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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

State of Nebraska ex rel D. O. Brown, for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 19, 1915
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: drunkenness | Carceral: insanity
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

State of Nebraska, ex rel Averil Mocroft, for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 7, 1915
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

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

State of Missouri vs James Watt

  • Earliest record date: September 10, 1820
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: larceny | Carceral: being in possession of stolen goods
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

The State if Nebraska on the Relation of Willam J. McClain, Relator V. John Briggs and Michael Corccran, Respondants

  • Earliest record date: November 12, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: gambling
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Samuel O'Brien v. Nancy O'Brien

  • Earliest record date: July 9, 1887
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody | new custody arrangement reached

Samuel Montgomery v. Edwina Montgomery

  • Earliest record date: May 30, 1877
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody | new custody arrangement reached

Roy Walker vs. Henry Dunn, Chief of Police, Steve Maloney, Chief of Detectives, Michael F. Dempsey, Captain of Police, Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 23, 1916
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: burglary
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Roy Stearns vs. R. R. Lee Steiner, Superintendent of the Oregon State Hospital

  • Earliest record date: July 18, 1916
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: insanity
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Petition of William Gerald for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 13, 1888
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: smuggling | Carceral: immigration | Institutional: imprisoned for longer than term
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Petition of Raleigh M. Faulkner for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 1, 1861
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fraud
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Petition of A. B. Kelly for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 11, 1916
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: larceny
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus Anna Vine vs. Sheldon Jackson

  • Earliest record date: March 9, 1885
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: Indian agent/superintendent | Institutional: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Peter Nelson et al. v. Lewis V. Wycoff

  • Earliest record date: April 28, 1875
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: detaining sailors aboard ship
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Peter, a free man of color vs. James Walton, George Walton

  • Earliest record date: November 24, 1827
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: wrongful enslavement
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Peter A. Clifford, Petitioner, vs. Herbert O. Williams and Grace E. Williams, Respondents in Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 19, 1904
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Pete Jelott Relator vs. Michael L. Clark Sheriff, Respondent

  • Earliest record date: December 30, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: possession of intoxicating liquor
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Released on bail

The People of the Territory of Washington as the Relation of John Doyle Ex Parte

  • Earliest record date: June 30, 1884
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: obstructing a railroad track
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released on bail

The People of the State of Nebraska vs. W.W. Armstrong and John A. Dunn

  • Earliest record date: September 11, 1869
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

The People et al John Williams vs. Henry Grebe Sheriff

  • Earliest record date: June 25, 1870
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Patrick Holland vs. Dr. R. E. Lee Steiner

  • Earliest record date: February 13, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: insanity
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Patrick Henry vs. Garland Rucker

  • Earliest record date: August 19, 1829
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: wrongful enslavement
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Patrick Donahoe vs. The United States

  • Earliest record date: April 3, 1860
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

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

On the relation of Mrs. Lottie Parsons Relator vs. St. James Orphan Asylum Respondent

  • Earliest record date: October 9, 1911
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

On the Matter of the Application of Walter Versteeg for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 29, 1898
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: wrongful imprisonment
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

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 Thomas Scott and James McGregor for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 25, 1898
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: assault with intent to wound
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

On the Matter of the Application of Susie Hunter for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 19, 1921
  • Petition type(s): Carceral
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

On the Matter of the Application of Samuel Douglas for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 23, 1898
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: wrongful imprisonment
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

On the Matter of the Application of Jacob S. Bradley on Behalf of Blanche A. Bradley for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 8, 1899
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

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

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

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

On the Matter of Application of Jim Smith for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 22, 1896
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: drunk and disorderly | Carceral: larceny
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

On the Application of Henry Bell for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 26, 1898
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: wrongful imprisonment
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

On relation of Charles Holton, and Sarah Holton vs. Nebraska Children's Home Society

  • Earliest record date: February 26, 1907
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Nora Sullivan v. Henry M. White

  • Earliest record date: July 16, 1916
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: immigration
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Nick Mordavick, Plaintiff, vs. Joseph R. H. Jacoby, as Marshall of the above named District, Defendant

  • Earliest record date: April 21, 1912
  • Petition type(s): Carceral
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Nathan Cole, a person of color v. Elijah Mitchel

  • Earliest record date: May 22, 1832
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive slavery
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Molly a free woman of colour vs. Charles Mullikin, Petition for Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 17, 1825
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: wrongful servitude
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Milly, a black woman, for herself and her two infant children, Eliza and Bob v. Mathias Rose

  • Earliest record date: May 10, 1819
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive slavery
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Michael, a boy of color vs. Henry G. Mitchel and Henry C. Russel

  • Earliest record date: May 23, 1832
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: wrongful enslavement | Interpersonal: kidnapping | Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Max G. Cohen, Petitioner, vs. United States of America, Respondent

  • Earliest record date: December 28, 1914
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: subornation of perjury

Matter of the Application by Henry Burman for a Writ of Habeas Corpus for May Burman

  • Earliest record date: September 14, 1892
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: New custody arrangement reached | released from custody

Matter of Application of Emma Clifton for Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 16, 1892
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from 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

Matilda By the Habeas Corpus act

  • Earliest record date: May 23, 1832
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: wrongful enslavement | Interpersonal: kidnapping
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Mary Charlotte, woman of color v. Gabriel S. Choteau

  • Earliest record date: May 1, 1843
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: wrongful enslavement
  • 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
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