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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

Habeas Corpus in the matter of Michael Lortz

  • Earliest record date: April 29, 1852
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: arson
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of an application for a Writ of Habeas Corpus, Katie Mayes

  • Earliest record date: December 12, 1923
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: insanity
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Goldie Abbott for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 10, 1912
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of G. W. Gardner for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 23, 1899
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: riding a bicycle without a lighted lamp
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Michael Kaufman for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 5, 1894
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: malicious destruction of property
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of T. Judson Ferguson for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 7, 1891
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: forgery
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Habeas Corpus in the matter of George Pflanz

  • Earliest record date: April 9, 1855
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: underage military enlistment
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed

In the matter of the application of Otilla Brinkman for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 14, 1890
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of John Surra for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 17, 1924
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: unlawful possession of intoxicating liquor | Carceral: unlawful sale of intoxicating liquor | Carceral: maintaining a common nuisance
  • Petition outcome: Petition withdrawn
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Columbia George for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 24, 1906
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: wrongful imprisonment
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the Matter of the Application of Camille Renger for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 27, 1905
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the application of L. L. Lindsey for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 4, 1895
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: contempt of court
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

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

  • Earliest record date: September 17, 1891
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: selling liquor to Indians
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Ellis M. Harrison vs. Eillen M. Harrison

  • Earliest record date: November 12, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Petition withdrawn
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Charles Myers, on Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 29, 1916
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: obtaining money under false pretenses | Carceral: obtaining goods under false pretenses
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Habeas Corpus in the matter of Michael Newland

  • Earliest record date: July 6, 1852
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: trafficking
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application for a Writ of Habeas Corpus for Peter Goshaun

  • Earliest record date: July 12, 1886
  • 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 Barker for Writ of Habeas Corpus

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

In re application of Marie Philbrick for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 20, 1922
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the Application of Sam Harris for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 30, 1920
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Habeas Corpus in the matter of John Hahl

  • Earliest record date: April 29, 1857
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: petty larceny
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released on bail

In the Matter of the Application of Joseph DeKlotz for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 11, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: gambling
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Perry Hartness for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 11, 1924
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Edwin Ekstrom, for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 14, 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
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the Proceedings in Habeas Corpus in behalf of Evelyn E Miller, on Petition and Application of Louis B. Millerburrb

  • Earliest record date: August 4, 1889
  • 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 Habeas Corpus of Dudley Douglas

  • Earliest record date: January 1, 1879
  • 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 Green Rainbow, James Fisher and Peter Decora for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 16, 1905
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: assault | Carceral: refusal to pay bail
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the re-application of Andrew Anderson for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 8, 1894
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice | Carceral: vagrancy
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of Joseph Kopf for Writ Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 22, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: wrongful imprisonment
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Austin Campbell for writ H. C.

  • Earliest record date: June 28, 1910
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: suspicious character
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Sammy Jones for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 17, 1891
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: petty larceny
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Habeas Corpus in the matter of Peter Brooks

  • Earliest record date: February 17, 1856
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: grand larceny
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

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

  • Earliest record date: September 20, 1898
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of application of Harold Savage for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 27, 1921
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of George Rigby for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 2, 1910
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Harry Smith and Barney Slomen v. United States

  • Earliest record date: July 1, 1916
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: drug use
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

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

In the matter of the application of William Warden for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 25, 1889
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Eugene F. Ladd for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 31, 1896
  • 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 James E. Moore for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 19, 1894
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: grand larceny
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of Willard V. Mathews for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 31, 1923
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: embezzlement
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Habeas Corpus in the matter of Eliza Duncan

  • Earliest record date: September 13, 1854
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of application of Ruth Christy by Robert E. Christy her parent and next friend for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 12, 1923
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of John Bowden for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 4, 1865
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: larceny
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the application of Susan M. Horn the mother and natural guardian of Nora E. Horn and Rapsie Horn for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 28, 1898
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In re Application of Sister Florida for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 16, 1914
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Robert Morrison for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 15, 1916
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Lenora McMullen, on behalf of Fran McMullen for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 26, 1895
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Application of Gertrude Bloomfield, on Behalf of Pearl Proto (infant) for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 29, 1896
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody | Interpersonal: kidnapping
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Habeas Corpus of W. S. Matthews against Maria Matthews + House of the Good Shepherd

  • Earliest record date: June 10, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody | Institutional: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown
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