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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 Al Lake for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 30, 1905
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of D. O. Belt for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 28, 1907
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: obtaining money under false pretenses
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Habeas Corpus in the matter of William Ward

  • Earliest record date: August 28, 1855
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: grand larceny
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of H. Ray Desch for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 1, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of Wu Kao (Ng Go) for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 4, 1920
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Deported

In the Matter of William L. Huffman on Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 15, 1916
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: wrongful imprisonment | Carceral: possession of opium derivatives
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the application of Fred L. Smith for a writ of Habeas Corpus for Annie Brown

  • Earliest record date: December 13, 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 C. E. Clay for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 16, 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 Petition of Albert H. Young and Kamasaburo Sugiura, alias B.D. Sugiura, aliens, for WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS.

  • Earliest record date: August 21, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Carceral | carceral: Violation of White Slave Traffic Act | Carceral: immigration
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody | deported

In the matter of the application of Frank O'Neill - Dave Gillinsky, A. F. Pirson first and real name unknown Art Williams and William Larsen for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 10, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: possession of burglary tools | Carceral: burglary
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody | remained in custody

In the matter of the application of William S. Garrett and John F. Meyers for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 11, 1895
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: obstructing a US officer | Carceral: delaying the execution of US law | Carceral: assault with a deadly weapon
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Not in custody

Habeas Corpus in the matter of Sarah Haycraft

  • Earliest record date: September 2, 1853
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: disturbing the peace
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released on bail

In re Application of Sam Butera for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 8, 1914
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: wrongful imprisonment
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released on bail

In the Matter of the Application of Alice McKay for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 19, 1894
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: child custody | Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the Matter of the application of George Harlow for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 19, 1898
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Thomas Wyatt Robinson and Bessie Kraus for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 13, 1921
  • Petition type(s): Carceral
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of F. J. Smith for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 7, 1890
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: assault with a deadly weapon
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of James A. Parker

  • Earliest record date: September 11, 1858
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive slavery
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Application of James A. Marcil for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 21, 1902
  • Petition type(s): Carceral | Institutional: imprisoned for longer than term
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Mary LeFebvre for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 21, 1888
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Ray Rickard for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 29, 1915
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Petition withdrawn
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of Frederick Frazier, for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 17, 1899
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: grand larceny
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Frances Hulm For a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 27, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of Thomas E. Downing and Kate Downing for Writ of Habeas Corpus for Nellie Downing, also Nellie Downing White

  • Earliest record date: October 27, 1914
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: wrongful imprisonment
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of Sol Margultz, application for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 28, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: grand larceny | Carceral: fugitive from justice
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of William W. Tinkham for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 31, 1887
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: false accusation
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody | released on bail

In the matter of the Application of Melinda Ellis for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 19, 1890
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In re: The application of Antwine Michel for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 12, 1898
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: assault with a deadly weapon
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown | custody transferred to third party

In the matter of Application of Myrtle Benson for Writ of Habeas Corpus for her minor Daughter Georgia Benson

  • Earliest record date: October 27, 1921
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

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

  • Earliest record date: July 17, 1891
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: first degree murder
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Mrs. Gladys Fredrika Fuson, for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 10, 1916
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: child custody | Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the Matter of the Application for Writ Habeas Corpus W. B. Cowing Jr.

  • Earliest record date: November 14, 1904
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Application of L. L. H. Austin for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 23, 1897
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: libel
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Ng Kwack Kang for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 10, 1915
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Deported

In the matter of the application of Marie Robina Grayson for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 14, 1912
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration | Carceral: prostitution
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Kittie Owens and Mary Brown for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 21, 1898
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Application of Charles Barnes for a writ of Habeas Corpus.

  • Earliest record date: January 4, 1886
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: breaking and entering | Carceral: refusal or inability to pay fine
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In re-application of Harry Atkinson by his next friend and father William Atkinson for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 26, 1898
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: child abuse
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released on bail

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

  • Earliest record date: April 27, 1859
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: public nuisance
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In re application of Minnie Preis for writ of Habeas Corpus for Lucile Preis, a minor

  • Earliest record date: June 22, 1921
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of William L. Tobias For Writ of Habeas Corpus.

  • Earliest record date: September 18, 1889
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Rudolph Tschahle for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 23, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: advocating for unlawful destruction of property | Carceral: immigration | Carceral: Violation of Immigration Act of 1917
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Martin D. Reilly and Christy Reilly for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 24, 1924
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • 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

In the matter of the application of William C. Dickey for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 25, 1875
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: failure to file a certificate of partnership
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Mary Lanenville for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 31, 1893
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: convent
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of Thomas Ruby for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 1, 1883
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: burglary
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of Euphemia Eastwick for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 11, 1911
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: insanity
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of Willett E. Tompkins for a writ of Habeas Corpus for minor John Earl Tompkins, son of petitioner

  • Earliest record date: October 28, 1910
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Calvin Lambert for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 9, 1917
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: murder
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown
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