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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

Application of Ross W. Hill, by Sarah M. Hill, his mother, for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 20, 1908
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: insanity
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

State of Nebraska ex rel Agnes Donohue, et al. vs. Kittie F. Noonan, et al.

  • Earliest record date: August 22, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the Application of Perry Anthony for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 26, 1921
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fraud
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Application of James Riley, for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 22, 1907
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: insanity
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Gustave Berquest for Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 1, 1874
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Charles Sitzman vs. L. C. Oberlies, A. E. Allyn, Catherine Worley, as the Board of Commissioners of State Institutions of the State of Nebraska and Doctor S. J. Stewart, Superintendent Institution for Feeble Minded Youth

  • Earliest record date: April 28, 1921
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Application of Charles E. Wheeler for Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 28, 1878
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the Matter of the Application of Anna Mead for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 3, 1889
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Habeas Corpus of Ah Bow against Claude Bannick, Chief of Police

  • Earliest record date: September 8, 1912
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Application for Writ of Habeas Corpus for ___ Kramer whose first name is unknown, and __ Standish, first name unknown by A. E. Howard

  • Earliest record date: February 6, 1904
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

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

  • Earliest record date: July 30, 1872
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: larceny
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Ordered to be re-sentenced

In the Matter of the Application and petition of Edward Thacker, for writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 21, 1905
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: New custody arrangement reached

In Re Application of Jane M. Williams for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 31, 1921
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Al Shaw for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 16, 1887
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Indian, Peters, for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 21, 1901
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: aiding and abetting
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Scott Brainard for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 8, 1910
  • 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 George H. Jones on Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 8, 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 James Carpenter for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 28, 1880
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: assault and battery
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the Application of Mabel Sanderson Best, formerly Mabel Sanderson, for a writ of habeas corpus, for Isabel Sanderson, a minor, of the age of twelve years

  • Earliest record date: September 1, 1920
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: New custody arrangement reached

The State on the Relation of Lee McCoy vs. Samuel M. Melick, Warden Nebraska State Penitentiary

  • Earliest record date: August 13, 1912
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cattle stealing
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Tonka Bajlo for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 15, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: deportation | Carceral: immigration | Carceral: prostitution
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Robert Barrett for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 10, 1909
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Charles Chandler, for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 4, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Alson B. Cole for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 24, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the Matter of the Application of Anthony Han for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 4, 1884
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: wrongful imprisonment
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Mary Charlotte, woman of color v. Gabriel S. Choteau

  • Earliest record date: May 1, 1843
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: wrongful enslavement
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Edith Uhling, for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 7, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: kidnapping
  • Petition outcome: Petition withdrawn
  • Fate of bound party: Custody transferred to third party

In the matter of the application of John Baggs for Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 19, 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 Flow Morton and Leona P. Morton husband and wife, in behalf of their minor children William LaVearl Morton and Gladys Lucile Morton

  • Earliest record date: April 4, 1923
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Allen Vincent Grammer for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 13, 1920
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Parker M. Wickstrum for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 13, 1912
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the Matter of the Application of Iva McClure for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 6, 1920
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: adultery
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the petition of James Oswald on behalf of Bill Oswald for a Writ of Habeas Corpus and the Answer of E. M. Croisan Sheriff of Marion County, Oregon to said Writ

  • Earliest record date: October 1, 1890
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

State of Nebraska vs. Ed Mason

  • Earliest record date: October 15, 1877
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: attempted murder
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Released on bail

Isaiah Peterson v. Orrin Rhodes

  • Earliest record date: August 25, 1856
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Application of Gerhardt Pothoff for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 11, 1914
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Earl C. Hall for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 31, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Molly M. Martin in behalf of her minor son Earl S. Martin for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 16, 1909
  • 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 Charlie Giarratano, for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 9, 1907
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of James H. Flaherty, for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 25, 1903
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: consumer fraud
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

John Thomas vs. U. S. of America

  • Earliest record date: January 27, 1866
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: misuse of government property
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application for a writ of Habeas Corpus for Albert D. Rust

  • Earliest record date: February 22, 1873
  • 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 Baldwin for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 28, 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 William Jones for writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 1, 1905
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Moses Keokuk for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 21, 1869
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: leaving reservation wo permission from Indian Agent
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of William H. Adams for Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 23, 1871
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: larceny
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Walter Wheatley For Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 26, 1915
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In re application of Rose Van Ormer by her next friend John Van Ormer for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 4, 1890
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Petition withdrawn
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Antonio Pusateri, for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 24, 1911
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody
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