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

Court Name

Type of Source

Length of Case File

Points of Law Cited

See more

People

See more
Type of Source : Case File

1421 results

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 William Shooks for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 12, 1893
  • Petition type(s): Carceral | Carceral: vagrancy | Carceral: contempt of court
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

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 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 the Application of Alice McKay for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 19, 1894
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: child custody | Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

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

Matter of Application of Charles (Chas.) Stevens for Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 25, 1893
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: malicious destruction of property
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Michael Kaufman for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 5, 1894
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: malicious destruction of property
  • 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

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 William F. Herman 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

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

In the matter of the Application of G. P. Van Dyke for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 19, 1894
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: robbery
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Michael Kennedy for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 9, 1894
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • 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 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 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 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 the application of James E. Moore for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 19, 1894
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: grand larceny
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

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 Nicholas Dick for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 1, 1894
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: disturbing the peace | Carceral: refusal or inability to pay fine
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the application of Andrew Anderson for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 5, 1894
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy | Carceral: fugitive from justice
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In re: application of C.P. Bishop and N. H. McLean for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 6, 1894
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: refusal or inability to pay fine
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the re-application of Andrew Anderson for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 8, 1894
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice | Carceral: vagrancy
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of John Nelson, Henry Overgard, and James Noscov for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 9, 1894
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: dumping garbage
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

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 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 Matter of the Application of Herman Weise for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 30, 1894
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: maintaining a common nuisance
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the Application of John Brown for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 6, 1894
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: disorderly conduct
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Application of William C. Monohon for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 11, 1894
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: selling samples without a license | Carceral: municipal violation | Carceral: peddling without a license
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Application of Maggie Jones for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 12, 1894
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of C. S. West for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 1, 1894
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: disorderly conduct
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Chas. Graham for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 29, 1894
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: robbery
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of J. P. Black for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 28, 1894
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: forgery
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In 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 L. Griffith for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 1, 1894
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Howard Litz for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 10, 1895
  • Petition type(s): Carceral
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Crist Tyrrell for a Writ of Habeas Corpus through his friend and agent Sigmund Arnstein

  • Earliest record date: January 15, 1895
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: unlawfully soliciting business
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In re Habeas Corpus Myrtle Watson

  • Earliest record date: September 1, 1894
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Beula Dixon and Maud Lewis for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 20, 1895
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy | Carceral: prostitution
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Harry L. Davis for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 29, 1895
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice | Carceral: grand larceny
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Charles Lewis and Ellis Hyde for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 22, 1895
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: drunk and disorderly
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of Oscar B. Hill for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 12, 1895
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: selling liquor without a license
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from 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

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 William S. Garrett and John F. Meyers for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 11, 1895
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: obstructing a US officer | Carceral: delaying the execution of US law | Carceral: assault with a deadly weapon
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Not in custody

In the matter of the application of Spafford Woodhull for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 7, 1896
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: murder
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Applications John McCormick and Bernard McCormick for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 11, 1896
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: assault with intent to wound
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the application of Victor B. Walker for a Writ of Habeas Corpus for the person of Henry Moore

  • Earliest record date: March 26, 1896
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: wrongful imprisonment
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Alfred Bradden for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 31, 1896
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: selling liquor without a license
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody
Back to top