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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.

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Repository : History Nebraska (Lincoln, Nebraska)

718 results

In the Matter of the Application Lulu Huffman for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 19, 1915
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the Matter of the Application of Wah Lee for a Writ of Habeas Corpus on behalf of Lun Kim, Lun Yuk, and Lun Teu

  • Earliest record date: June 11, 1898
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: prostitution
  • 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: September 24, 1890
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: gambling
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of Patrick Martin for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 14, 1896
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Petition withdrawn
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of Charles R. Redick for Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 28, 1880
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: contempt of court
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of James King to be discharged from prison by Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 25, 1868
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of Frank Davies for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 6, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Franklin D. Smith for Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 1, 1874
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

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

The State of Nebraska v. Yellow Sun et al

  • Earliest record date: June 12, 1871
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: murder
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released on bail

In the Matter of the application of Jessie Fiandt for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 3, 1896
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In re-application of A. B. Cabe for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 5, 1891
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the application of Joseph Heider for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 6, 1909
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: insanity
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the Matter of the Application of Louise Wright for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 17, 1923
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In The Matter of the Application of C. Larson for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 12, 1899
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: unlicensed ticket scalping
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the Application of Archibald S. Jones for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 21, 1894
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: murder
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the Matter of the Application of Benjamin Creel for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 4, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of E. P. Child to be discharged from custody on a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 27, 1868
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Frank Zarnnif for Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 26, 1870
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Application of Anthony C. Wagner for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 4, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: wrongful imprisonment | Carceral: fraud
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Martin D. Reilly and Christy Reilly for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 29, 1922
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application and Petition of Earl J. Sorenson for Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 21, 1922
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Not in custody

In the matter of the application of Mamie S Gipson and Cora Mafall for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 31, 1914
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: prostitution
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Louie Charles for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 20, 1910
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: disturbing the peace
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

The State if Nebraska on the Relation of Willam J. McClain, Relator V. John Briggs and Michael Corccran, Respondants

  • Earliest record date: November 12, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: gambling
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of John C. Owen for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 11, 1911
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Leo Lung-Oh for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 21, 1906
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: deportation
  • Petition outcome: Petition withdrawn
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Petition of Aubrey Pickard for a Writ of Habeas Corpus for Leonard Pickards

  • Earliest record date: January 25, 1921
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In re-application of Grace Baker for writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 9, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

On the matter of the application of A. P. Scruggs for writ of Habeas Corpus for Charles Moore

  • Earliest record date: November 18, 1922
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Application and Petition of C. H. Paul for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 18, 1921
  • 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 Louis M. Cohn for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 26, 1892
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: contempt of court
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the Matter of the Application of A. Leonard Mossberger, ex rel, Leslie Mossberger, a minor, for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 16, 1915
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: juvenile detention | Institutional: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Robert Ashburn for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 3, 1886
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: New custody arrangement reached

In the matter of application of Cloid J. Wilson for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 29, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Carceral
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed for want of prosecution
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the application of Abel M. Perry for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 22, 1906
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: insanity
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of George Taylor for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 22, 1903
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

State of Nebraska on Relation of Thomas Sexton, Relator V. John Briggs and Michael Corcoran, Respondent

  • Earliest record date: May 19, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Daniel C. Harper for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 9, 1869
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the re-application of N. D. Coleman for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 5, 1894
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fraud
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of E. E. Koontz, for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 17, 1916
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: insanity
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of a Petition of Harry Thompson, for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 20, 1921
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

On the relation of Mrs. Lottie Parsons Relator vs. St. James Orphan Asylum Respondent

  • Earliest record date: October 9, 1911
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Micheal Richie for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 12, 1886
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Application of Emma Rupert for a writ of habeas corpus, for the body of Clarence Rupert

  • Earliest record date: April 9, 1900
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

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 reapplication of James Miller for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 22, 1895
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: burglary
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Frank McCartney for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 19, 1908
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: insanity
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

State of Nebraska ex rel D. O. Brown, for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 19, 1915
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: drunkenness | Carceral: insanity
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
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