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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:
Petition Subtype
- Carceral: vagrancy 17
- Carceral: prostitution 9
- Institutional: public health detention 8
- Interpersonal: child custody 8
- Carceral 7
- Carceral: fugitive from justice 7
- Carceral: cause unspecified 4
- Carceral: disorderly conduct 4
- Carceral: grand larceny 4
- Carceral: unlawful possession and transport of intoxicating liquor 4
- Carceral: unlawful possession of intoxicating liquor 4
- Carceral: inmate of ill-governed home 3
- Carceral: inmate of ill-governed house 3
- Carceral: keeping a house of ill repute 3
- Carceral: drunkenness 2
- Carceral: possession of intoxicating liquor 2
- Carceral: refusal or inability to pay fine 2
- Carceral: wrongful imprisonment 2
- Institutional: convent 2
- Institutional: insanity 2
- Carceral: assault with intent to commit rape 1
- Carceral: blackmail 1
- Carceral: burglary 1
- Carceral: carrying a concealed weapon 1
- Carceral: default of bail 1
- Carceral: embezzlement 1
- Carceral: failure to provide for spouse 1
- Carceral: family abandonment 1
- Carceral: fast and reckless driving 1
- Carceral: fraud 1
- Carceral: larceny by bailee 1
- Carceral: non-support of wife 1
- Carceral: possession of burglary tools 1
- Carceral: social disease 1
- Carceral: statutory rape 1
- Carceral: unlawful detention 1
- Carceral: unlawful sale of intoxicating liquor 1
- Carceral: wanted for questioning 1
- Institutional 1
- Institutional: child custody 1
- Institutional: vagrancy 1
Sex of Bound Party
- Male 54
- Female 36
- Unindicated 1
Age of Bound Party
- Adult 58
- Unindicated 20
- Minor 12
- Unclear 1
Type of Source
- Case File 69
- Docket 69
- Complete Record 1
Points of Law Cited
- Ordinance No. 9852 3
- 55 A. S. R. 259 State V Perkins, 143 La. 55: 120 N. W. 62 In re Williams, 39 Minn. 172: 39 N. W. 65 Ex Parte Shaw, 7 Ohio St. 81 1
- 70 Am. Dec. 55 1
- City of Omaha Ordinance No. 10222 1
- City of Omaha Ordinance No. 9852 1
- City of Omaha, Ordinance No. 9852 - Making it unlawful to expose another to venereal infection. 1
- House Roll No. 47 (Repeal of § 8635, Approved by Governor 16 March 1915) 1
- Michelson V Beemer, 72 Neb. Page 761 Cole V State 180 N. W. Page 564 Section 9152, Revised Statute of Nebraska 1913 Corpus Juris, Volume 16, Page 1311 Smithey V State, 93 Miss. 257 Compare Wecheler V United States, 185, Federal 579 Re Kelly 65, California, 154 3 L. A. R. Page 1572 Ex Parte Duff, 105 N. W., Page 138 Ex Parte Cole 174 N. W. at Page 509, and Page 848 Michaelson v Beemer, 12 Nebr. 761, 101 N. W. 1007 McCormick V State 66 Nebr. 337, 12 N. W. 606 In Re Reed, 143 Cal. 634: 77 Psc. 660 State V Klock, 48 La. Ann 67 1
- Nebraska Revised Statutes 1913 § 8635 1
- Nebraska State Statutes Page 450 Section 56 1
- Omaha City Ordinance #9852 - Making it unlawful to expose others to venereal disease (full copy of ordinance in case file) 1
- Ordinance No. 10222 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
- Paragraph 8865 of Section 290 of the Revised Statues of Nebraska for 1913 1
- Paragraph 8865 of the Revised Statutes of Nebraska for 1913 1
- Revised Statutes of Nebraska 1913 Sec. 8874 1
- Section 2, Chapter 146, Session Laws of 1917 1
- Section 202 of the Revised Statutes of the State of Nebraska 1
- Section 290 of the Criminal Code of the State of Nebraska 1
- Section 8835 of Revised Statute 1913 State of Nebraska 1
- The state of Nebraska Ordinance No. 10222 1
- The state of Nebraska Ordinance No. 9852 1
- U.S. Const. amend. V 1
- U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 1. 1
People
- Redick, William A. 95
- Smith, Robert (clerk); 78
- Clark, Michael L. 39
- Steere Jr., Asel (Deputy) 38
- Clark, Michael L. (sheriff) 29
- Eberstein, Marshall 16
- Berger, John M. 15
- Shotwell, A. V. (County Attorney) 14
- Fitzgerald, James M. (James J.) 12
- Foster, Charles E. 11
- Magney, George A. (County Attorney) 11
- Manning, Ernest T. (Ernest C.) 11
- Foster, W. A. (Deputy) 10
- Estelle, Lee S. 9
- Foster, W. A. 9
- Shotwell, Abel V. 9
- Steere, Asel Jr. (deputy clerk) 9
- Macfarland, John M. 8
- Smith, Robert [clerk] 8
- Clark, Michael L. [sheriff] 6
- Dunn, John T. (John J. Dunn) 6
- Horrigan, Daniel H. (Daniel H. Harrigan) 6
- Hoye, Charles W. (Deputy) 6
- Madden, Ray J. 6
- Magney, George A. 6
- Briggs, John 5
- Dempsey, Michael F. 5
- Lovely, William E. 5
- O’Sullivan, Eugene D. (E. D.) 5
- Bumbaugh, Edward R. (Notary Public) 4
- Day, L. B. 4
- Jamieson, William Nicholas (Jameson) 4
- Lindsay, James F. (Deputy) 4
- Murray, Thomas B. 4
- O'Keefe, T. J. (Y. J.) 4
- Sears, Willis G. 4
- Shotwell, A.V. (County Attorney) 4
- Steele Jr., Asel [deputy] 4
- Steere, Asel Jr. (Deputy) 4
- Abbott, Ray J. 3
- Baldwin, John N. (John W.) 3
- Brailey, Edwin F. 3
- Bremers, R. H. 3
- Britt, C. W. 3
- Burger, John M. (Complainant) 3
- Claiborne, H. H. 3
- Day, George A. 3
- Hardy, Elizabeth (Mrs. J.C. Hardy) 3
- McKelvie, Samuel Roy 3
- Morrissey, Andrew Marcus 3
- Murray, J. B. (Complainant) 3
- Payne, Ike 3
- Ritchie, Albert S. (Richie) 3
- Vanous, Anton 3
- Welch, P.J. [deputy] 3
- Atkins, Nellie 2
- Clayton, Sherman 2
- Cummings, James 2
- Donahue, John J. (Donahoe) 2
- Foster, W. A. (deputy sheriff); 2
- Foster, W. A. (Notary Public) 2
- Foster, W.A. [deputy] 2
- Gehrke, Freida E. (notary) 2
- Greene, P. F. (Deputy) 2
- Heitfeld, Henry (Heitfeldt) 2
- Holmes, George 2
- Horton, Richard S. 2
- Johnson, Ethel 2
- Lee, George A. 2
- Leslie, Charles 2
- Lovely, Joe M. (Notary Public) 2
- McDonald, H. S. (deputy) 2
- Morearty, Edward F. (Ed. F.) 2
- Morearty, J. F. (Notary Public) 2
- Moriarty, John F. 2
- Murray, T. B. (City Prosecutor) 2
- Musgrave, R. J. (deputy) 2
- Steere Jr., A. (deputy) 2
- Suepwisk, J. B. (Deputy) 2
- Troupe, A. C. (Troup) 2
- Wakeley, Arthur C. 2
- Weaver, Frank L. 2
- Welch, P. J. (Deputy) 2
- , (Mother Superior of the Good Shepherd Convent) 1
- , Harriet (Consecrate Mary of the Seven Dolars) 1
- Loch, Peter [O'Neill's friend, witness for the defense] 1
- , Mother Superior Rachel 1
- Palmtag [witness for the state in police court hearing] 1
- Adams, William Earl [neighborhood watchman also present at the petitioners' arrest, witness for the state] 1
- Ahrendersen, C. P. (Witness) 1
- Algoe, Lillian 1
- Allen, Edgar Ray (Notary Public) 1
- Allen, Mamie 1
- Allison, Grace [Katherine Allison's daughter, witness for the state] 1
- Allison, Katherine [witness for the state] 1
- Alton, Bob (witness) 1
- Amick, Erwin H (Notary Public) 1
- Amsberry, O.M. (Secretary of State) 1
- Amsburry, Darius M. (Secretary of State) 1
- Amsbury, Darius M. (Secretary of State) 1
95 results
Download JSON Download CSVIn the matter of the application of Harry Meehan for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: February 7, 1919
- Petition type(s): Carceral: carrying a concealed weapon
- Petition outcome: Unknown
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
Application of Ex Rel Henry Hoffman vs. Michael Clark Sheriff of Douglas County and Sherman Clayton Jailer
- Earliest record date: June 10, 1918
- Petition type(s): Carceral: unlawful possession of intoxicating liquor
- Petition outcome: Unknown
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of application of Margaret Grundy by Mrs. Roy Davis her mother and next friend for writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: August 23, 1919
- Petition type(s): Institutional: convent
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
The state of Nebraska, on relation of Anna C. Sieck, Relator, vs. Lawrence B. Pillsbury, as Superintendent of the State Hospital for Insane, at Lincoln, Nebraska, and Robert Smith, as Clerk of the District Court and Ex-Office Clerk of the Commissioners of Insanity of Douglas County, Nebraska, Respondents
- Earliest record date: April 16, 1918
- Petition type(s): Institutional: insanity
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the matter of the application of William A Mixon for Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: November 14, 1918
- Petition type(s): Carceral: wanted for questioning
- Petition outcome: Unknown
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter application of George Duncan for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: September 2, 1919
- Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In re application of Ike Payne for writ of Habeas Corpus vs. Michael L. Clark Sheriff, Respondent
- Earliest record date: September 12, 1918
- Petition type(s): Carceral: unlawful possession and transport of intoxicating liquor
- Petition outcome: Writ dismissed for want of prosecution
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
On the Matter of the Application of Susie Hunter for Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: October 19, 1921
- Petition type(s): Carceral
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In re application of Madge Weeks for writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: January 30, 1918
- Petition type(s): Carceral: prostitution
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In re app of Mack Dwyer for writ of H.C.
- Earliest record date: August 28, 1919
- Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy | Carceral: refusal or inability to pay fine
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of application of Nellie Atkins for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: February 10, 1919
- Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy | Carceral: prostitution | Carceral: keeping a house of ill repute
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the matter of the application of George Brown for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: July 30, 1918
- Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the matter of the application of Alma Zerbst for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: September 28, 1917
- Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
- Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In the matter of the application of R.E. Wilkinson for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: April 10, 1919
- Petition type(s): Carceral
- Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of Peter G. Lewis for writ of Habeas Corpus for Robert W. Bryant
- Earliest record date: September 18, 1918
- Petition type(s): Carceral: unlawful detention
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In re application of Albert Larson for and on behalf of his Daughter Nellie E. Larson for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: April 3, 1919
- Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In re application of Joseph W. Fleming for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: June 23, 1919
- Petition type(s): Carceral: fraud
- Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of Application of A. F. Ryan for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: June 4, 1919
- Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In re application of Edward Falconer for writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: September 24, 1919
- Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Custody transferred to third party
In the matter of the application of Grafton W. Coffin for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: March 4, 1919
- Petition type(s): Carceral: larceny by bailee
- Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In the matter of the application of B. E. Atherton for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: March 28, 1919
- Petition type(s): Carceral: family abandonment
- Petition outcome: Writ dismissed for want of prosecution
- Fate of bound party: New custody arrangement reached
In the matter of the application of Claudio Delitala for writ of habeas corpus for Francesca Lozito
- Earliest record date: February 20, 1920
- Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
- Petition outcome: Unknown
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of Jim Stevens for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: January 6, 1919
- Petition type(s): Carceral: drunkenness | Carceral: possession of intoxicating liquor
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In re application of Crystal Gilson for Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: February 14, 1919
- Petition type(s): Carceral: unlawful sale of intoxicating liquor
- Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In re application of Maud Shaw by Jud Brown for writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: March 5, 1918
- Petition type(s): Institutional: public health detention
- Petition outcome: Writ dismissed for want of prosecution
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of John Murray for writ of Habeas Corpus for his minor child known as Harry McCaustland
- Earliest record date: December 23, 1908
- Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
- Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In the matter of application of Stanley Fox for writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: September 18, 1919
- Petition type(s): Carceral: statutory rape | Carceral: default of bail
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In re application of Pete Wolf for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: October 26, 1918
- Petition type(s): Carceral: inmate of ill-governed home
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the matter of the application of Lillian Algoe for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: June 9, 1905
- Petition type(s): Carceral: blackmail
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of application of Ruth McLane for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: February 10, 1919
- Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy | Carceral: inmate of ill-governed house | Carceral: prostitution
- Petition outcome: Unknown
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the matter of the application of Morris Passovoy for writ H. C.
- Earliest record date: July 22, 1911
- Petition type(s): Carceral: embezzlement
- Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In re application of Roy McAllister for Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: July 25, 1918
- Petition type(s): Carceral: social disease
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
Ora Miller v. House of the Good Shepherd and Mother Superior Rachel
- Earliest record date: March 29, 1915
- Petition type(s): Institutional
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
Ex Rel Ruth Livingston vs. Dr. Ernest T. Manning Health Commissioner, City of Omaha and Alta Burger Superintendant Detention Home for Girls, For Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: July 15, 1918
- Petition type(s): Institutional: public health detention | Carceral: inmate of ill-governed home
- Petition outcome: Writ dismissed for want of prosecution
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of Maggie Summers for a Writ of Habeas Corpus for Samuel Summers
- Earliest record date: August 27, 1918
- Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In re application of Flossie Gordon for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: July 6, 1918
- Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In re application of Joe Petrovick for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: October 31, 1918
- Petition type(s): Carceral
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In the matter of the application of James Cummings for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: November 5, 1919
- Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In the matter of the application of Amos Milling for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: January 15, 1921
- Petition type(s): Carceral | Carceral: cause unspecified
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of Frederick Jacobsen for Writ of Habeas Corpus for Helen Jacobsen
- Earliest record date: December 29, 1919
- Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In re app Mack Sterns for writ H.C.
- Earliest record date: August 28, 1919
- Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In re application of John Sullivan for Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: February 24, 1919
- Petition type(s): Carceral: fast and reckless driving
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released on bail
In the matter of the application of James H Parsons for writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: August 28, 1918
- Petition type(s): Carceral: grand larceny | Carceral: fugitive from justice
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In the matter of the application of Enola Crater for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: June 4, 1918
- Petition type(s): Carceral: drunkenness
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In re application of Marie Wells for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: October 16, 1918
- Petition type(s): Institutional: public health detention
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In the matter of the application of William Carthrum for writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: October 16, 1918
- Petition type(s): Institutional: public health detention
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the matter of the application of Pearl Wilson for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: December 2, 1918
- Petition type(s): Carceral: prostitution | Carceral: vagrancy | Carceral: disorderly conduct
- Petition outcome: Petition withdrawn
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of Nellie Atkins for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: January 16, 1919
- Petition type(s): Institutional: public health detention
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of application of Ethel Johnson for Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: February 13, 1919
- Petition type(s): Carceral: keeping a house of ill repute
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Dismissed
In the matter of the application of James Cummings for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: November 11, 1919
- Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
