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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 Flora Ohler for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 28, 1898
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody | Interpersonal: kidnapping
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In Matter of the Petition Ed Larson for Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 14, 1899
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: larceny
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

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

In the matter of the application of Henry Carlton for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 24, 1888
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In re Petition of G. W. Vail for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 29, 1899
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: assault and battery
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Lewis Potts and Melissa Potts for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 20, 1903
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: New custody arrangement reached

In Re Petition of Do Gin for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 18, 1899
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: forgery
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

United States of America vs. Leonard Martin

  • Earliest record date: May 1, 1885
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: unlawfully soliciting business
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In re application of Frank Diblasco for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 15, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: unlawful possession of intoxicating liquor
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of Wilson Hike for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 10, 1896
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Beaumont N. Wingate for Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 17, 1870
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Ordered to be re-sentenced

In the Matter of the Application of Chin Quock Wah for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 14, 1914
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Thomas A. Jenkins, Edward W. Latchem, E. F. Dicks, Henry Biddiscombe, Henry Harris, Simon Hendrickson, Carl Jacobs, George Vinski, Walter Wolski for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 1, 1917
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: conspiracy to violate the Espionage Act
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In re application of Ike Payne for writ of Habeas Corpus vs. Michael L. Clark, Sheriff, Respondent

  • Earliest record date: September 12, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: unlawful possession and transport of intoxicating liquor
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Hew G. Durham for a writ of Habeas Corpus on behalf of Sylvia May Durham

  • Earliest record date: December 17, 1885
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Petition withdrawn
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Esper Evangellos for writ H. C.

  • 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 Petition of Michael Shrek for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 23, 1888
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: peace warrant | Carceral: default of bail
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In re application of John Brown for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 7, 1917
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy
  • 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

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

  • Earliest record date: September 10, 1901
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: transferring judgment for purpose of avoiding state regulation
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of Mark J. Wilber for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 12, 1907
  • 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 Jeremiah Mangan for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 2, 1889
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: threatening to burn dwelling
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Thomas Reddington and Patrick Gallagher v. William Cochrane

  • Earliest record date: September 15, 1887
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: first degree murder
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the petition of Stella Williams for a writ of habeas corpus for Howard Edward Godden

  • Earliest record date: June 18, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In re application of Mary Larkovich known as Mary Karkovich for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 31, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Carceral
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Application Lulu Huffman for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 19, 1915
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of William Reitman for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 29, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration | Carceral: advocating or teaching the unlawful destruction of property | Carceral: Violation of Immigration Act of 1917 | Carceral: public charge | Carceral: advocating or teaching destruction | Carceral: advocating for unlawful destruction | Carceral: advocating for unlawful destruction of property | Carceral: advocating for unlawful distruction of property
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of R. D. Watson for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 3, 1902
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: obtaining money under false pretenses
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Sing Hi for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 3, 1921
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: disorderly conduct
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed for want of prosecution
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Anderson Steward, a colored man v. John M. Jamison

  • Earliest record date: July 1, 1844
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive slavery
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Carson Titus by Frank Titus parent and next friend for Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 5, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: failure to provide for spouse
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In re application of Mary Harmon for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 24, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: convent
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Albert Davidson for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 22, 1892
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: bastardy
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

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

In the Matter of the application of Elmer Estes in behalf of his minor daughter, Rosa May Estes, for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 1, 1909
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Petition withdrawn
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In Re Osip on Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 30, 1914
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration
  • Petition outcome: Petition denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the Matter of the application of Elmer Buchanan for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 17, 1886
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: juvenile detention
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the Matter of the Petition of Cassie Hartman for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 5, 1906
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: disturbing the peace | Carceral: provoking an assault
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the petition of Albert H. Young and Kamasaburo Sugiuor alias B. K. Sugiuor for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 19, 1913
  • Petition type(s): carceral: Violation of White Slave Traffic Act
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Application of Al Krugman

  • Earliest record date: November 20, 1906
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: violation of city ordinance
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In Re: Application of N. T. B. Pentreath for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 30, 1905
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice | Carceral: unlawfully and fraudulently uttering a forged document
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

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

In the matter of the Application of Thomas Janda and Frances Janda, for a writ of Habeas Corpus for the body of Joseph Janda, a minor under the age of 21 years

  • Earliest record date: December 2, 1902
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: desertion | Institutional: underage military enlistment
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of Albert Tait for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 12, 1889
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: contempt of court
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the Matter of the Application of H. J. Mann on Behalf of His Infant Daughter for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 24, 1888
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody | new custody arrangement reached

In the matter of the application of Thomas F. Kelly F.A. Kane and Wiley Compton for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 4, 1920
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: larceny | Carceral: fugitive from justice
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In re application of Herbert G. Flood for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 9, 1924
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: bigamy | Carceral: fugitive from justice
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of Frank Kadlec for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 2, 1898
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: grand larceny | Carceral: wrongful imprisonment
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from 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 Sid Anderson and Cyrus Johnson for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 27, 1903
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: distribution of circulars, dodgers, and advertisements
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody
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