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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.

Newspaper report on the May 28, 1924 ruling with the headline 'Woman Denied Divorce.' Full text in Katie's story.

Featured story: The Habeas Corpus and Divorce Proceedings of Katie Mayes

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People : Broadwell, Frank A. (clerk)

38 results

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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 Peter Britton for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 23, 1900
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Russell G. Watson for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 12, 1900
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of George McBride for and on behalf of Margarie McBride for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 22, 1900
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: New custody arrangement reached

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

In the matter of the application of Lee Helsley on behalf of Lizzie Hurd for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 21, 1900
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: juvenile detention
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of James Nelson for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 31, 1901
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: unlawfully collecting and removing garbage, ashes, filth, and other refuse matter without a contract
  • Petition outcome: Petition withdrawn
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the Matter of the Petition of David Brown for Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 7, 1901
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: violation of Sunday Ordinance
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Minnie Bradley for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 7, 1901
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: kidnapping
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Ordered to be re-sentenced

In the matter of the Application of Henry Combs for a writ of Habeas Corpus for Thomas Combs and Charles Ross

  • Earliest record date: April 9, 1901
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: unlawfully collecting and removing garbage, ashes, filth, and other refuse matter without a contract
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Meyer Green for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 10, 1901
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: transferring judgment for purpose of avoiding state regulation
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of George Nelson for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

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

In the matter of the application of Albert T. Ryan on behalf of Fred Bonnis for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 17, 1901
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Ruby Gertrude Denny a minor for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 2, 1902
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: New custody arrangement reached

In the matter of the application of Sarah D. Bassett for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 18, 1902
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: juvenile detention
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Schuler Becker for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 7, 1902
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: peddling without a license
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • 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 application of Max Rosenthal, for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 25, 1902
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: maintaining a solicitor without having a license
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of Sarah Dee for a Writ of Habeas Corpus for Harry Dee

  • Earliest record date: October 28, 1902
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Application of Mary Moore for a Writ of Habeas Corpus for Walter Johnson

  • Earliest record date: February 18, 1903
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Fred Evers by Christ Evers, his father and next friend, for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 28, 1903
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

The State of Nebraska ex rel J. L. Greene, superintendent of the Nebraska Hospital for the insane vs. John J. Donahue Chief of Police of the city of Omaha, Patrick Havey, jailor of the city jail of said City of Omaha, and E. A. Bullock sheriff of Madison County, Nebraska

  • Earliest record date: April 16, 1903
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: insanity
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the writ of Habeas Corpus of E. B. Branch

  • Earliest record date: May 23, 1903
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: contempt of court
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Sid Anderson and Cyrus Johnson for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 27, 1903
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: distribution of circulars, dodgers, and advertisements
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the petition of Peter Duncan for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 20, 1903
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: assault and battery
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Arthur Moraine for a writ of habeas corpus for a minor child named Richard Moraine, and also known as Richard Murray

  • Earliest record date: September 18, 1903
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Howard L. Rucker for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 21, 1904
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: false pretenses
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Released on bail

In the matter of the application of Louis A. Borsheim and Helen A. Borsheim for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 5, 1904
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: New custody arrangement reached

In the matter of the application of Henry Cook for a writ of Habeas Corpus for and on behalf of James Garfield

  • Earliest record date: May 16, 1904
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: wrongful imprisonment
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

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 Berl Bernard for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 3, 1905
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of application of Jenny Degauy for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 3, 1905
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Pearl Brandt, minor, by Frank Brandt her father and next friend for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 27, 1905
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: New custody arrangement reached

In the matter of the application of Robert Green for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 1, 1905
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

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

  • Earliest record date: September 6, 1905
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: selling tobacco
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Charles G. Runker for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 3, 1905
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: arson
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Edward Stout for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 29, 1905
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: manufacturing a cigarette
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Sarah Bailey for Writ of Habeas Corpus for Charles Bailey

  • Earliest record date: March 28, 1907
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: wrongful imprisonment
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody
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