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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 35
Petition Subtype
- Carceral: burglary 4
- Carceral: assault and battery 3
- Carceral: gambling 3
- Carceral: vagrancy 3
- Carceral 2
- Carceral: arson 2
- Carceral: assault with a deadly weapon 2
- Carceral: disturbing the peace 2
- Carceral: grand larceny 2
- Carceral: obtaining money under false pretenses 2
- Carceral: assault with intent to commit great bodily injury 1
- Carceral: default of bail 1
- Carceral: Exhibiting and Flourishing a Dangerous Weapon 1
- Carceral: Grave Robbery 1
- Carceral: immigration 1
- Carceral: Maliciously Prosecuting 1
- Carceral: murder 1
- Carceral: no charge 1
- Carceral: opium use 1
- Carceral: prostitution 1
- Carceral: running an opium den 1
- Carceral: selling liquor to Indians 1
- Carceral: suspicious character 1
- Carceral: wrongful imprisonment 1
Sex of Bound Party
- Male 30
- Female 2
- Unindicated 2
Race of Bound Party
- Unindicated 24
- Black 6
- Asian 2
- Indigenous 2
- Afrocaribbean 1
- Italian 1
- Multiracial 1
- White 1
Points of Law Cited
- Enabling Act of 1889 2
- Article 6 of the U.S. Constitution Sec. 10 & 22 of the Constitution of the State of Washington Sec. 93 of Laws of 1891 (Page 64) 1
- Article V, of the amendments of the Constitution of the United States 1
- Article XIV of the amendments of the Constitution of the United States 1
- L. Wash. Ten. 1875 139-166 Subdivision 7 of Section 32 1
- L. Wash. Ten. 407-455 subdivision 7, of section 32 1
- Ordinance 318 of Seattle, WA ("An ordinance to prevent the smoking and inhaling of opium") 1
- Ordinance 618 of Seattle, WA 1
- Section 1269 of Hill’s Code Section 1368 of Hill’s Code 1
- Section 1368 of Hill’s Code 1
- Section 1597 of Hill’s Code 1
- Section 31 Page 133 Laws of 1893 1
- Section 5 of the Act of the Congress of the United States of America, passed March 3rd, 1875 1
- Sections 1271 to 1285 inclusive of the Code of Washington (Territory) 1
- Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation, Between His Britannic Majesty and the United States of America (The Jay Treaty) 1
People
- Woolery, James H. 35
- Humes, Thomas J. 27
- Miller, John F. 8
- Crabtree, I.J. (Deputy) 4
- Garner, Allen A 4
- Caldwell, William 3
- Cousins, C.S. 3
- Farwell, G. B. 3
- Greene, Roger Sherman 3
- Ingersoll, Frank B. 3
- Spencer, W.B. (Clerk) 3
- Winsor, Richard 3
- Bailey, Gideon S. 2
- DeBoer, W. 2
- Gordon, T.W. (Clerk) 2
- Humphrey, Burt 2
- James, Frank Hartley 2
- Jeffrey, G.L. (G.L. Jeffries, J.G. Jeffreys) 2
- Langley, James Weston 2
- Lichtenberg, Isaac J. (Charles Westerfield) 2
- Noble, J.D. (Deputy) 2
- Osborn, Richard 2
- Seavey, James (clerk) 2
- Smith, H. H. (Deputy Clerk) 2
- Stewart, Walter 2
- Tutt, John W. 2
- Tyler, W.B. 2
- Von Tobel, Edward 2
- No Label 1
- Algar, F.C. (Surety) 1
- Bruce, J. M (witness) 1
- Clark, Harry (Charged with Burglary alongside Sullivan). 1
- Crabtree, I. J. (deputy) 1
- Cudihee, Edward (witness) 1
- Gordon, George (witness) 1
- Gordon, J. W. (clerk) 1
- Haines, J.C. (Initial attorney for gambling charges). 1
- Haines, J.C. (Initial attorney for gambling). 1
- Horton, George M. (Doctor and witness) 1
- Humes, T.J. (Initial Case Judge) 1
- Jackson, Andrew (Chief of Police of Seattle, witness) 1
- Lewin, R. B. (whose grave was robbed) 1
- McBride A. G. (deputy prosecuting attorney for original sentencing 1
- McBride, W. P. (Deputy Clerk) 1
- Noble, J. D. (deputy) 1
- Radloff, Virginia (criminal accomplice) 1
- Radloff, William (criminal accomplice) 1
- Shaffer, J.M . (gave the oath for Dewar’s arrest) 1
- Smith, H.H. (Deputy Clerk). 1
- Smith, Hubert H. (deputy) 1
- Spencer, W. B. (clerk) 1
- Spencer, W.B. (Clerk); 1
- Strayer, Fannie M. (witness) 1
- Wright, John (witness) 1
- Gordon, T.W. (County Clerk) 1
- Https//Enwikipediaorg/Wiki/Henry Mcbride (Politician)nn 1
- Seavey, James (clerk) 1
- Allen, John (Notary Public) 1
- Bellinger, C. B. 1
- Bennewitz, Richard(Victim) 1
- Bishop, Charles (C. P.) 1
- Block, Merlin 1
- Bojar, Antonio 1
- Boyum, Thomas 1
- Caan, Thomas H. (Justice of the Peace), McCowan, D. L. (Witness) 1
- Chapman, Louis (Lou Chapman) 1
- Corliss, C.W. 1
- Crabtree, I. J.(Deputy) 1
- Crabtree, I.J. (Deputy); Gordon, T.W. (Clerk); Smith, I.N. (Deputy Clerk); Matson, Mary (Victim, Wife of George Matson) 1
- Crabtree, I.J. (Deputy); Smith, I.N. (Deputy Clerk); Gordon, T.W. (Clerk) 1
- Davis, Sam C. (Judge of Coweta District) 1
- Dawsey, Meridy 1
- Deady, Paul R. 1
- Dewar, Robert (Richard) 1
- Dolph, C. A. 1
- Dunbar, Ralph Oregon 1
- Dupree, Frank 1
- Edwards, Sula 1
- Faegre, K.G. (Deputy) 1
- Fairfield, John W. 1
- Foster, J. H. 1
- Fountain, Thomas 1
- Fue, Gam 1
- Gardner, E.A. (witness) 1
- Gardner, Maud (Victim); 1
- Garver, Allan A. 1
- George, R. R. 1
- Gilbert, William B. 1
- Gilman, Luthene Claremont (L. C.) 1
- Gordon, F. W. (Clerk) 1
- Gordon, G.W. (Clerk) 1
- Gordon, J. W. (Clerk) 1
- Gordon, J. W. (clerk); McKay, S. G. (deputy) 1
- Gordon, J. W.(Clerk) 1
- Gordon, L.W. (Clerk); Crabtree, I.J. (Deputy); McKay, D.G. (Deputy Clerk) 1
- Gordon, T. W. (Clerk) 1
- Gordon, T. W. (Clerk); Smith, I. N. (Deputy Clerk); Stewart, W. W. (Notary Public) 1
- Gordon, T. W.(Clerk) 1
- Hanford, C. H. (notary public) 1
- Harris, James 1
35 results
Download JSON Download CSVIn the Matter of the Application of Nathan Sanguinette for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: October 22, 1894
- Petition type(s): Carceral: burglary
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In the matter of the application of Charles F. Ireland, For a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: June 20, 1894
- Petition type(s): Carceral: arson
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the application of George Matson for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: June 19, 1894
- Petition type(s): Carceral: disturbing the peace
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of Frank Williams for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: May 31, 1894
- Petition type(s): Carceral: disturbing the peace
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of Washington Johnson for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: March 26, 1894
- Petition type(s): Carceral: grand larceny
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Released on bail
In the matter of Petition of Meridy Dawsey for Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: April 28, 1894
- Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the Petition of Abe Townsend for Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: May 1, 1894
- Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of C. P. Bishop for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: April 10, 1894
- Petition type(s): Carceral: Maliciously Prosecuting
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the Matter of the application of Frank Dupree for writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: January 30, 1894
- Petition type(s): Carceral | Carceral: grand larceny
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In the matter of the Application of Alice A. Parker for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: December 31, 1893
- Petition type(s): Carceral: obtaining money under false pretenses
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Custody transferred to third party
In the matter of application of Sunny Luckey alias Charles Edwards for writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: August 29, 1893
- Petition type(s): Carceral: murder
- Petition outcome: Petition withdrawn
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In the matter of the application of Lou Chapman for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: October 10, 1893
- Petition type(s): Carceral: Exhibiting and Flourishing a Dangerous Weapon
- Petition outcome: Unknown
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of Billy Phillips for a Writ of Habeas Corpus for Ellen Phillips his wife
- Earliest record date: September 27, 1893
- Petition type(s): Carceral: wrongful imprisonment
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the Matter of Application for Robert Dewar for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: July 6, 1893
- Petition type(s): Carceral: burglary
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the Matter of the Application of Peter Westlin for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: July 15, 1893
- Petition type(s): Carceral: obtaining money under false pretenses
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of Antonia Bojar for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: June 2, 1892
- Petition type(s): Carceral: assault with a deadly weapon | Carceral: assault with intent to commit great bodily injury
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In the matter of the Application of Ludwig Shostrovich/Kostrouch for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: May 10, 1892
- Petition type(s): Carceral: Grave Robbery
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of Carl W. Sandberg and James Johnson on Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: April 14, 1893
- Petition type(s): Carceral: burglary
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the Application of Thomas Boyum for Writ of Habeas Corpus on behalf of Charles Sullivan
- Earliest record date: February 9, 1893
- Petition type(s): Carceral: burglary
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the Matter of the Application of Soo Hoo Wing for Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: February 3, 1893
- Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration | Carceral: prostitution
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Order of discharge | released from custody
In the matter of the application of Eugene W. Way for Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: March 2, 1892
- Petition type(s): Carceral: gambling
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released on bail
In the matter of J.H. Foster for Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: March 2, 1889
- Petition type(s): Carceral | Carceral: gambling
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of Henry Neal for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: January 8, 1892
- Petition type(s): Carceral: arson
- Petition outcome: Unknown
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of JG Jeffreys for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: October 7, 1891
- Petition type(s): Carceral: assault and battery
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the matter of GL Jeffrey for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: October 7, 1891
- Petition type(s): Carceral: assault and battery
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the matter of Matt Puryear for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: October 8, 1891
- Petition type(s): Carceral: assault and battery
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released on bail
In the matter of John McNeil for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: October 12, 1891
- Petition type(s): Carceral: default of bail
- Petition outcome: Unknown
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of Henry Howard for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: September 17, 1891
- Petition type(s): Carceral: selling liquor to Indians
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of George W. Loomis for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: May 14, 1891
- Petition type(s): Carceral: suspicious character
- Petition outcome: Unknown
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the matter of the application of James Walsh for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: March 12, 1891
- Petition type(s): Carceral: opium use
- Petition outcome: Unknown
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of George Richardson for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: February 3, 1891
- Petition type(s): Carceral: no charge
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of Thomas Fountain for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: November 13, 1891
- Petition type(s): Carceral: assault with a deadly weapon
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
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 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
City of Seattle v. John McLaine
- Earliest record date: February 28, 1884
- Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
