Skip to main content
« Back to Explore

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.

Filter by:

Date

Drag slider to explore cases

Dates: -

Petition Type

Petition Subtype

See more

Petition Outcome

Fate of Bound Party

Sex of Bound Party

Age of Bound Party

Race of Bound Party

Petition Year

Earliest Record Date

Latest Record Year

Repository

Type of Source

Length of Case File

Points of Law Cited

People

See more
Repository : History Nebraska (Lincoln, Nebraska)

718 results

A. J. Schmoker v. Felix J. McShane Jr. and Henry Schroeder

  • Earliest record date: August 26, 1916
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: obtaining money under false pretenses
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released on bail

Abraham Franklin, Plantiff V. Henry Dunn as Chief Police of City of Omaha Nebraska, Stephen Maloney, Fred Heil, Defendant

  • Earliest record date: October 17, 1914
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: embezzlement | Carceral: suspicious character
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Albert Schiessl, Plantiff Vs. Mrs. Gussie Maloney, Defendent

  • Earliest record date: January 3, 1914
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Allen R. Kelly vs. John Power, Sheriff of Douglas County

  • Earliest record date: April 3, 1900
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: bribery
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Application for the Writ of Habeas Corpus for Mary Plunkett

  • Earliest record date: March 25, 1893
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: kidnapping
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Application of Alice Bigelow for a Writ of Habeas Corpus on Behalf of Edith and Edna Bigelow, her Daughters

  • Earliest record date: March 22, 1899
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Application of Alvin Maloney for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 27, 1915
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

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

Application of Charles E. Wheeler for Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 28, 1878
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Application of Eva Miller & Jessie Miller (Minors) for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 4, 1895
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

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

Application of Fred L. Smith for a Writ of Habeas Corpus on Red Johnson

  • Earliest record date: January 12, 1899
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: wrongful imprisonment
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Application of George Webb for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 24, 1896
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Application of Gertrude Bloomfield, on Behalf of Pearl Proto (infant) for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 29, 1896
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody | Interpersonal: kidnapping
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Application of James (Jas.) H. Howard for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 13, 1894
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: obtaining money under false pretenses
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Application of James Hallahan, Realator, for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 16, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: wrongful imprisonment
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Application of James Sparks for Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 2, 1893
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: malicious destruction of property
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Application of M. E. Smith for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 23, 1906
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Application of Marcus Glassman for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 20, 1914
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: insanity
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Application of Minnie Hall Riley for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 23, 1914
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: New custody arrangement reached

Application of Pearl Lyles for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 29, 1914
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Application of Pete Johnson for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 8, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: gambling
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Application of Rose Callahan for Writ of Habeas Corpus for James Callahan

  • Earliest record date: September 21, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: disturbing the peace
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Application of Ross W. Hill, by Sarah M. Hill, his mother, for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 20, 1908
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: insanity
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Charles Sitzman vs. L. C. Oberlies, A. E. Allyn, Catherine Worley, as the Board of Commissioners of State Institutions of the State of Nebraska and Doctor S. J. Stewart, Superintendent Institution for Feeble Minded Youth

  • Earliest record date: April 28, 1921
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Dennis Griffin v. Julia Sullivan and John Sullivan in a petition for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 13, 1899
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody | new custody arrangement reached

Ellis M. Harrison vs. Eillen M. Harrison

  • Earliest record date: November 12, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Petition withdrawn
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Ex Parte Hiram VanBuskirk, Application for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 22, 1887
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Ex Parte Wilhalm Spiertiz, Application for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 5, 1886
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

ex rel Joseph Miller, Bernard Miller, Peter Miller, and Ed Mazone vs. John Briggs and Michael Corcoran; Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 18, 1915
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: wrongful imprisonment
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Order of discharge

ex rel Lillian Quinn vs. Home of the Good Shepherd & Mother Superior Raphael

  • Earliest record date: March 8, 1915
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Floyd Fuller vs. William T. Fenton, Warden of the Penitentiary of the State of Nebraska

  • Earliest record date: June 13, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: second degree murder
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Francis A. Castie vs. Territory of Nebraska

  • Earliest record date: June 23, 1865
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In matter of application of Mortimer Fox by Parke Godwin for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 13, 1891
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: forgery
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In Re appl. of James Burns for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 2, 1911
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: burglary
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

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 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

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 for writ of habeas corpus by Lizzie Hendrickson

  • Earliest record date: February 1, 1893
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In re Application of Albert L. Rosenbloom for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 7, 1908
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: wife desertion
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In re application of Amanda S. Olsen, to secure a writ of Habeas Corpus for Mable Alfreda Johnson

  • Earliest record date: January 19, 1907
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: New custody arrangement reached

In re application of Curley Stenson for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 1, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In re application of Estella Lyell for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 9, 1909
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In re Application of Ethel Allen and Nellie Roberts for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 21, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: prostitution
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In re application of Flossie Gordon for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 6, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

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 Frank Fukaye and Dina Fukaye for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 10, 1908
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In Re: Application of Frank Thompson for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 21, 1923
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Petition withdrawn
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In re application of George A. Tarrant for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 24, 1907
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In re application of George Coffey for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 26, 1911
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: wrongful imprisonment
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown
Back to top