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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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Dates: 1815 - 1924

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1876 results

In the Matter of the Application of Lawrence Bock for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 23, 1914
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: suspicious character
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Custody transferred to third party

In the matter of the application of Antonio Pusateri, for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 24, 1911
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • 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 Frank B. Moore, for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 29, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: rape
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Habeas Corpus in the matter of Henry Ideker

  • Earliest record date: June 12, 1854
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: petty larceny

In the matter of the application of Nellie Atkins for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 16, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: public health detention
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the application of Solinna Palmer for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 26, 1911
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: insanity
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the re-application of Thomas S. Thompson for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 2, 1902
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: peddling without a license
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Charlie Mitchell for writ Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 8, 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

The State of Nebraska on the relation of Leon Angus vs. Felix J. McShane and Henry Schroeder

  • Earliest record date: June 14, 1916
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy | Carceral: carrying a concealed weapon
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of James E. Warden for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 30, 1915
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: child custody | Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

The Territory of Nebraska on relation of William Porter vs. Shepard Duke, Sheriff of Cass County

  • Earliest record date: October 12, 1861
  • 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 S. W. Hall for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 6, 1879
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified | Carceral: embezzlement
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the application of Tom Wagner for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 11, 1895
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: wrongful imprisonment
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Habeas Corpus in the matter of George W. Beaty

  • Earliest record date: June 14, 1855
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Habeas Corpus in the matter of Margaret Kennedy

  • Earliest record date: April 24, 1855
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: grand larceny
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Habeas Corpus in the Matter of Bridgett Halpin

  • Earliest record date: August 7, 1857
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

The United States of America upon the relation of Arthur Wyse v. James B. Nickerson, Acting United States Marshal for the District of Nebraska, and Edwin C. Boehler, United States Commissioner for the Omaha Division, District of Nebraska and Michael L. Clark, Sheriff of Douglas County, Nebraska

  • Earliest record date: May 7, 1921
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice | Carceral: uttering and passing forged paper | Carceral: robbery and battery | Carceral: obtaining money under false pretenses
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Marianne, a person of color vs. Elijah Mitchel, Alexander J. Fields

  • Earliest record date: May 22, 1832
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: wrongful enslavement
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of A. M. Long for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 18, 1916
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: larceny
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Simeon E. Mace for a writ of Habeas Corpus on behalf of Glen McAtee

  • Earliest record date: June 14, 1920
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Application of Henry LaVerne Risch, a minor, for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 6, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: New custody arrangement reached

In the matter of the application of Cornelius Green to be discharged from custody

  • Earliest record date: June 17, 1868
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

State of Nebraska on the relation of Samuel J. Coffman vs. India A. Coffman

  • Earliest record date: May 15, 1896
  • 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 B. Martin for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 25, 1910
  • Petition type(s): carceral: Violation of White Slave Traffic Act
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody | deported

In re application of Della Carbaugh for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 4, 1921
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: spousal custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of William Stapleton for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 6, 1884
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of Viola McAtee Jacobson for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 28, 1922
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: conspiracy
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

State of Nebraska ex rel Ellen Kinnison, Relator, vs Henry Kinnison and Iva Kinnison, his wife, George Kinnison and Ruby Kinnison, his wife, Respondents

  • Earliest record date: April 17, 1924
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Victor Walker for a writ of Habeas Corpus for Dessie Smith

  • Earliest record date: December 7, 1905
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: prostitution
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Application of Nick Arrigo for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 31, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of Jay D. Crary for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 27, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: conspiracy to use United States mails for scheme to defraud
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of Jacob Schuman for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 27, 1886
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: selling liquor without a license
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from 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

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

In the Matter of the Application of Antonio Sesto for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 17, 1924
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: Violation of Immigration Act of 1917 | Carceral: deportation
  • 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

In the matter of application of Ethel Johnson for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 13, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: keeping a house of ill repute
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Dismissed

In the matter of the application of Margaret Meyer for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 9, 1921
  • Petition type(s): Carceral
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of Chin Wah Hing, for a Writ of Habeas Corpus for Chin Doe Tung

  • Earliest record date: July 7, 1916
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the petition of Ida King for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 2, 1903
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: larceny
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of John Boyle for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 24, 1911
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Habeas Corpus of J. C. Christopher against Robert Hodge, Sheriff

  • Earliest record date: April 26, 1912
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application for a writ of Habeas Corpus on behalf of Delia Batten

  • Earliest record date: September 27, 1886
  • Petition type(s): Unknown
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of C. H. Cook for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 20, 1869
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the Application for a Writ of Habeas Corpus, Henry Smith

  • Earliest record date: September 23, 1898
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: horse stealing
  • 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

In the matter of the application of Theofarius George Mastoros for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 13, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: conscription
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Application of CHIN HING, for a Writ of Habeas Corpus.

  • Earliest record date: September 28, 1914
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the Matter of the Application of Janet MacKay, formerly Janet Roy, for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 1, 1916
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Deported
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