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
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Filter by:
State
- Washington 27
Petition Subtype
- Carceral: cause unspecified 3
- Carceral: refusal or inability to pay fine 3
- Carceral: running an opium den 3
- Carceral: contempt of court 2
- Carceral: gambling 2
- Carceral: opium use 2
- Carceral: administering drug to cause abortion 1
- Carceral: assault 1
- Carceral: assault and battery 1
- Carceral: desertion 1
- Carceral: grand larceny 1
- Carceral: keeping a house of ill repute 1
- Carceral: murder 1
- Carceral: obtaining money under false pretenses 1
- Carceral: peace bond 1
- Carceral: peddling without a license 1
- Carceral: possession of opium derivatives 1
- Carceral: refusal or inability to pay recognizance 1
- Carceral: unlawfully soliciting business 1
- Carceral: wrongful imprisonment 1
- Institutional: child custody 1
- Institutional: detaining sailors aboard ship 1
- Institutional: immigration 1
- Interpersonal: child custody 1
- Interpersonal: kidnapping 1
- Interpersonal: trafficking 1
- Interpersonal: wrongful enslavement 1
- Interpersonal: wrongful servitude 1
Age of Bound Party
- Adult 16
- Unindicated 9
- Minor 1
Race of Bound Party
- Unindicated 19
- Asian 4
- Chinese 2
- White 2
Points of Law Cited
- “An act for the sale of timber land in the states of California, Oregon, Nevada, and in Washington Territory,” U.S. Congress, 3 June 1878 1
- Mentioned Section 1843, 1847, & 1848 of the Code of Washington-Territory 1
- Ordinance 318 of Seattle, WA ("An ordinance to prevent the smoking and inhaling of opium") 1
- Ordinance 618 of Seattle, WA 1
- Ordinance 705: An Ordinance to license tax and regulate auctioners, hawkers and peddlers 1
- Section 2073 of the Code of WA 1
People
- Seavey, James (Clerk) 27
- Greene, Roger Sherman 19
- Ludlow, James P. (Deputy Clerk) 13
- McGraw, John Harte (J. A. McGraw) 9
- Jones, Richard A. 5
- Lewis, James Hamilton 5
- McGraw, J. H. (Sheriff) 3
- Ronald, James Theodore 3
- Wyckoff, Louis V. 3
- Cochran, William (Cochrane) 2
- Finleyson, George J. 2
- George, J. W. (U.S. Marshall) 2
- Gilman, Luthene Claremont (L. C.) 2
- Haines, John C. 2
- Hanford, Cornelius Holgate 2
- Hill, G. A. 2
- Ludlow, James P. (deputy) 2
- Ludlow, James P. (deputy) 2
- Lyon, George G. 2
- McMicken, Maurice 2
- Preston, Harold (Notary Public) 2
- Rasin, U. M. 2
- Struve, Henry G. 2
- Woods, Alfred 2
- Woolery, James H. 2
- , Joe (Joe Chinaman) 1
- , Qui 1
- Allen, John B. (U.S. Attorney for Washington Territory) 1
- Anderson, Peter (Witness) 1
- Andrews, L. B. (Clerk) 1
- Appleton, John (Witness) 1
- Arnold, George 1
- Barktell, Frank A. 1
- Baugs, F. L. (Complainant) 1
- Beal, Walter (Witness) 1
- Beaton, Thomas (sheriff) 1
- Beecher, H. F. 1
- Billy, Tokvat (witness) 1
- Black, N. J. (interested party) 1
- Blackwell, W. J. (interested party) 1
- Boyd, James 1
- Bradshaw, Charles M. (Bradshaus, Burdsham) 1
- Brannan, Joseph 1
- Brown, Beriah (Deputy Clerk) 1
- Bunker, 1
- Burke, Thomas 1
- Burnett, W. (interested party) 1
- Campbell, Alex 1
- Cann, T. H. (justice of the peace) 1
- Capt. Welch (Witness on behalf of the Keevans) 1
- Carpenter, James 1
- Carpenter, Mary (assaulted) 1
- Caso, Jamie F. (deputy) 1
- Chalmers, William L. 1
- Clarke, Alexander (Victim) 1
- Clinger, J. G. (deputy U.S. marshal) 1
- Clinger, J. G. (Witness, Subpoenaed) 1
- Cochrane, William (Sheriff) 1
- Cogswell, Ira (Witness on behalf of Alice) 1
- Daly, Peter (Alleged Co-Conspirator) 1
- Darwin, Charles B. 1
- Delaney, Thomas (witness) 1
- Dennison, B. F. (Notary Public) 1
- Dennison, D. W. C. (Witness) 1
- Doyle, William H. 1
- Evans, Elwood 1
- Everice, Edward 1
- Ferry, Elisha P. 1
- Finn, Chareles (witness) 1
- Flanagan, Peter (Witness) 1
- Foong, Ah 1
- Fowle, Fannie 1
- Fulmer, Edwin O. 1
- Gardner, E.A. (witness) 1
- Gellerson, George (Complainant) 1
- Gellerson, Josiah (Complainant) 1
- Gellinger, J (deputy U.S. marshal) 1
- George, Jesse W. 1
- George, Jesse W. (U.S. marshal, bound party) 1
- Gilman, Luthene Claremont (also notary public) 1
- Gilman, Luther Christopher (Notary Public) 1
- Gowen, Samuel 1
- Greene, Roger S. (Chief Justice) 1
- Gunderson, Gustave 1
- Hale, Henry C. 1
- Hall, J. M. 1
- Haller, Granville Morris 1
- Hamilton, Thomas J. 1
- Hanford, C. H. (Assistant U.S. Attorney for Washington Territory) 1
- Hanford, C. H. (District Attorney in the case U.S.A vs William Jameson et al.) 1
- Hanford, C. H. (notary public) 1
- Hanford, C.H. (Witness on behalf of the Keevans) 1
- Hanford, G. H. 1
- Harris, J. C. (County Auditor) 1
- Harris, Steve 1
- Hart, David 1
- Henan, Michael (F. C. Heenan) 1
- Herms, J. N. (notary public, clerk) 1
- Hess, C.F. (defendant in previous case) 1
- Hill, G. A. (Justice of the Peace) 1
27 results
Download JSON Download CSVIn the Matter of the Application of J. W. Tripp for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: June 3, 1867
- Petition type(s): Carceral: murder
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In the Matter of the Application of David Hughes Alexander S Hughes, Joseph Brannan James Boyd and David Hart, for a Writ of Habeas Corpus Against Lewis V. Wycoff, Sheriff of King County Washington Territory
- Earliest record date: May 14, 1875
- Petition type(s): Carceral: peace bond
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the Matter of the Application of George Arnold for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: July 5, 1881
- Petition type(s): Carceral: desertion
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In the matter of the Application of William Spears and James McGough for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: October 26, 1883
- Petition type(s): Carceral: obtaining money under false pretenses
- Petition outcome: Unknown
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of Sam Hing, John Sam, Joe Chinaman, Jim Kee, Ah Kee, Ah Sing, Ah Him, all Chinamen,--and James D. Patterson for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: July 2, 1884
- Petition type(s): Carceral: opium use | Carceral: running an opium den
- Petition outcome: Unknown
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the Application of Ah Korn et al. for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: September 10, 1884
- Petition type(s): Carceral: gambling
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the Matter of the Application of Albert Rhude for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: November 10, 1884
- Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the Matter of the Application of Qui, a Chinaman, for a writ of habeas corpus
- Earliest record date: November 14, 1884
- Petition type(s): Carceral: running an opium den | Carceral: opium use | Carceral: possession of opium derivatives
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of Ah Sam and Ah Who for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: February 21, 1885
- Petition type(s): Carceral: gambling
- Petition outcome: Unknown
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the Matter of the Petition of William Jones, William H. Doyle, Fred Williams and Alfred Woods for a Writ of Habeas Corpuswa
- Earliest record date: February 8, 1885
- Petition type(s): Carceral: refusal or inability to pay recognizance
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
United States of America vs. Leonard Martin
- Earliest record date: May 1, 1885
- Petition type(s): Carceral: unlawfully soliciting business
- Petition outcome: Unknown
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of Lee Kee for a writ of habeas corpus
- Earliest record date: May 21, 1885
- Petition type(s): Carceral: running an opium den
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the matter of the application of Michael Henan for discharge on a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: July 20, 1885
- Petition type(s): Carceral: grand larceny
- Petition outcome: Unknown
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the Matter of the Application of Sam Hop and Chinese subjects, for Writs of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: August 28, 1885
- Petition type(s): Institutional: immigration
- Petition outcome: Unknown
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of Alfred Woods for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: August 22, 1885
- Petition type(s): Carceral: contempt of court
- Petition outcome: Unknown
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of George Walker, John San Francisco and Pedro O'Brien for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: October 31, 1885
- Petition type(s): Institutional: detaining sailors aboard ship
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the matter of the application of Fannie Fowle, for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: November 20, 1885
- Petition type(s): Interpersonal: wrongful enslavement | Interpersonal: wrongful servitude | Interpersonal: trafficking
- Petition outcome: Unknown
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
Foong V. William Murphy. Application for Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: January 1, 1886
- Petition type(s): Carceral: refusal or inability to pay fine | Carceral: peddling without a license
- Petition outcome: Petition denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In the matter of the application of M. J. McDonough for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: February 21, 1887
- Petition type(s): Carceral: contempt of court
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Order of discharge
In the Matter of the Application of I. E. Spafford for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: March 29, 1887
- Petition type(s): Carceral: administering drug to cause abortion
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the matter of the application of Gustave Gunderson for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: June 27, 1887
- Petition type(s): Carceral: wrongful imprisonment
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the matter of the application of Charles W. Sawyer for a writ of habeas corpus
- Earliest record date: July 13, 1887
- Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
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 Habeas Corpus for J. S. McGuire
- Earliest record date: June 5, 1885
- Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
- Petition outcome: Unknown
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the Matter of the Application of James Carpenter for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: July 28, 1880
- Petition type(s): Carceral: assault and battery
- Petition outcome: Unknown
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application for writ of Habeas Corpus of H. W. Hull
- Earliest record date: April 21, 1884
- Petition type(s): Carceral: keeping a house of ill repute | Carceral: refusal or inability to pay fine
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the Matter of the Application of Samuel Gowen and Donald Webster for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: February 24, 1883
- Petition type(s): Carceral: assault | Carceral: refusal or inability to pay fine
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
