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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 Alex Anderson on Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 12, 1874
  • 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. Watson for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 26, 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 Mary Ellsworth a minor by her Father for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 31, 1889
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Petition withdrawn
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of James H. Mitchell for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 20, 1917
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Bertha Crader vs. F. W. Durbin and State of Oregon

  • Earliest record date: January 21, 1901
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of Annie Davis, Clarence W. Davis, and Carrie B. Davis for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 2, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application for Habeas Corpus for Peter Robinson

  • Earliest record date: April 8, 1876
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: possession of burglary tools
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Application of E. E. Hairgrove for Writ of Habeas Corpus for Tony Carlo

  • Earliest record date: May 5, 1923
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Bernard Patrick Morris for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 7, 1917
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: suspicion of draft evasion
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Belden Finley for writ of Habeas Corpus for Verne A. Finley

  • Earliest record date: December 5, 1911
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody | new custody arrangement reached

Patrick Holland vs. Dr. R. E. Lee Steiner

  • Earliest record date: February 13, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: insanity
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Ervin E. Switzer, for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 13, 1910
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the Application of Ma-chu-nah-zha (Standing Bear) for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 4, 1879
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: wrongful imprisonment
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Francis A. Castie vs. Territory of Nebraska

  • Earliest record date: June 23, 1865
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

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

  • Earliest record date: August 25, 1877
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: disturbing the peace
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of Marie Allen, next friend of Walter H. Pilger Allen, a minor, for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 6, 1923
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal
  • Petition outcome: Petition withdrawn
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Application of James E. Dils, for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 26, 1908
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Petition withdrawn
  • Fate of bound party: New custody arrangement reached

In the Matter of the Application of Charles Philbert for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 22, 1915
  • 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 Lemke, for writ of habeas corpus for Paul Lemke

  • Earliest record date: March 29, 1920
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

State of Nebraska vs. G. A. Applegate

  • Earliest record date: April 10, 1917
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: drunk and disorderly
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the Matter of the Application of William Herne for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 25, 1910
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of Frankie Miller for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 13, 1891
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: grand larceny
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the Matter of the Application and Petition of Charles T. Altis for Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 10, 1923
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed

In the matter of the application of Leroy Allison for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 27, 1910
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: insanity
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of T. Blackburn for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 7, 1892
  • Petition type(s): Carceral
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application for a writ of Habeas Corpus by Katie Broderick on the behalf of Thomas Broderick

  • Earliest record date: January 15, 1896
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: insanity
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Redden Jones for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 8, 1890
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

State of Nebraska on the relation of Lille Walton, Cora Walton, Ernest Glenn Walton, Ledonia Walton, and Bessie Walton and Petition of Hiatt Elmer Walton, father of said children, for habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 4, 1915
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Bonnie Manion for a Writ of Habeas Corpus for Lera Manion and Howard Manion

  • Earliest record date: June 19, 1911
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Rasmus Oleson for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 6, 1917
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Daniel Buckovis for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 16, 1899
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: assault with intent to commit great bodily injury
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application and Petition of Donald Warner and Floyd Warner for Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 8, 1920
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: stealing an automobile
  • Petition outcome: Petition withdrawn
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application and petition of George Schriner for Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 10, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of Xavier Castle for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 10, 1910
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Walter Scott for a writ of habeas corpuswa

  • Earliest record date: November 2, 1910
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: spousal custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Lucy C. Schwalba for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 7, 1883
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of Arthur B. Carter, for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 4, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Nina P. Robotham, a minor, by Robert G. Robotham, her next friend, for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 29, 1912
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Petition withdrawn
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Charles W. Willard for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 9, 1912
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the Matter of the Application and Petition of Nathan Boynum, for Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 6, 1922
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of Lemuel M. Dobbs, for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 10, 1905
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Frank Councilman, and Isabelle Councilman, Petitioners and Plaintiffs vs. The State Institution for the Feeble Minded, and J. N. Smith, Superintendent of said Institution

  • Earliest record date: October 19, 1921
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: juvenile detention
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the application of Ella Colver for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 24, 1882
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of Edward A. Simon, for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 21, 1898
  • Petition type(s): Unknown
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Application of Frank Skipton, for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 21, 1899
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Unknown

  • Earliest record date: November 7, 1884
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Cleveland Roy Williams for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 10, 1920
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Habeas Corpus of Myrtle Johnson for F.E. Wright against Frank Wright and Mattie Smails

  • Earliest record date: April 28, 1912
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Exhibits withdrawn

In the matter of the Application of John Wilken for a Writ of Habeas Corpus`

  • Earliest record date: November 21, 1912
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: insanity
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody | ordered to be re-sentenced

In the Matter of the Application and Petition of Earl L. Sorensen for Habeas Corpuss

  • Earliest record date: January 19, 1922
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: failure to provide for spouse | Carceral: bigamy
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody
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