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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

Application of Lars Brown for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 22, 1882
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: murder
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

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 Pearl Weaver v. Michael L. Clark Sheriff of Douglas County Nebraska and Sherman Clayton Jailer of Douglas County Jail, Nebraska, For writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 15, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy | Carceral: prostitution
  • 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 Robin Holmes for a Habeas Corpus directed to Natheniel Ford to bring up the bodies of Jenny or Mary Jane Holmes, Roxanna Holmes and James Holmes, children of said Robin Holmes

  • Earliest record date: January 1, 1841
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: wrongful enslavement
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

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

Arch v. Barnabas Harris

  • Earliest record date: May 11, 1817
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: wrongful enslavement
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Aspasia Petition for Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 10, 1827
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: wrongful enslavement
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

B. Norman v. J. F. Warren

  • Earliest record date: January 25, 1837
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: violation of city ordinance
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Bertha Crader vs. F. W. Durbin and State of Oregon

  • Earliest record date: January 21, 1901
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Broderick v. Haller

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

By the Habeas Corpus Act in the matter of Horatio Napoleon Marsden

  • Earliest record date: December 3, 1851
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Not in custody

By the Habeas Corpus Act in the matter of Philip Ahren

  • Earliest record date: December 18, 1851
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: underage military enlistment
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

By the Habeas Corpus Act, State Missouri vs. John Young

  • Earliest record date: March 26, 1828
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: wrongful enslavement
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Carey, a man of color vs. Benjamin Wilder

  • Earliest record date: March 8, 1831
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: wrongful imprisonment
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Catharine L. Martin v. Jesse Martin

  • Earliest record date: March 2, 1868
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody | Interpersonal: kidnapping
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Charles Gahres and Martha J. Gahres v. Isabella Sutton and W. H. Barrett

  • Earliest record date: August 1, 1868
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Charles I. John v. Thomas J. Flynn (U.S. Marshal) and Henry Schroeder (Jailer)

  • Earliest record date: February 24, 1916
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: violation of the Harrison Act | Carceral: possession of opium derivatives
  • Petition outcome: Petition withdrawn
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Charles M. Helmore v. United States

  • Earliest record date: July 18, 1916
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: drug use
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in 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

Chung Him and Seid Yam v. Henry M. White

  • Earliest record date: September 13, 1888
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: deportation
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

City of Seattle v. John McLaine

  • Earliest record date: February 28, 1884
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

City of Spokane v. Frankie Sutsinger

  • Earliest record date: November 27, 1885
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: drug use
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

City of Spokane v. Frankie Sutsinger

  • Earliest record date: November 23, 1885
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: drug use | Carceral: running an opium den
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Dan Sullivan v. David Marsh Sheriff of Whitman County

  • Earliest record date: June 10, 1881
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: petty larceny
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

David McFoy, a person of color v. William Brown

  • Earliest record date: June 26, 1843
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: wrongful enslavement
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

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

Dennis H. Cronin, U. S. Marshal, et al., Appellants, vs. Fred Totoro

  • Earliest record date: June 17, 1924
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: unlawful possession of intoxicating liquor | Carceral: unlawful sale of intoxicating liquor
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Dennis H. Cronin, U. S. Marshal, et al., Appellants, vs. Charles Marino

  • Earliest record date: June 17, 1924
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: unlawful possession of intoxicating liquor | Carceral: unlawful sale of intoxicating liquor
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Dennis H. Cronin, U. S. Marshal, et al., Appellants, vs. Charlie Mitchell

  • Earliest record date: June 16, 1924
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: unlawful possession of intoxicating liquor | Carceral: unlawful sale of intoxicating liquor | Carceral: maintaining a common nuisance
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Dennis H. Cronin, U. S. Marshal, et al., Appellants, vs. Mary Pierce

  • Earliest record date: June 17, 1924
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: unlawful sale of intoxicating liquor
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Dennis H. Cronin, U.S. Marshal, et al., Appellants, vs. Elmer R. MacNalley

  • Earliest record date: June 17, 1924
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: unlawful sale of intoxicating liquor | Carceral: maintaining a common nuisance
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Dennis H. Cronin, U.S. Marshal, et al., Appellants, vs. Florence Godly

  • Earliest record date: June 17, 1924
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: unlawful sale of intoxicating liquor | Carceral: unlawful possession of intoxicating liquor
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

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

Eugene Crowne v. James McAuliff

  • Earliest record date: May 31, 1869
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: adultery | Carceral: fornication
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Ex Parte: Donald McKarrecher - Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 18, 1902
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Released on bail

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 Joseph Scheiber

  • Earliest record date: May 12, 1862
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • 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 parte William Johnson

  • Earliest record date: October 11, 1854
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive slavery
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Ex Rel Fred V. Larson vs. Henry W. Dunn, Chief of Police and Steve Maloney Chief of Detectives - Fred T. Ray Sheriff or other agents of the State of Kansas, For Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 21, 1917
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: false pretenses | Carceral: mortgage fraud
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

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

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

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
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