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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 Application of Francois Lafontaisis for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 14, 1874
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: selling liquor to Indians
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of David Hughes Alexander S Hughes, Joseph Brannan James Boyd and David Hart, for a Writ of Habeas Corpus Against Lewis V. Wycoff, Sheriff of King County Washington Territory

  • Earliest record date: May 14, 1875
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: peace bond
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Abigail Clauey v. King County

  • Earliest record date: May 5, 1875
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: disorderly conduct
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

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

In the matter of the application of J. J. Johnson for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 19, 1874
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: selling liquor to Indians
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Han Lee for a writ of Habeas Corpus on behalf of Seo Kim

  • Earliest record date: January 21, 1874
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: trafficking
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Petition of William H. Geary and William Williams for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 5, 1873
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: mutiny
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the Matter of the Application of said William Kirkland for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 12, 1872
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: murder
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Application of Samuel Coulter for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 22, 1872
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: contempt of court
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Lucia Martinez vs. Thomas Barrman, K. S. Woolsey, John Ammerman & Mrs Ammerman

  • Earliest record date: July 29, 1871
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Custody transferred to third party

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

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

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

In the matter of the application of Frank Zarnnif for Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 26, 1870
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Henry Cohn and William G. Hollins for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 23, 1870
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • 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 Application of John Suelling for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 13, 1869
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice | Carceral: grand larceny
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Daniel C. Harper for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 9, 1869
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Charles Dixon for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 9, 1869
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from 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

In the matter of the application of John M. Boyls for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 8, 1869
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Lee Still for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 26, 1869
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

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 of Ah Chow for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 1, 1869
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: refusal or inability to pay fine | Carceral: selling tobacco
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of James Conroy to be discharged from prison by Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 30, 1868
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of James King to be discharged from prison by Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 25, 1868
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Humphrey Moynihan to be discharged from prison by Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 25, 1868
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Frank Walter to be discharged from imprisonment by Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 28, 1868
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of William Johnson, to be discharged from imprisonment by Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 26, 1868
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of J. P. Disbrow for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 27, 1868
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of E. P. Child to be discharged from custody on a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 27, 1868
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Dawson H. Darrow for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 20, 1868
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: larceny
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released on bail

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

In the matter of the application of Jefferson Perkins to be discharged from custody

  • Earliest record date: June 12, 1868
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of George W. Tibbals to be discharged from custody

  • Earliest record date: June 9, 1868
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Columbus Johnson to be discharged from custody

  • Earliest record date: June 1, 1868
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of William Brown and George Duvall for discharge from Imprisonment

  • Earliest record date: May 27, 1868
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Lewis Cole for discharge from imprisonment under Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 19, 1868
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Thomas J. Foster to be discharged from imprisonment

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

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

In the Matter of Caroline Bauer By the Habeas Corpus Act

  • Earliest record date: January 2, 1868
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: insanity
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of Robert Ross for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 3, 1867
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: perjury
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

The State of Nebraska vs. Frank Kelley

  • Earliest record date: September 7, 1867
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: larceny
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released on bail

In the matter of the application of Peter Doyle to be discharged from imprisonment by writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 5, 1867
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of W. H. Gray for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 15, 1867
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of Henry Craemer for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 23, 1894
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: first degree murder
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of J. W. Tripp for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 3, 1867
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: murder
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Application for Writ of Habeas Corpus by Elizabeth Bird

  • Earliest record date: January 10, 1867
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody | Interpersonal: wrongful enslavement
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Andrew H. Derrick v. Mary J. Whitesides

  • Earliest record date: May 1, 1866
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of J. J. Blevins for writ a [sic] Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 29, 1866
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody
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