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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 of Martin D. Reilly and Christy Reilly for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 24, 1924
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • 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 of Edgar I. Fuller for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 27, 1922
  • Petition type(s): Carceral
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed for want of prosecution
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Edgar I. Fuller father of Helen Dorothy Fuller for Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 20, 1922
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: New custody arrangement reached

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 of J. H. Walker for a writ of Habeas Corpus for Louis Digilo alias Louis Marion

  • Earliest record date: November 13, 1922
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed for want of prosecution
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of R. H. Johnson for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 2, 1920
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Robert H. Johnson for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 20, 1922
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Carl Fisher for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 12, 1922
  • Petition type(s): Carceral | Carceral: no charge
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the Matter of the Application of Lela Murry for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 5, 1922
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: prostitution | Carceral: vagrancy
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In re application of Marie Philbrick for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 20, 1922
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Louis Loukas for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 15, 1922
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: wife desertion | Carceral: fugitive from justice
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Bert H. Palmer for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 9, 1922
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Louis Loukas for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 9, 1922
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: wife desertion | Carceral: fugitive from justice
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed for want of prosecution
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of application of Effie Norland for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 2, 1922
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed for want of prosecution
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

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

  • Earliest record date: April 18, 1922
  • Petition type(s): Carceral
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed for want of prosecution
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of application of Fred Sledge for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 19, 1922
  • Petition type(s): Carceral
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of application of Joe Vacarro for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 23, 1922
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed for want of prosecution
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of application of Joe Strilka for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 10, 1922
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: contempt of court
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of application of Anna Walter alias Mrs. Robert Walter for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 20, 1922
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of application of Frank Sellers for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 31, 1921
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: grand larceny
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

On the matter of the application of Anna Walter for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 14, 1922
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Edward Toman for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 7, 1922
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified | Institutional: juvenile detention
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed for want of prosecution
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Joseph Buckley for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 6, 1922
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed for want of prosecution
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of application of W. C. Adams for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 29, 1921
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

On the matter of the application of Urey E. Chapman for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 12, 1921
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

On the matter of the application of George F. Moore by Winifred Moore for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 1, 1921
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: bribery | Carceral: fugitive from justice
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of Thomas Sullivan on writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 13, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Carceral | Carceral: statutory rape
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in 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 the matter of the application of George Rigby for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 27, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy | Carceral: Pimp
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

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 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 Mrs. Alice Stanley for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 13, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed for want of prosecution
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Henry Slack for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 2, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy | Carceral: disorderly conduct
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed for want of prosecution
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In re application of Frank Diblasco for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 15, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: unlawful possession of intoxicating liquor
  • 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 re application of Kate 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 re application of John Larkovich, as known as, John Karkovich 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 re application for Habeas Corpus, Charles Ferguson Relator vs. Michael Clark Sheriff, Respondent

  • Earliest record date: October 22, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: unlawful possession of intoxicating liquor
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

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 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 Carl Shearer for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 7, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed for want of prosecution
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

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 allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In re appl’n Joe Ronneburg for writ Habeas Corpus vs. Marshall Eberstern Chief of Police, John Brigss Chief of Detectives, Captain Vanous, Captain of Police of Omaha

  • Earliest record date: October 3, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Carceral
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed for want of prosecution
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Dick Kimball for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 9, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: unlawful possession of intoxicating liquor
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Casper Krallman Relator for a writ of Habeas Corpus vs. Michael L. Clark, Sheriff, Respondent

  • Earliest record date: September 16, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: unlawful possession and transport of intoxicating liquor
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Genevieve Shoemaker for a Writ of Habeas Corpus <Frankie LaPorte>

  • 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 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 C. E. Clay for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 16, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: unlawful possession and transport of intoxicating liquor
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In re application for George W. Hahne and Elsie M. Hahne for writ of Habeas Corpus vs. Fred E. Sawtell and Mary A. Sawtell

  • Earliest record date: August 9, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown
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