« 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.
Featured story: The Habeas Corpus and Divorce Proceedings of Katie Mayes
Basic Search
Simply enter the word you wish to find and the search engine will search for every instance of the word in the journals. For example: Fight. All instances of the use of the word fight will show up on the results page.
Wildcard Searches
Using an asterisk (*) will increase the odds of finding the results you are seeking. For example: Fight*. The search results will display every instance of fight, fights, fighting, etc. More than one wildcard may be used. For example: *ricar*. This search will return most references to the Aricara tribe, including Ricara, Ricares, Aricaris, Ricaries, Ricaree, Ricareis, and Ricarra. Using a question mark (?) instead of an asterisk (*) will allow you to search for a single character. For example, r?n will find all instances of ran and run, but will not find rain or ruin.
Capitalization
Searches are not case sensitive. For example: george will come up with the same results as George.
Phrase Search
Searching for a specific phrase may help narrow down the results. Rather long phrases are no problem. For example: "This white pudding we all esteem".
Subsequent Searches
Because of the creative spellings used by the journalists, it may be necessary to try your search multiple times. For example: P?ro*. This search brings up numerous variant spellings of the French word pirogue, "a large dugout canoe or open boat." Searching for P?*r*og?* will bring up other variant spellings. Searching for canoe or boat also may be helpful.
Filter by:
State
- Washington 12
- Nebraska 4
Petition Subtype
- Carceral: immigration 3
- Carceral 2
- Institutional: child custody 2
- Carceral: assault 1
- Carceral: barbering without a license or certificate 1
- Carceral: Corruption of a Juror 1
- Carceral: deportation 1
- Carceral: first degree murder 1
- Carceral: fugitive from justice 1
- Carceral: grand larceny 1
- Carceral: parole violation 1
- Carceral: passing counterfeit currency 1
- Carceral: prostitution 1
- Carceral: refusal to pay bail 1
- Carceral: smuggling 1
- Carceral: suspicion of draft evasion 1
- Carceral: tampering with witness(es) 1
- Carceral: Violation of Immigration Act of 1917 1
- carceral: Violation of White Slave Traffic Act 1
- Institutional: imprisoned for longer than term 1
- Institutional: violation of military order 1
- Interpersonal: child custody 1
- Interpersonal: kidnapping 1
Age of Bound Party
- Adult 11
- Minor 3
- Unindicated 1
Race of Bound Party
- Unindicated 9
- White 2
- Indigenous 1
- Irish 1
- Japanese 1
- Multiracial 1
- Russian 1
Court Name
- Us District Court For The Western District Of Washington (Seattle Washington) 6
- Douglas County District Court (Omaha Nebraska) 2
- King County Superior Court (Seattle Washington) 1
- Third Judicial District Court For The Territory Of Washington (Seattle Washington) 1
- United States District Court Western District Of Washington Northern Division (Walla Walla Washington) 1
- Us Circuit Court For The Ninth District Washington (Seattle Washington) 1
- Us Circuit Court For The Omaha Division Of The District Of Nebraska (Omaha Nebraska) 1
- Us Circuit Court For The Western District Of Washington (Seattle Washington) 1
- Us Court Of Appeals For The Eighth Circuit (Omaha Nebraska) 1
- Us District Court For The Northern District Of Washington (Seattle Washington) 1
- Us District Court For The Omaha Division Of The District Of Nebraska (Omaha Nebraska) 1
Repository
- National Archives and Records Administration, Seattle Branch, Washington (Seattle, WA) (Seattle, Washington) 10
- History Nebraska (Lincoln, Nebraska) 2
- National Archives and Records Administration, Kansas City (Kansas City, Kansas) 2
- Washington State Archives, Puget Sound Regional Branch (Bellevue, Washington) 2
- Douglas County District Court (Omaha, Nebraska) 1
Points of Law Cited
- “An act to establish peace with certain hostile tribes of Indians,” July 20, 1867 1
- Act of Congress, approved June 21, 1902, and amended April 27, 1906 (vol. 6, Fed. Stat. Ann., p. 41, and Supp. 1909, p. 529) Sec. 9 Act of Sept. 13, 1888 Sec. 8, Act of Feb. 20, 1907 Sec. 2, Act of June 24, 1902 1
- Act of Congress approved June 21, 1902, Sec. 1, 2, and amendment of April 27, 1906 Act of Congress approved June 21, 1910 National Banking Act An Act to Parle United States Prisoners, and for other purposes, approved June 25, 1910, Sec. 2-10 Sec. 4 of the Act of March 3, 1891 Federal Statutes, Vol. 6, Sec. 40 1
- Act of Congress, February 8, 1887 1
- Act of Congress, May 27, 1902 1
- Act of February 20, 1907, as amended by Act of March 26, 1910, Sections 20, 21, and 22. 1
- Article 5 of the Constitution, 2363 Rem. & Bal Code, 52 Rem. & Bal. Code, State v. Petit, 74 Wash. 510, State v. Gaul, 55 Wash. 295, State v. Petit, 74 Wash. 510, State v. Gaul, 44 Wash. 295, State v. Surry, 23 Wash. 655, State v. Bringgold, 40 Wash. 12, State v. Ewing, 67 Wash. 395 1
- Boske v. Comingore, 177 U.S. 276 1
- Bottlier v. Donseuguey, 130 U.S. 238. 1
- Ch. CLXXII of the Session 1901 Laws of the State of Washington, Minnesota Barber Law, Ex parte Cox. 63 Cal. 21, Weyth vs Board of Health, 200 Mass. 474, 86 N. E. 925, Wragg vs. Griffin (Iowa) 170 N. W. 400, State vs. Smith, 42 Wash. 237, State vs. Walker, 48 Wash. 8, State ex rel Richey vs. Smith 42 Wash. 237-249, Yick Wo vs. Woo Lee 118 U.S. 356, In re Wilshire 103 Fed. 622, Mim Breneny Co. vs. McCulivers 104 Fed. 258, State v. Sharpless (31 Wash, 191), State v. Walker (48 Wash., 8), Grainger v. Douglas Park Jockey Club, 148 Federal Rep. 512, State v. Zeno, 81 N.W. 748, 48 L. R. A. 88, Ex Parte Lucas, In State ex rel. Richey v. Smith (42 Wash., 237) 1
- Chapter 205, Sec. 14, of the Public Laws of Massachusetts Section 719, 2 Hill’s Code 1
- Chin Yow V. United States, 208 U.S. 8, 52 L. Ed. 369. 1
- Chin Yow vs. United States. 208 U.S. p. 8 1
- Davies vs. Manolis, 179 Federal 818 Supra. 1
- Davis vs. Manolis. 179 Federal 818. 1
- Dawes Act 1
- DeBruller v. Gallo, 184 Fed. 566, and cases there cited. 1
- Ex parte Koerner. 176 Federal, 478. 1
- Ex parte McDonald 9 Am L.R. 661 1
- Federal Statutes Annotated, p. 163, Section 20. 1
- In re Hirsch, 74 Fed. 931 1
- In re Hultman, 70 Fed. 699 1
- In re Lewis, 83 Fed. 159 1
- In re Neagle, 135 U.S. 1 1
- Low Way Suey v. Backus, Com’r. of Immigration, 225 U. S. 460 Tod, Com’r. V. Waldman et al. Adv. Opin. Sup. Court, No. 95, October term, 1924, Nov. 17th, 1924 Pang Hing v. Edward White, Com’r. 257 U. S. 639 Hee Fuk Yuen v. White, 273 Fed 10-14 Hughes, Com’r. et al. v. Tropello, 296 Fed. 306-309 Sec. 4270 Comp. Stat., Sec 4289¼B 1923 Sup. Comp. Stat. NG Fung Ho etc. v. White, Com’r. 259 U. S. 276 Lewis v. Frick, 233 U. S. 291 Lapina v. Williams, Com’r. 232 U. S. 78 Hee Fuk Yuen et al v. White, 273 Fed. 10 Ex Parte Greaves, 222 Fed. 157 United States ex rel Randazzo v. Tod, Com’r. 297 Fed. 214 United States ex rel Bauder v. Uhl et al, 211 Fed. 628 Lopez v. Howe, Com’r 259 Fed. 401 United States ex rel La Fata v. Williams, Com’r. 204 Fed. 848 Woo Shing v. United States, 282 Fed. 498 Siniscalchi v. Thomas, 195 Fed. 701 United States v. Sprung, 187 Fed. 903 Ex parte Callow, 240 Fed. 213 United States v. Mrs. Gue Lim, 176 U. S. 459 Ex parte Liang Bush Chew, 296 Fed. 182 Ex Parte Guthro, 296 Fed. 306 Immigration Act of February 5th, 1917, Sec. 2, Sec. 3, Sec. 16, Sec. 17, Sec. 19, Sec. 20, Sec. 21 1
- Paragraph 2, Section 2, Art 4 of the Constitution; Provisions of the 14th amendment of the Constitution; Section 5278 of the Revised Statutes of the United States; 1
- Regulations of the Indian Office, April 1, 1904 1
- Section 2124 of the Revised Statutes of the United States 1
- Section 2125 of the Revised Statutes of the United States 1
- Section 2147 of the Revised Statutes of the United States 1
- Section 2148 of the Revised Statutes of the United States 1
- Section 2150 of the Revised Statutes of the United States 1
- Section 2151 of the Revised Statutes of the United States 1
- Treaty with the Sioux at Fort Laramie, April 29, 1868 1
- United States ex rel. Bosny et al. vs. Williams. 185 Federal, 598. 1
- United States ex rel Huber vs. Sibray, 178 Federal, 145. 1
- United States ex rel Nicola vs. Williams, 173 Federal, 626. 1
- United States Revised Statutes, Sec. 5420 United States Constitution, 6th Amendment In re Neilson, 131 U.S. 176 Ex parte Lange, 18 Wall, 163 Supra Ex parte Bigelow, 113 U.S. 274 Ex parte Mulligan, 4 Wall 131 Ex parte Wilson, 114 U.S. 417 Act of Congress, approved June 25, 1910, 36 State. 866 Bruce v. East, Sheriff, 134 Pac. 1176 State v. Hecht, 136 Pac. 251 Gen Stat. 1909. Sec. 6800 Bigsby v. Eppstein, 135 Pac. 934 State ex rel. Tucker v. Davis et al., 130 Pac. 962 1
- United States Supreme Court, 208 U.S. p. 8 1
- United States v. Ju Toy, 198 U.S. 253, 49 L. Ed. 1040 1
- United States v. Thurston County, 143 Fed. 289 1
- U.S. v. Sandefuhr, 145 Fed. 49 1
- U.S. vs. Sibray. 178 Fed. 145 Supra. 1
- U.S. vs. Sibray, 178 Federal, p. 149. 1
- U.S. vs. Subray, Vol. 178, p. 150. 1
- U.S. vs. Williams Federal Reporter Volume 185, page 599. 1
- Van Lear v. Eisele, 126 Fed. 823 1
- Vol. 15 U.S. Laws, p. 17 1
- Vol. 15 U.S. Laws, p. 635 1
- White-Slavery Act (Mann Act); The Immigration Act of March 26, 1910 (36 Stat. 264); United States v. Sibray, 178 Fed., 148, 149; 36 CYC., p.1118; People vs. Chicago, 152 Ill. App., 546-552; 38 N.E., 746; U. S. v. Williams, 200 Fed., 541-2; U. S. v. Williams, 189 Fed., 917; Frick vs. Lewis, 195 Fed., 696; U. S. vs. Martin, 193 Fed., 797 - 8; Ex parte Saraceno, 182 Fed., 957; Ex parte Patterson, 166 Fed., 539; Chin Yow v. U. S., 208 U.S., 11; Ex parte Long Lock, 173 Fed., 208; Yamataya v. Fisher, 189 U.S., 86; 47 Law Ed., 721; In re Unlawful Detention of Mullah Singh and Seventy-two other Hindu Aliens, Case No. 2532; Ekiu v. United States, 142 U.S., 651; 35 Law Ed., 1146; United States v. Ju Toy, 198 U.S., 253; Lee Moon Sing v. United States, 158 U.S.538; Du Bruler v. Gallo, 184 Fed., 566, at 569; Williams v. U. S., 186 Fed., 479; Sinis Calchi v. Thomas, 195 Fed., 701; United States v. Williams, 175 Fed., 274; Holy Trinity vs. U.S., 143 United States, 457; William Williams vs. United States, ex rel Antonios Bougaris, 186 Fed., 479; The Japanese case in 189 U.S. page 87; Fou Yue Tin vs. United States, 149 U. S. 698; 13 Sup. Ct. 1016; 37 L. Ed. 905; United States vs. Sibray, 178 Fed. pp. 148 and 149; 39 L. Ed. 1085 1
- Wilcox v. Jackson, 13 Peters 498 1
- Zakonaite vs. Wolf. 33 Supreme Court Reporter, Vol. 33, p. 31. 1
- Zankonaite v. Wolf, 266 U.S. Sup. Ct. Rep., 272. 1
People
- Cushman, Edward E. 7
- Crosby, Frank L. (clerk) 3
- Halligan, O. P. 3
- Harshberger, F. M. (deputy) 3
- Boyle, John M. (U.S. marshal) 2
- Broadwell, Frank A. (clerk); 2
- Dore, John Francis 2
- Ellington, E. C. (deputy clerk) 2
- Neterer, Jeremiah 2
- (Gosney, T.W.) (original co-plaintiff) 1
- Abel, Edson C. (infantry captain) 1
- Agar, H. S. (notary public) 1
- Allen, Clay 1
- Allen, Fannie (surety) 1
- Allen, Frank Jr. (deputy) 1
- Allen, Wn. N. (surety) 1
- Alton, Bob (witness) 1
- Anderson, Ole (Surety for Petitioner) 1
- Archbald, Harry R. (Assistant U. S. Attorney) 1
- Askren, William D. 1
- Aspland, Andrew (Witness) 1
- Aspland, Ella May (Witness) 1
- Aspland, Jennie (Witness) 1
- Aspland, John H. (Witness) 1
- Aspland, Lise C. (Murder victim) 1
- Backus, C.F. (Justice of the Peace) 1
- Baldwin, C. A. 1
- Baldwin, Harris (Deputy Prosecuting Attorney) 1
- Bdigford, M. B. (barber board) 1
- Bearr, William (colonizer) 1
- Beeler, Adam (notary public) 1
- Behuke, H. W. (registrar) 1
- Belknap, W. W. (U.S. Secretary of War) 1
- Benn, B. B. (U. S. Marshal) 1
- Bernhardt, Benjamin J. (Surety for Petitioner) 1
- Berniger, N. H. (colonizer) 1
- Best, F. C. (petitioner witness) 1
- Beuer, E. B. (U. S. Marshal) 1
- Bew, Hong (Chinese laborer Gerald tried to smuggle) 1
- Bishop, J.H. (Election Judge, Spokane) 1
- Blackburn, John T. (Notary Public) 1
- Boldue, Frank (colonizer) 1
- Bond, Daniel W. (Judge of case where alleged crime of juror corruption occurred) 1
- Bowen, William R. (notary public) 1
- Bowyer, M. (witness) 1
- Boyd, L.F. (Clerk of Spokane, Washington) 1
- Boyer, C. L. (liuetenant) 1
- Boyle, John M. (U. S. Marshal) 1
- Boyle Jr., John M. (attorney) 1
- Boyle, L. D. (deputy); 1
- Bradley, L. P. (U.S. Army Colonel) 1
- Brighain, F. P. (colonizer) 1
- Brocket, J. W. (colonizer) 1
- Brockway, Earl B. 1
- Brome, Harrison Crosby 1
- Brown, Abel (Witness) 1
- Brown, Bowelur (affiant) 1
- Brown, Browder 1
- Brown, Browder D. (former counsel for petitioner) 1
- Brown, George M. (bondsman) 1
- Burke, J. H. (Deputy) 1
- Burnham, Horace Blois 1
- Caldwell, Hugh M. 1
- Campbell, John R. (Assistant Clerk) 1
- Cannon, H.L. (Election Clerk) 1
- Capt. Welch (Witness on behalf of the Keevans) 1
- Card, E. M. (judge for bail bond) 1
- Christian, George M. 1
- Clifford, Raymond W. 1
- Cogswell, Ira (Witness on behalf of Alice) 1
- Connell, William J. 1
- Conner, W. W. (officer) 1
- Coons, John B. (resident of Winnebago Reservation) 1
- Coons, Susan (resident of Winnebago Reservation) 1
- Corbett, J.E. (Witness) 1
- Corsby, Frank L. (clerk) Wellbron, Olin (Judge) 1
- Cory, Epes (witness) 1
- Cramer, Myron C. (deputy) 1
- Crook, George 1
- Crosby, Frank L. (Clerk); Jakin, Ed M. (Deputy Clerk; Thiel, C. M. (Clerk); Kecuace, S. A. (Notary Public); Hunter, B. A. (Immigration Inspector); Saito, Hana (Alleged Prostitute); Ito, K. (Witness); Umeda, K. (Witness); Washio, Shotaro (Witness); Sheesbrer, Walter A. (Notary Public); White, Alfred T. (Inspector, Signatory Witness); Saito, T. (Signatory Witness); Umeda (Head Hunter); Fisher, Thos M. (Immigration Inspector); Harris, Walter P. (Stenographer); De Bruler, Ellis (Commissioner of Immigration); Larned, F. H. (Acting Commissioner-General); Jacoby, Joseph R. H. (U. S. Marshall) 1
- Crowley, J.A. (Election Clerk) 1
- Culbertson, Samuel (deputy U.S. marshal) 1
- Daily, William (U.S. marshal) 1
- Davison, J. S. (chief deputy) 1
- Day, George A. 1
- Decora, Charles A. (witness) 1
- Decora, Peter 1
- Delano, C. (U.S. Secretary of the Interior) 1
- Dempsey, C.C. 1
- Dempsey, M. F. (petitioner witness) 1
- Denning, Henry (notary public) 1
- Dennison John (petitioner witness) 1
- Dennison, Thomas 1
- Densmore, J. B. 1
- Dickinson, David W. (notary public) 1
- Dingle, E. (deputy) 1
- Doane, H.W. (Juror) 1
- Doherty, C.J. (canadian minister of justice) 1
- Dominguez, Frank (Redman's attorney in criminal case) 1
- Dominick, George (Notary Public) 1
16 results
Download JSON Download CSVIn the matter of the application of John Gordon, for writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: May 15, 1875
- Petition type(s): Institutional: violation of military order
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Custody transferred to third party
In the Matter of the Application of Alice McKay for a Writ of Habeas Corpus for the Body of Mary McKay Her Infant Daughter
- Earliest record date: November 25, 1887
- Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody | Interpersonal: kidnapping | Institutional: child custody
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In the Matter of the application of Susan M. Horn the mother and natural guardian of Nora E. Horn and Rapsie Horn for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: May 28, 1898
- Petition type(s): Institutional: child custody
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of John E. Foye for Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: March 11, 1899
- Petition type(s): Carceral: Corruption of a Juror | Carceral: fugitive from justice
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the Matter of the Application of George Webster for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: May 13, 1897
- 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 Thomas Dennison for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: June 4, 1904
- Petition type(s): Carceral: grand larceny
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In the matter of the application of Charles Green Rainbow, James Fisher and Peter Decora for a writ of habeas corpus
- Earliest record date: March 16, 1905
- Petition type(s): Carceral: assault | Carceral: refusal to pay bail
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the Matter of the Application of J. A. Marcil for Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: June 21, 1902
- Petition type(s): Carceral | Carceral: parole violation
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
Petition of William Gerald for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: September 13, 1888
- Petition type(s): Carceral: smuggling | Carceral: immigration | Institutional: imprisoned for longer than term
- Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In re Thomas V. Redman on Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: June 13, 1911
- Petition type(s): Carceral: passing counterfeit currency
- Petition outcome: Unknown
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application for a writ of Habeas Corpus of W. W. Wingard
- Earliest record date: August 16, 1915
- Petition type(s): Carceral: tampering with witness(es)
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
Frank Timmons, Petitioner, vs. Thomas Morris as Sheriff of Pierce County, Washington, Defendant
- Earliest record date: June 28, 1920
- Petition type(s): Carceral: barbering without a license or certificate
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the matter of application of William Richter, Helena Richter, his wife, and Albert Wilhelm Richter, their minor child, for writs of habeas corpus
- Earliest record date: January 2, 1878
- Petition type(s): Carceral: Violation of Immigration Act of 1917
- Petition outcome: Unknown
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of Bernard Patrick Morris for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: April 7, 1917
- Petition type(s): Carceral: suspicion of draft evasion
- Petition outcome: Unknown
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of Tonka Bajlo for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: April 15, 1913
- Petition type(s): Carceral: deportation | Carceral: immigration | Carceral: prostitution
- Petition outcome: Unknown
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the Matter of the Petition of Albert H. Young and Kamasaburo Sugiura, alias B.D. Sugiura, aliens, for WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS.
- Earliest record date: August 21, 1913
- Petition type(s): Carceral | carceral: Violation of White Slave Traffic Act | Carceral: immigration
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody | deported
