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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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1876 results

In the Matter of the Application of Mary E. Teller for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 11, 1887
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: murder
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Habeas Corpus of Charles Deidrich against Bannick, Chief of Police

  • Earliest record date: January 19, 1912
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: wife abandonment | Carceral: wife desertion
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Cleveland Roy Williams for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 10, 1920
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Mrs Bessie Pffiffer for writ H. C.

  • Earliest record date: December 13, 1910
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Arthur L. Curfman for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 11, 1912
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the application of Ed. Collins for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 10, 1889
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: assault and battery
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of W. H. Harvey for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 10, 1891
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: larceny
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Mario Lozito for writ of Habeas Corpus for Francesca Lozito

  • Earliest record date: February 16, 1920
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: insanity
  • Petition outcome: Writ vacated
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Habeas Corpus of Myrtle Johnson for F.E. Wright against Frank Wright and Mattie Smails

  • Earliest record date: April 28, 1912
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Exhibits withdrawn

In re application of Roy McAllister for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 25, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: social disease
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of John Jakobowski for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 27, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: insanity

Habeas Corpus of Lawrence Holland by Margaret Holland against Edward Cudihee

  • Earliest record date: June 7, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: insanity
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Custody transferred to third party

Ora Miller v. House of the Good Shepherd and Mother Superior Rachel

  • Earliest record date: March 29, 1915
  • Petition type(s): Institutional
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the Application of Charles Sarvis for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 21, 1890
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the Application of John Wilken for a Writ of Habeas Corpus`

  • Earliest record date: November 21, 1912
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: insanity
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody | ordered to be re-sentenced

In the matter of the application of Otto Rose for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 7, 1921
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: juvenile detention
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application and Petition of Earl L. Sorensen for Habeas Corpuss

  • Earliest record date: January 19, 1922
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: failure to provide for spouse | Carceral: bigamy
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

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

In the Matter of the Application of Franklin C. Chase for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 1, 1907
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: wrongful imprisonment | Carceral: fraud
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Theodore G. Clark, for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 23, 1900
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: assault with intent to kill
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the Matter of the Petition of Arthur Powell for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 30, 1885
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: horse stealing
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Application of Abraham Jacobs for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 25, 1899
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Custody transferred to third party

In the Matter of the Application of Helen J. Holman for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 19, 1906
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

State of Nebraska ex rel Agnes Donohue, et al. vs. Kittie F. Noonan, et al.

  • Earliest record date: August 22, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In re application of Ethel De Lafleur for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 31, 1924
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy | Carceral: prostitution
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Application John Harris for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 21, 1915
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy | Carceral: wrongful imprisonment
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Mary Arlington and Timothy Johnson V. Lewis Byrd

  • Earliest record date: January 23, 1885
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: opium use
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Ex Rel Ruth Livingston vs. Dr. Ernest T. Manning Health Commissioner, City of Omaha and Alta Burger Superintendant Detention Home for Girls, For Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 15, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: public health detention | Carceral: inmate of ill-governed home
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed for want of prosecution
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Application of David S. Patterson for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 16, 1921
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: larceny | Carceral: obtaining money under false pretenses
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the re-application of Arthur F. Mullen on behalf of T. A. Dunn for a writ of Habeas

  • Earliest record date: December 27, 1912
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Thomas Cornwell for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 3, 1924
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: no charge
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of George Richardson for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 3, 1891
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: no charge
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the Application of Perry Anthony for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 26, 1921
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fraud
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Broderick v. Haller

  • Earliest record date: July 13, 1857
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: desertion
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the application of Habib Koneiser for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 17, 1898
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Peter Williamson Merta, for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 9, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration | Carceral: Violation of Immigration Act of 1917 | Carceral: advocating or teaching the unlawful destruction of property | Carceral: public charge
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the Matter of the Application of James Riley, for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 22, 1907
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: insanity
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Nick Evangellos 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

In the matter of the application for writ of Habeas Corpus for the body of Marion Lavonne Maurer

  • Earliest record date: October 2, 1917
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of A. C. Rankin for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 22, 1924
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the Matter of the Application of Matoba Watari for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 1, 1921
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Exhibits withdrawn | remained in custody | deported

In the Matter of the Application of Thomas L. Thurston for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 23, 1914
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: detaining, delaying, and embezzling mail matter
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Habeas Corpus in the matter of Daniel Hogan

  • Earliest record date: June 2, 1852
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: underage military enlistment
  • 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 re Application of Michael Mullaly for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 22, 1912
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the petition of Peter Duncan for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 20, 1903
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: assault and battery
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Reigh Poole for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 14, 1909
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: divorce
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of John Walker for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 25, 1900
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: bastardy | Carceral: subornation of perjury | Carceral: refusal or inability to pay fine
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

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

  • Earliest record date: September 24, 1920
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed for want of prosecution
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Petition of William H. Geary and William Williams for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 5, 1873
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: mutiny
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
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