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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
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Filter by:
State
- Washington 27
Petition Subtype
- Carceral: immigration 16
- Carceral: prostitution 5
- Carceral: public charge 3
- Institutional: seeking exemption from draft 3
- carceral: Violation of White Slave Traffic Act 2
- Carceral: advocating or teaching anarchy 1
- Carceral: advocating or teaching the unlawful destruction of property 1
- Carceral: barbering without a license or certificate 1
- Carceral: deportation 1
- Carceral: larceny 1
- Carceral: moral turpitude 1
- Carceral: tampering with witness(es) 1
- Carceral: violation of Mann Act/White-Slave Traffic Act of 1910 1
- Institutional: conscription 1
Court Name
- Us District Court For The Western District Of Washington (Seattle Washington) 25
- The Superior Court Of The State Of Washington For King County (Seattle Washington) 2
- Us Court Of Appeals For The Ninth Circuit (Seattle Washington) 2
- Fourth Judicial District Court Of Washington Territory Spokane County (Cheney Washington) 1
- Us Circuit Court For The Western District Of Washington (Seattle Washington) 1
Points of Law Cited
- Mann Act 2
- No Label 1
- Act of Congress Approved February 20th, 1907 1
- Angelus v. Sullivan et al. US Circuit Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit 1
- Application of Victor Larrucea for a Writ of Habeas Corpus before the District Court of the US in for the Southern District of California, Southern Division 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
- Burton vs. Burton, 1st Keyes 359 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
- Chin Yow v. U.S., 208 U.S., 8.; 1
- Cubyluck v. Bell, US District Court, Eastern District of New York (DOJ Bulletin No. 28) 1
- De Bruler v. Gallo, 184 Fed. 566 1
- De Bruler vs. Gallo 184 Fed. 566 1
- Deportation Law of February 20, 1907; 1
- Ekin v. United States, 142 U.S. 650 1
- Ex part Bigelow, 193 U.S. 328, Ex parte Lange, 18 Wall 163, In re Neilson, 131 U.S. 176, In re Snow, 120 U.S. 294, Article V. Constitution 1
- Ex parte Koerna, 176 Fed. 479 1
- ex Parte Molla Sing et al, 207 Fed. 780 1
- Ex Parte Moola Singh et al, 207 Fed. 780, at page 782 1
- Ex parte Saraeno, 182 Fed. 955 1
- Gonzales v. Williams, 192 U.S; Chin You v. U.S., 208 U.S. 8; Louis v. Frick, 233 U.S. 291; Geiow v. Uhl, 239 U.S. 3; U.S. v. Gay, 80 Fed. 254; Act of Feb. 26, 1885, 23 Stat. 333; Trinity v. U.S., 143 U.S. 457; U.S. v. Laws, 163 U.S. 258; In re Ellis, 124 Fed. 667; Immigration Act of 1903 1
- Hanges v. Whitfield, 209 Fed. 675 1
- Hopkins vs. Fachant, 130 Fed. 839. 1
- Hopkins vs. Fachant 130 Fed. 839, 843 1
- Immigration Act of 1907 1
- Immigration Act of Feb. 20, 1907 1
- Immigration Act of February 20, 1907 1
- Immigration Act of February 5th, 1917, Sec. 38 U.S. vs. Wo Jan, 245 U. S. 552, 62 L. Ed. 466 Act of September 13th, 1888, Section 13 Act of March 3rd, 1901, 31. Stat. 1093, Section 3 Act of April 29th, 1902, Stat. Pt. 1 - 176, 33 Stat. 394 Chinese Exclusion Act Colyer v. Skeffington 365 Fed. 29 222 Fed. Rep. P 745, Whitfield vs. Hanges McDonald vs. Siu Tak Sam 225 Fed. 710 Backus vs. Owe Sam Goon, 235 Fed. 847 Chin Chan Kam vs. U. S. 232 Fed. 855 Re. Chan Foo Lin, 243 Fed. 137 Washington Act of February 17th, 1917 163 U. S. 228 94 Fed. 832 149 U. S. 698 White vs. Chin Fong, 63 L. Ed. 554 Mayo vs. U. S., 251 Fed. 275 1
- In re Chin You Gen 1
- In re Feinkod, 47 Fed. 447 1
- In re Moola Singh, 207 Fed. 780 1
- In re Nickola, 184 Fed. 322 1
- In re O’Sullivan, 31 Fed. 447 1
- In Re Unlawful Detention of Mullah Singh and Seventy-two other Hindu Aliens, Case No. 2352 1
- Kane vs. McCarthy, 63 N.C. 299 1
- Kelly v. Kahoe, 19 L. Ed. 284 1
- Kelly v. Owen, 7 Wallace, 496 1
- Lee Moon Sing v. United States, 158 U.S. 528, Chin Yow v. United States, 208 U.S. 8 1
- Lewis v. Frick, 189 Fed. 146 1
- Low Wah Suey v. Backus, 225 U. S. 469, 475-6 1
- Low Wah Suey v. Backus, 225 U.S. 460, 56 L. ed. 1165 1
- Mann Act or White-Slave Traffic Act of 1910, (32 Stat. L. 397, C. 1140[U.S. Comp. St. Supp. 1911, p. 1701].) 1
- Military Draft Law 1
- Nishimura Ekiu v. United States, 142 U.S. 651 1
- Petition of Trinkhoff before the US District Court, Northern District of Illinois 1
- Prentis v. Cosmos, 196 Fed. 372 1
- Regina vs. Manning, 2nd Carr. & Kir. 886 1
- Roux v. Commissioner, 203 Fed. 413, 416 1
- Rule 22 of the Department of Commerce and Labor, Clause B of Sub-division 4 1
- Section 1 of the Immigration Act of Feb. 20, 1907 1
- Section 1993 Revised Statutes of the United States, Leonard vs. Grant, 5 Fed. 11 1
- Selective Service Act, Sec. 135 1
- Sprung vs. morton, 182 Fed. Rep. 330 1
- Treaties between the United States and China 1
- Treaty relations between the US and China; Chinese Exclusion Act; U.S. v. Williams, 190 Fed. 898; Ex Parte Mac Fock, 207 Fed. 696; Ah How v. United States, 193 U.S. 63; United States v. Lew Poy Dow (D.C.) 199 Fed. 786; Ex-parte Lam Pui, 217 Federal, page 462; Chin Yow v. United States; United States v. Redfern (D.C); United States v. Quan Wah (D.C.); United States v. Williams; People v. Van Zile; Boyd v. Glucklich; Leung Jun v. United States; United States v. Gin Fung; Lee Lung v. Patterson 1
- U. S. Compiled Statutes 1918 1
- United States ex rel. Bosny v. Williams, 185 Fed. 598. 1
- United States ex rel. Huber v. Sibray, 178 Fed. 144, 149 1
- United States v. Ju Toy, 198 U.S. 253 1
- United States v. Martin, 192 U.S. 1, 1
- United States v. Rodgers, 191 Fed. 970 1
- United States vs. Cohen, 179 Fed. Rep. 835. 1
- U.S. Const. art. I, § 8. 1
- U.S. Const. amend. V. 1
- U.S. v. International Mer. Marine Co. 194 Fed. 408 1
- U.S. v. Keller C.C. 13 Fed. 82 1
- U.S. v. Rodgers, 191 Fed. 971 1
- U.S. v. Williams, 186 Fed. 354,356 1
- U.S. v. Williams, 190 Fed. 897 1
- Ware v. Wisnor, C.C. 50 Fed. 301: Broadis v. Broadis, C. C. 86 Fed. 951 1
- Ware vs. Wisner, 50 Fed. Rep. 310. 1
- Yamataya v. Fisher, 189 U.S. 86 1
People
- Boyle, John M. (U.S. Marshal) 27
- Crosby, Frank L. (Clerk) 21
- White, Henry M. 18
- Neterer, Jeremiah 15
- Cushman, Edward E. 12
- Allen, Clay 11
- Fishburne, George P. 10
- Harshberger, F. M. (Clerk) 6
- Moodie, Albert 6
- Greene, H. A. (Green) 4
- Densmore, J. B. 3
- Joy, Albert H. (Immigrant Inspector) 3
- Lynch, Thos W. (Examining Inspector) 3
- Pierce, Ralph S. 3
- Sargeant, John H. (Sargent) 3
- Saunders, Robert C. 3
- Vanderveer, George F. (George T. Vanderveer) 3
- Waimingst, Morton D. (Deputy) 3
- White, Edward D. (Edward Douglas) 3
- Bell, William R. 2
- Billingstay, H.W.C. (Notary Public) 2
- Callahan, W. P. (Immigration Inspector) 2
- Esfeld, Max (Surety) 2
- Fox, Samuel (Surety) 2
- Halligan, O. P. 2
- Huggins, Alice (deputy clerk) 2
- Lakin, Edward M. (Deputy Clerk) 2
- Landon, Daniel 2
- Leitch, S. E. (Deputy Clerk) 2
- Olsen, George R. 2
- Post, Louis F. 2
- Roudebush, Rex S. 2
- Sargent, John H. (acting commissioner of immigration); 2
- Sargent, John H. (Notary public) 2
- Strong, George V. 2
- Young, D. L. (Notary Public) 2
- (Gosney, T.W.) (original co-plaintiff) 1
- Adolph, Thomas (witness) 1
- Albert Jr., Frank (Deputy U.S. Marshal) 1
- Alioshin, Noise 1
- Allen, Clay (U.S. Attorney) 1
- Allen, Fannie (surety) 1
- Allen, Wn. N. (surety) 1
- Aminette, A. J. (Commissioner General) 1
- Anderson, 1
- Ark, Wong (Affiant for petitioner) 1
- Arnout, J. C. (doctor) 1
- Askren, William D. 1
- Augustus, Johnny (delivered horses to Kelly) 1
- Bacon, James B. (attorney in Idaho) 1
- Barbour, J.H. (Immigration Inspector) 1
- Baron, Helen (Female minor in State v. Plastino) 1
- Bartholomew, Walter (Affiant for petitioner) 1
- Barton, C. A. (Idaho District Board Divison No. 2 member) 1
- Bdigford, M. B. (barber board) 1
- Bean, R.S. (District Judge of In re Chin You Gen) 1
- Bean, R.S. (Judge in In re Chin You Gen) 1
- Beeler, Adam 1
- Berg, Carl 1
- Berg O'Neill, Celia 1
- Bisegna, Antonio 1
- Bonham, R.P. 1
- Bonham, R.P. (Acting Inspector of Immigration); 1
- Books, A. (Deputy) 1
- Borree, J. J. (brigadier general) 1
- Bratten, Frank (witness) 1
- Brown, Belle (Also Accused) 1
- Brown, Bowelur (affiant) 1
- Brown, Browder 1
- Brown, Browder D. (former counsel for petitioner) 1
- Brown, George M. (bondsman) 1
- Burford, S.J. (Immigration Inspector) 1
- Burke, Rose (Also Accused) 1
- Cable, Benjamin S. 1
- Calligan, F. J. (Deputy) 1
- Caminetti, Anthony J. 1
- Cannhy, John B. (member local board 1) 1
- Capers, Robert E. 1
- Card, E. M. (judge for bail bond) 1
- Cardiff, Goldie (Alleged prostitute) 1
- Carter, A. L. (Idaho District Board Divison No. 2 member) 1
- Castner, B.P. (Surety) 1
- Center, John H. (U.S. Atty for VT) 1
- Chew, Lau Wing (Former spouse of bound party) 1
- Chiantis, Phillip 1
- Chimley, B. H. (Witness) 1
- Chin, Wing Hin [Chin, We Hue] (father of bound party) 1
- Chuck, Lim (Husband of Chin You Gen) 1
- Clark, A.L. 1
- Clifford (attorney) 1
- Clifford, Raymond W. 1
- Cohen, Samuel (Surety) 1
- collings, H. B. (Acting Solicitor for U. S. Department of Labor) 1
- Cook, S.M.H. (Deputy Clerk) 1
- Corrigan, John L. 1
- Cramer, Myron C. (deputy) 1
- Crosby, Frank L.(clerk) 1
- Cummings Koseris, Mary (wife of Michel) 1
- Cushman, Edward E. (Judge) 1
- Dattin, Eshel D. (U.S. Atty) 1
27 results
Download JSON Download CSVIn the matter of the application of Antonia Bisegna for a writ of habeas corpus
- Earliest record date: February 14, 1908
- Petition type(s): Carceral: public charge | Carceral: immigration | Carceral: moral turpitude
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In the matter of application of K. Gregory, et al. for a writ of habeas corpus
- Earliest record date: December 20, 1913
- Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration | Carceral: public charge
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Deported
In the matter of the application for a Writ of Habeas Corpus for Gwoo Shee Ah Look
- Earliest record date: November 4, 1913
- Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration | Carceral: prostitution
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the matter of the application of Celia Berg O'Neill for a writ of habeas corpus
- Earliest record date: October 14, 1914
- Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration | Carceral: prostitution
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the matter of the application of Marie Robina Grayson for a writ of habeas corpus
- Earliest record date: March 14, 1912
- Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration | Carceral: prostitution
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
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 Ng Key Tung for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: November 17, 1914
- Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In the matter of the application of Gussie Goldman Woods for a writ of habeas corpus
- Earliest record date: October 13, 1914
- Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration | Carceral: prostitution
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the matter of the application of Elsie Miller Dickinson for a writ of habeas corpus
- Earliest record date: October 13, 1914
- Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration | Carceral: prostitution
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the Matter of the Application of Chin Quock Wah for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: September 14, 1914
- Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In the Matter of the Application of Chin Sheung Wing for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: June 25, 1915
- Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the Matter of the Application of F. Ota, for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: October 19, 1915
- Petition type(s): Carceral: advocating or teaching anarchy
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
Petition of A. B. Kelly for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: April 11, 1916
- Petition type(s): Carceral: larceny
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
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
In the matter of the application of Sam Plastino for a writ of habeas corpus
- Earliest record date: April 25, 1911
- Petition type(s): carceral: Violation of White Slave Traffic Act | Carceral: immigration
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
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
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 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 Michel Koseris for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: November 7, 1917
- Petition type(s): Institutional: seeking exemption from draft
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In the matter of the application of Phillip Chiantis for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: June 5, 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 Theofarius George Mastoros for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: April 13, 1918
- Petition type(s): Institutional: conscription
- 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 Carl Berg for a writ of habeas corpus
- Earliest record date: May 15, 1918
- Petition type(s): Carceral: advocating or teaching the unlawful destruction of property | Carceral: public charge | Carceral: immigration
- 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 Janet MacKay, formerly Janet Roy, for a writ of habeas corpus
- Earliest record date: October 1, 1916
- Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Deported
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
Chung Him and Seid Yam v. Henry M. White
- Earliest record date: September 13, 1888
- Petition type(s): Carceral: deportation
- Petition outcome: Unknown
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
