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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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State
- Washington 19
- Alaska 1
Petition Subtype
- Institutional: imprisoned for longer than term 5
- Carceral: wrongful imprisonment 4
- Carceral 3
- Carceral: smuggling 3
- Carceral: fraud 2
- Carceral: immigration 2
- Carceral: conspiracy 1
- Carceral: detaining, delaying, and embezzling mail matter 1
- Carceral: drug use 1
- Carceral: forgery 1
- Carceral: larceny 1
- Carceral: obtaining goods under false pretenses 1
- Carceral: obtaining money under false pretenses 1
- Carceral: parole violation 1
- Carceral: passing counterfeit currency 1
- Carceral: possession of cocaine leaves 1
- Carceral: possession of opium derivatives 1
- Carceral: selling liquor to Indians 1
- Carceral: violation of Mann Act/White-Slave Traffic Act of 1910 1
Points of Law Cited
- 32 Law Edition, 274 Ex parte Nielsen, 131 U. S. 176, 33 L. Ed., 118 Ex parte Lange, 85 U. S., 163 21 Law Ed. 872 Ex parte Siebold, 100 U. S., 371, 25 Law Edition, 717 37 Texas Criminal Reports, 62 Section 37 of the Penal Code Section 138 of the Penal Code Section 215 of the Criminal Code Wharton Second Criminal Law, Sec. 1339 Re Eckart, 166 U. S., 481, 41 L. Ed., 1085 1
- Act of Congress, approved December 17, 1914 Forma Pauperis Act of June 25th, 1910 (36 Stat. 886) 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. 150 Penal Code 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 approved June 21, 1902, Sec. 1, 2, and amendment of April 27, 1906 Act of Congress approved June 25, 1910, Sec. 2-10 Parole Law (vol. 1 Supp. 1912 Fed. Stat. Ann., p. 304) Commutation Law (vol. 6 Fed. Stat. Ann., p. 41, as Amended April 27, 1906, Supp. 1909, p. 529) Section 3, 6, 10 of the Parole Act National Banking Act 1
- Act of Congress, Approved June 21st, 1902 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 Coy, 127 U. S., 731 1
- Forma Pauperis Act of June 25, 1910 (36 Stat. 866) Section 150 of the Federal Penal Code 1
- Frisbie v. U.S. 157 U.S. 160; United States v. Bornemann 35 Fed. 824; Leddbetter v. U.S. 108 Fed. 52; Beebe v. U.S. 2 Dak. 292; Section 995 (2) Criminal Law Volume 6 Dec; Talbert v. State, 37 So. 78, 140 Ala 96; Ex parte Doyle, 66 Pac. 2949, 26 Nev. 281; Schirmacher v. State, 45 S.W. 802; Kiefel v. State, 94 S.W. 463, 49 Tex. 308 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
- Sec. 1042 Revised Statutes of the United States Law of 1878 1
- Sec. 8 & 9, Act of September, 1888 Sec. 8, Act of February 20. 1907 Woo Wai et al. v. United States, the Circuit Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit O’Brien v. State, 6 Tex. App. 665 Connor v. People, 18 Colo. 373, 25 L.R.A. 341, 36 Am St. Rep. 295 Johnson v. State, 3 Tex. App. 593 Love v. People, 160 Ill. 501, 32 L.R.A. 139 State v. Walker, 124 Iowa 414, 100 N.W. 354 State v. Kennedy, 177 Mo. 98, 75 S.W. 989 Rhodes v. State, 39 Tex. Cr. R. 332, 45 S.W. 1009 Renner v. State, 43 Tex. Cr. R. 347, 65 S.W. 1102 Blain v. State, 30 Tex. App. 702, 18 S.W. 861 Washwood v. United States, 136 Pac. 184 State v. Crofford, 121 Iowa 395, 96 N.W. 889 People v. Parker, 67 Mich. 222, 34 N.W. 720, 11 Am. St. Rep. 578 Spies v. People, 122 Ill. 1, 12 N.E. 865, 17 N.E. 898, 3 Am. St. Rep. 320, and note 497 McKenzie v. State, 32 Tex. Cr. R. 568, 25 S.W. 426, 40 Am. St. Rep. 795 McCaskey v. Graff, 23 Pa. 321, 62 Am Dec. 336 Pickett v. United States, 216 U.S. 456, 30 Sup. Ct. 265, 54 L. Ed. 566 Mendenhall v. United States, 119 Pac. 594 Mattox v. United States, 156 U.S. 237, 15 Sup. Ct. 337, 39 L. Ed. 409 Johnson v. State, 29 Tex. App. 151 S.W. 647 Summers v. United States, 231 U.S. 92 Act of Congress, approved June 21, 1902, and amended April 27, 1906 (vol. 6, Fed. Stat. Ann., p. 41, and Supp., 1909, p. 529) 13th Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, Sec. 1 1
- Section 1 of the Act of Congress approved June 25, 1910 (“Parole Law”) The Forma Pauperis Act (approved June 25, 1910, 36 Stat. 866) 1
- Section 1028 Revised Statutes U.S.; In Re Wilson, 114 U.S. 417; Pointer v. U.S., 151 U.S. 396; Sandy White v. U.S., 164 U.S. 100; 1st Bishop Criminal Procedure, Sections 1347-1348; Davis v. Utah, 151 U.S. 262, 38 L.Ed.153; Crane v. U.S. 162 U.S. 625, 40 L.Ed.1097; Howard v. U.S., 75 Fed. 986; Ex parte Wilson, 114 U.S. 417; State v. Baldy, 17 Iowa 39; State v. Anderson, 3 Nev. 254; People v. Sullivan, 4 N.Y. Cr. C. 193 1
- Section 150 of the Penal Code of the United States Forma Pauperis Act, approved June 25, 1910. 36 Stat. 866 1
- Section 195 of the Criminal Code 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
People
- Halligan, O. P. 19
- Crosby, Frank L. (clerk) 14
- Cushman, Edward E. 14
- Harshberger, F. M. (deputy) 10
- Boyle, John M. (U. S. Marshal) 7
- Heuly, Neil O. (notary public) 6
- Ellington, E. C. (deputy clerk) 5
- Allen, Frank Jr. (deputy) 3
- Ellington, E. C. (deputy) 3
- Fishburne, George P. 3
- Allen, Clay 2
- Boyle, John M. (U.S. marshal) 2
- Clifford, Raymond W. 2
- Davison, J. S. (chief deputy) 2
- Dowd, Van M. 2
- Gerald, William 2
- Marcil, James A. (Marcel) 2
- Neterer, Jeremiah 2
- Osfeuly, Neil (notary public) 2
- Riddell, C. F. 2
- White, Edward D. (Edward Douglas) 2
- Adolph, Thomas (witness) 1
- Albert, Frank (deputy) 1
- Anicich, Joe (previous case) 1
- Archbald, Harry R. (Assistant U. S. Attorney) 1
- Augustus, Johnny (delivered horses to Kelly) 1
- Bailey, Leon M. 1
- Barker, William C. (arrested and tried with Williams) 1
- Barnes, Ben W. (witness) 1
- Beeler, Adam 1
- Bell, B. W. (witness) 1
- Bennet, J. M. (Auditor of Public Accounts) 1
- Benson, C. H. (witness) 1
- Bew, Hong (Chinese laborer Gerald tried to smuggle) 1
- Boughton, J. E. (witness) 1
- Bratten, Frank (witness) 1
- Bridges, Sawe D. (clerk/deputy) 1
- Brockway, Earl B. 1
- Brown, James P. (Acting United States Commissioner/clerk) 1
- Bunnell, Charles E. (District Judge for the Territory of Alaska) 1
- Bunnell, Charles E. (judge from previous case) 1
- Calvert, I. S. (treasurer) 1
- Chase, Franklin C. 1
- Chuck, Wong (acquitted on same charges as Gerald) 1
- Clark, J. E. (clerk) 1
- Clark, J.E. (Clerk) 1
- Clifford (attorney) 1
- Cloe, Albert P. (deputy) 1
- Coe, Henry Waldo (witness) 1
- Coiner, B. W. 1
- Conklin, Harry (witness) 1
- Corsby, Frank L. (clerk) Wellbron, Olin (Judge) 1
- Courtwright, Charles M. (accomplice/prison guard) 1
- Crosby, Frank L. (clerk;) Lakin, Ed M. (deputy;) Boyle, John M. (U.S. marshal;) Talley, John (deputy warden;) Secrist, John T. (deputy;) Huely, Neel G. (notary public;) Flynn, Thomas A. (Arizona attorney;) Kitt, George F. (foreman of the grand jury;) Chatham, Herbert R. (witness;) Gorman, W. J. (witness;) Drachman, Mose (clerk;) Sawtelle, William H. (judge;) Batts, Effie D. (deputy) 1
- Crosby, Frank L. (clerkk) 1
- Curtis, Van E. (witness in criminal case) 1
- Cushman, Edward E. (judge in criminal case) 1
- Davisson, Ira. S. (deputy) 1
- Denning, J. Henry 1
- Devlin, Robert T. 1
- Dingle, E. (deputy) 1
- Dishbanor, G. P. 1
- Dominguez, Frank (Redman's attorney in criminal case) 1
- Donald, J. A. (plaintiff in previous case) 1
- Drachman, Mose (Arizona clerk) 1
- Duehay, F. H. (president of the Board of Parole) 1
- Edison, Gross S. (Kansas prisoner who successfully used habeas corpus) 1
- Edison, Gross S. (released on habeas corpus) 1
- Ellington, Ele. (deputy clerk) 1
- Ellis, Gordon (police court judge) 1
- Engle, A. W. (clerk) 1
- Farwell, Peter W. (counterfeit victim) 1
- Faulkner, Raleigh M. 1
- Featherkile, Arthur (witness) 1
- Fisher, Joe (prisoner) 1
- Fitzgerald, Maurice J. (deputy marshal) 1
- Fleetwood, A. J. (deputy clerk) 1
- Fleetwood, T. J. (deputy) 1
- Flynn, Thomas A. (attorney for the district of Arizona) 1
- Foster, T. B. (witness) 1
- Foster, Thomas B. (witness) 1
- Fry, A. P (witness) 1
- Fuller, F. J. (judge in criminal case) 1
- Galindo, Lawrence (witness) Filmer, Bill George (foreman of Grand Jury) 1
- George Lavenworth (federal court judge); 1
- Gillette, Louis R. (previous attorney for petitioner in criminal case) 1
- Gobbi, Ernesto (agent of the immigration bureau/involved in immigration conspiracy) 1
- Guzman (prisoner) 1
- Hall, James (took horses from Kelly) 1
- Halligan, L. J. (chief deputy) 1
- Hanford, C. H. (judge in counterfeit case) 1
- Harshberger, F. M. (clerk) 1
- Harshberger, F. M. (deputy clerk) 1
- Harshberger, Frank (deputy clerk) 1
- Heely, Neil. O (notary public) 1
- Heilig, Reed W. (assistant US attorney for previous case) 1
- Heuly, Neil A. (notary public) 1
- Hideman, Charles (prisoner) 1
- Hing, Lee Yip (Chinese laborer Gerald tried to smuggle) 1
- Hopkins, C. B. (U. S. Marshal) 1
19 results
Download JSON Download CSVIn the Matter of the Application of Franklin C. Chase for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: April 1, 1907
- Petition type(s): Carceral: wrongful imprisonment | Carceral: fraud
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In re John Grant Lymon for Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: July 10, 1911
- Petition type(s): Carceral: conspiracy
- Petition outcome: Unknown
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
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
In the Matter of the Application of Paul Webster on Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: June 21, 1902
- Petition type(s): Carceral: smuggling | Institutional: imprisoned for longer than term
- Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
Application of James A. Marcil for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: June 21, 1902
- Petition type(s): Carceral | Institutional: imprisoned for longer than term
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In re: E. Stubley on Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: February 1, 1909
- Petition type(s): Institutional: imprisoned for longer than term | Carceral
- Petition outcome: Unknown
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
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
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
In the Matter of the Application of Thomas L. Thurston for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: July 23, 1914
- Petition type(s): Carceral: detaining, delaying, and embezzling mail matter
- 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 George Leib on Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: March 10, 1860
- Petition type(s): Carceral: wrongful imprisonment | Carceral: forgery
- Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
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 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
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 Charles Myers, on Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: August 29, 1916
- Petition type(s): Carceral: obtaining money under false pretenses | Carceral: obtaining goods under false pretenses
- Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the Matter of William Gerald on Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: July 1, 1912
- Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration | Institutional: imprisoned for longer than term | Carceral: smuggling
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in 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
In the Matter of William L. Huffman on Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: February 15, 1916
- Petition type(s): Carceral: wrongful imprisonment | Carceral: possession of opium derivatives
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from 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
