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: -

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 21 and 30 pages 192

Points of Law Cited

See more

People

See more
Length of Case File : between 21 and 30 pages

192 results

Download JSON Download CSV

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

Thomas and Catherine Gilbert v. William Cochrane

  • Earliest record date: May 2, 1888
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: imprisoned for longer than term
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

State of Nebraska ex Relative Alvira E. Britton, Plaintiff Vs. Stephen W. Bryant and Alice Bryant, Defendants

  • Earliest record date: June 5, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody | new custody arrangement reached

State of Missouri vs James Watt

  • Earliest record date: September 10, 1820
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: larceny | Carceral: being in possession of stolen goods
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Petition of Raleigh M. Faulkner for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 1, 1861
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fraud
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Peter Nelson et al. v. Lewis V. Wycoff

  • Earliest record date: April 28, 1875
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: detaining sailors aboard ship
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Peter, a free man of color vs. James Walton, George Walton

  • Earliest record date: November 24, 1827
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: wrongful enslavement
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

On the Matter of the Application of Jacob S. Bradley on Behalf of Blanche A. Bradley for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 8, 1899
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Matter of Application of Emma Clifton for Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 16, 1892
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • 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

Joseph Kopf vs. William H. Jones, Sheriff of Nemaha County, Nebraska

  • Earliest record date: September 18, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: first degree murder | Carceral: fugitive from justice
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

John W Harding vs G. W. L. Allen

  • Earliest record date: December 23, 1878
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: refusal to pay bail
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

John vs. William Campbell

  • Earliest record date: November 18, 1831
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: wrongful enslavement
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Jennie Miller Powers v. Mary Elizabeth Miller and R. J. Miller

  • Earliest record date: April 9, 1888
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

J. H. Sheffler and Josephine Sheffler v. John B. Montague

  • Earliest record date: November 11, 1876
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of Thomas Ross on Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 7, 1914
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: selling liquor to Indians
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of Thomas Rice for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 16, 1890
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: Habitual Drunkenness
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the re-application of Thomas S. Thompson for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 2, 1902
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: peddling without a license
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the re-application of Andrew Anderson for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 8, 1894
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice | Carceral: vagrancy
  • 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

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 Petition of Mrs. Duncan Ross for a Writ of Habeas Corpus for the body of her Son Hallie Sheldon

  • Earliest record date: July 14, 1893
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the petition of Max Selicow

  • Earliest record date: February 23, 1916
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: municipal violation
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in 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 F. W. G. Muller for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 6, 1905
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: disturbing the peace
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the petition of Albert H. Young and Kamasaburo Sugiuor alias B. K. Sugiuor for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 19, 1913
  • Petition type(s): carceral: Violation of White Slave Traffic Act
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the Petition of A.L. Parks for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 2, 1892
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: assault and battery
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

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 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus on behalf of Frank Foster [originally titled, In the Matter of the Application of Homer Rutherford for Writ of Habeas Corpus, on behalf of Frank Foster]

  • Earliest record date: October 24, 1912
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: assault and robbery with a dangerous weapon
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the Imprisonment C. C. Smith Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 18, 1902
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: being a disorderly person
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Habeas Corpus of Caroline Dyer and John Dyer

  • Earliest record date: August 20, 1907
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the Matter of the Applications John McCormick and Bernard McCormick for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 11, 1896
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: assault with intent to wound
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

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 Wong Yuen for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 25, 1903
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: spousal custody | Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Willis R. Kelly, on behalf of Phillip Kelly, a minor child, for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 24, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of William Sherman for a writ of Habeas Corpus for Henry Sherman

  • Earliest record date: August 21, 1901
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: larceny
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of William P. Dinkens for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 24, 1892
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: bastardy
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

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 William E. Mullins for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 23, 1908
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of William C. Dickey for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 25, 1875
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: failure to file a certificate of partnership
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

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

  • Earliest record date: December 15, 1891
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: wrongful imprisonment
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

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 Wah Lee for a Writ of Habeas Corpus on behalf of Lun Kim, Lun Yuk, and Lun Teu

  • Earliest record date: June 11, 1898
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: prostitution
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Application of W. T. Gardiner for a Writ of Habeas Corpus (James Walton Jr Petitioner)

  • Earliest record date: September 1, 1911
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: insanity
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of W. H. Upplinger for writ of H. C

  • Earliest record date: September 8, 1903
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: violation of city ordinance
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from 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 V. B. Walker, attorney for Maud Raymond for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 23, 1897
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: petty larceny
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown
Back to top