for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 31, 1905
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: barbering on Sunday
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody | released on bail

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 Re: Petition of Charles W. Nordstrom for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 25, 1901
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: murder
  • Petition outcome: Petition denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody | deceased

In Re: Petition of Ham Hung Wah by Tom Sing for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 3, 1904
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration
  • Petition outcome: Petition withdrawn
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Application of Francois Lafontaisis for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 14, 1874
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: selling liquor to Indians
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the case of Francois Lafontaisis application for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 14, 1874
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: selling liquor to Indians
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of an application for a Writ of Habeas Corpus, Katie Mayes

  • Earliest record date: December 12, 1923
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: insanity
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

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 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 Application of Edgar Bunnell and Arthur Bunnell for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 10, 1888
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: drunk and disorderly
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Released on bail

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 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 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 application of Sunny Luckey alias Charles Edwards for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 29, 1893
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: murder
  • Petition outcome: Petition withdrawn
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of B. W. Wittekopf application for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 1, 1903
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of Charles H. Phillips, Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 1, 1884
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: grand larceny
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from 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

In the matter of Jerome C. Corbin for the Writ of Habeas Corpus of Frank E. Corbin, a minor.

  • Earliest record date: November 30, 1903
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: underage military enlistment
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the Matter of Joseph Williams On Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 25, 1910
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: wrongful imprisonment
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the Matter of the Applicant Joseph G Armstrong on Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 29, 1915
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: embezzlement
  • 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 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 Albert Friedrich for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 17, 1891
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: first degree murder
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

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 Alfred Bradden for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 31, 1896
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: selling liquor without a license
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Alfred Woods for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 22, 1885
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: contempt of court
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

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 Anna Elizabeth Krim for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 18, 1905
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: child custody | Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Custody transferred to third party

In the matter of the application of Arthur B. Martin for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 25, 1910
  • Petition type(s): carceral: Violation of White Slave Traffic Act
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody | deported

In the matter of the application of August Klabunde for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 10, 1893
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: larceny | Carceral: refusal or inability to pay fine
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody
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