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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:
State
- Washington 22
- Nebraska 1
Petition Subtype
- Carceral: immigration 15
- Carceral: deportation 2
- Carceral: embezzlement 2
- Carceral: prostitution 2
- Carceral: Chinese Exclusion Act 1
- Carceral: opium use 1
- Carceral: refusal or inability to pay fine 1
- Carceral: running an opium den 1
- Carceral: selling tobacco 1
- Carceral: unlawful detention 1
- Institutional: immigration 1
- Interpersonal: child custody 1
- Interpersonal: spousal custody 1
Age of Bound Party
- Adult 14
- Unindicated 6
- Minor 4
Court Name
- Us District Court For The Western District Of Washington (Seattle Washington) 9
- Us Circuit Court For The Western District Of Washington (Seattle Washington) 3
- King County Superior Court (Seattle Washington) 2
- Third Judicial District Court For The Territory Of Washington (Seattle Washington) 2
- District Court Of The United States District Of Washington (Port Townsend Washington) 1
- First Judicial District Court For The Territory Of Washington (Colfax Washington) 1
- Fourth Judicial District Court Of Washington Territory Spokane County (Cheney Washington) 1
- Second Judicial District Court For The Territory Of Washington (Tacoma Washington) 1
- Us Circuit Court For The Ninth District Washington (Seattle Washington) 1
- Us District Court For The Northern District Of Washington (Seattle Washington) 1
- Us District Court For The Omaha Division Of The District Of Nebraska (Omaha Nebraska) 1
Repository
- National Archives and Records Administration, Seattle Branch, Washington (Seattle, WA) (Seattle, Washington) 15
- Washington State Archives, Puget Sound Regional Branch (Bellevue, Washington) 3
- Washington State Archives, Northwest Regional Branch (Bellingham, WA) (Bellingham, Washington) 2
- National Archives and Records Administration, Kansas City (Kansas City, Kansas) 1
- Washington State Archives, Eastern Regional Branch (Cheney, WA) (Cheney, Washington) 1
- Washington State Archives, Southwest Regional Branch (Olympia, WA) (Olympia, Washington) 1
Points of Law Cited
- Geary Act, 1892 2
- 28 Stat. 390; Way Tai, 96 Fed. 484; Section 25, of the Immigration Act of February 20, 1907 (Stat. pp. 898, 906); Section 179, R.S. U.S.; Executive order (No. 1783); In re Tsuie Shee, et al.; Brooke v. Covinggrove, 177 U.S. 459; Gody v. Pentland, 85 Pa. 22; U. S. v. Williams, 190 Fed. 898; 4 Stat. L. 197 1
- Chin Yow v. U.S., 208 U.S., 8.; 1
- Deportation Law of February 20, 1907; 1
- Ex Parte Moola Singh et al, 207 Fed. 780, at page 782 1
- Hanges v. Whitfield, 209 Fed. 675 1
- Immigration Act of February 5th, 1917, Sec. 38 U.S. vs. Wo Jan, 245 U. S. 552, 62 L. Ed. 466 Act of September 13th, 1888, Section 13 Act of March 3rd, 1901, 31. Stat. 1093, Section 3 Act of April 29th, 1902, Stat. Pt. 1 - 176, 33 Stat. 394 Chinese Exclusion Act Colyer v. Skeffington 365 Fed. 29 222 Fed. Rep. P 745, Whitfield vs. Hanges McDonald vs. Siu Tak Sam 225 Fed. 710 Backus vs. Owe Sam Goon, 235 Fed. 847 Chin Chan Kam vs. U. S. 232 Fed. 855 Re. Chan Foo Lin, 243 Fed. 137 Washington Act of February 17th, 1917 163 U. S. 228 94 Fed. 832 149 U. S. 698 White vs. Chin Fong, 63 L. Ed. 554 Mayo vs. U. S., 251 Fed. 275 1
- In re Can Pon, 168 Fed. 479 1
- In re Chin You Gen 1
- In re D. Charlie Mark, 179 Fed. 292 1
- In re Tang Tun, 168 Fed. 1
- Low Wah Suey v. Backus, 225 U.S. 460, 56 L. ed. 1165 1
- People vs. People, 8 Howard Practice, N. Y.; Cyc. 80 Practice, Vol. 29, p. 15; Cyc. Vol. 29, p. 1588; Cyc. Vol. 29, p. 1583; Section 1979 of the Revised Statutes of the United States; DeManneville vs. DeManneville, 10 Ves. 52 1
- Roux v. Commissioner, 203 Fed. 413, 416 1
- Rule 22 of the Department of Commerce and Labor, Clause B of Sub-division 4 1
- Sec. 25 of the Chinese Exclusion Act; Comp. St. 1913, Sec. 4274; Ex parte Ng Kwack Kang, 233 Fed. 478 1
- United States ex rel. Bosny v. Williams, 185 Fed. 598. 1
- United States ex rel. Huber v. Sibray, 178 Fed. 144, 149 1
- U.S. Congressional Joint Resolution No. 17, June 30, 1897 1
- U.S. Const. amend. XIV. 1
- U.S. vs. Chin Yow, 208 1
- U.S. vs. Ju Toy, 198 U.S. 253. 1
People
- Neterer, Jeremiah 8
- White, Henry M. 8
- Hanford, Cornelius Holgate 5
- Allen, Clay 4
- Cushman, Edward E. 4
- Saunders, Robert C. 4
- Boyle, John M. (U.S. Marshal) 3
- Crosby, Frank L. (Clerk) 3
- Drake, James C. 3
- Fishburne, George P. 3
- Marks, J.E. (Notary Public) 3
- Moodie, Albert 3
- Sargeant, John H. (Sargent) 3
- Snell, Marshall K. 3
- Todd, Hugh C. 3
- Bell, William R. 2
- Bonham, R.P. 2
- Brinker, William H. 2
- Clifford, Miles E. (Court Commissioner, Circuit Court of the United States at Tacoma) 2
- Hawks, Thomas (Affiant) 2
- Hopkins, R.M. (Deputy Clerk) 2
- Kolmitz, Charlotte M. 2
- Monroe, Henry 2
- Murray, Charles W. (Notary Public) 2
- Richard, W.C. (Notary Public) 2
- Seavey, James (clerk) 2
- Sing, Ah 2
- Smith, A.J. (Affiant); 2
- Sullivan, John J. 2
- Wise, J.M. (Arresting Officer) 2
- Yuck, Moy (Affiant) 2
- , Joe (Joe Chinaman) 1
- Sedgerwood, William E. (Clerk) 1
- (Beacon, Charles W. (Signed Certificate) 1
- Aminette, A. J. (Commissioner General) 1
- Ark, Wong (Affiant for petitioner) 1
- Arnold, William (Affiant) 1
- Ayres, A. Reeves (Clerk) 1
- Ayure, A. Reeves (Clerk) 1
- Ayure, A.R. (Clerk) 1
- Ayures, A. Reeves (Deputy Clerk) 1
- Baker, Joseph H. (Assistant Cashier at Bozeman National Bank Witness) 1
- Barbour, J.H. (Chinese Inspector) 1
- Barbour, J.H. (Immigration Inspector) 1
- Barin, L.T. (U.S. Marshall) 1
- Bartholomew, Walter (Affiant for petitioner) 1
- Bean, R.S. (District Judge of In re Chin You Gen) 1
- Bean, R.S. (Judge in In re Chin You Gen) 1
- Beecher, H. F. 1
- Beeler, J. G. 1
- Billings, William 1
- Bing, Yee (Affiant) 1
- Blake, Henry F. 1
- Bonham, R.P. (Acting Inspector of Immigration); 1
- Books, A. (Deputy) 1
- Bradshaw, Charles M. 1
- Brewster, J. M. (Deputy Clerk) 1
- Brown, Belle (Also Accused) 1
- Burke, Rose (Also Accused) 1
- Campbell, Alex 1
- Capers, Robert E. 1
- Caton, Nathan Thomas (Caten) 1
- Chambers, A. H. (witness, butcher) 1
- Chew, Lau Wing (Former spouse of bound party) 1
- Chimley, B. H. (Witness) 1
- Chong, Go (Father of bound party) 1
- Chong, Moy (Moye Chong) 1
- Chow, Ah 1
- Chuck, Lim (Husband of Chin You Gen) 1
- Chung, Ding Yen (Translator) 1
- Chung, Lee (Affiant, business partner) 1
- Clark, A.L. 1
- Clifford, Miles E. (Court Commissioner of the Circuit Court at Tacoma) 1
- collings, H. B. (Acting Solicitor for U. S. Department of Labor) 1
- Corrigan, John L. 1
- Crosby, Frank L. (Clerk); Sargent, John H. (Assistant Commissioner); Boyle, John M. (U.S. Marshall); Lakin, Ed M. (Deputy) 1
- Crosby, Frank L.(clerk) 1
- Cudihee, Edward (Delivered writ, Holds Petitioner, Bound Parties, and Respondent in custody during case) 1
- De Bruler, Ellis 1
- Delaney, Edmond (Ed) 1
- Delaney, Thomas R. 1
- Delin A.T. (Affiant) 1
- Densmore, J. B. 1
- Dick, Louie (Witness for bound party during residence application) 1
- Dickinson, G. E. (Deponent) 1
- Dock, Wong Jun (Former spouse of bound party) 1
- Donaldson, Robert W. (Presbyterian Church Pastor Witness) 1
- Drake, James C. (Clerk) 1
- Dugan, F. P. (Notary Public) 1
- Engle, A. N. (Clerk) 1
- Everice, Edward 1
- Factor, 1
- Faulkner, Judson F. 1
- Fedderson, H. L. (Deponent) 1
- Finch, M. H. (Inspector In Charge) 1
- Fisher, Thomas M. 1
- Frank, Allyn L. (clerk) 1
- Fuller, Melville W. (Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, witness to writ) 1
- Fuller, Melville W. (Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, witness for habeas writ) 1
- Fuller, Melville W. (Chief Justice of the Supreme Court) 1
23 results
Download JSON Download CSVIn the Matter of the Application of Ah Chow for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: April 1, 1869
- Petition type(s): Carceral: refusal or inability to pay fine | Carceral: selling tobacco
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
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 Sam Pong for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: April 22, 1885
- Petition type(s): Carceral: embezzlement
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
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 Wah Ni for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: January 11, 1892
- Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody | deported
In the Matter of the Application of Moy Wah for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: January 22, 1892
- Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the Matter of the Application of Moy Chong for a Writ of Habeas corpus
- Earliest record date: March 10, 1892
- Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of Andrew J. Sawyer, United States District Attorney, for the District of Nebraska, Mee Lee Wah Village Company, a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Illinois, Chin Tu Ling, Lee Shun and Look Fung, citizens of China, for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: June 18, 1898
- Petition type(s): Carceral: unlawful detention
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: New custody arrangement reached
In the matter of the application of Wong Yuen for a writ of habeas corpus
- Earliest record date: June 25, 1903
- Petition type(s): Interpersonal: spousal custody | Interpersonal: child custody
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In the matter of the Application of Ah Oy, alias Loy Sen for Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: July 14, 1904
- Petition type(s): Carceral: embezzlement
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In Re: Petition of Ham Hung Wah by Tom Sing for Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: October 3, 1904
- Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration
- Petition outcome: Petition withdrawn
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the matter of the application of Ben Wa, for a writ of Habeas Corpus for Tung Kee
- Earliest record date: July 9, 1912
- Petition type(s): Carceral: deportation | Carceral: immigration
- Petition outcome: Unknown
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the Matter of the Application of Harry Gong for a Writ of Habeas Corpus for Yut Yow
- Earliest record date: November 4, 1913
- Petition type(s): Carceral: prostitution | Carceral: immigration
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Deported
In the matter of the application for a Writ of Habeas Corpus for Gwoo Shee Ah Look
- Earliest record date: November 4, 1913
- Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration | Carceral: prostitution
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Released from custody
In the Matter of the Application of CHIN HING, for a Writ of Habeas Corpus.
- Earliest record date: September 28, 1914
- Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration
- Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In the Matter of the Application of Chin Wah Hing, for a Writ of Habeas Corpus for Chin Doe Tung
- Earliest record date: July 7, 1916
- Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration
- Petition outcome: Writ allowed
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In the matter of the application of Yo You Jam, for a writ of habeas corpus.
- Earliest record date: August 4, 1916
- Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
In the matter of the application of Moy Share Park for a writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: April 2, 1920
- Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration | Carceral: Chinese Exclusion Act
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
Chung Him and Seid Yam v. Henry M. White
- Earliest record date: September 13, 1888
- Petition type(s): Carceral: deportation
- Petition outcome: Unknown
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the Matter of the Petition of Lee Suey, for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: April 5, 1921
- Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration
- Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
- Fate of bound party: Unknown
In the Matter of the Application of Moy Hing Hun for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: October 6, 1921
- Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration
- Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
- Fate of bound party: Deported | remained in custody
In the Matter of the Application of Jow Mun Fuey for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: January 5, 1922
- Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration
- Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody | deported
In the Matter of the Application of Mrs. Lee Sing Wot for a Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Earliest record date: April 6, 1889
- Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration
- Petition outcome: Writ denied
- Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
