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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

State of Nebraska ex rel D. O. Brown, for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 19, 1915
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: drunkenness | Carceral: insanity
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Sadie Millett and Harry D. Ryan, for the writ of Habeas Corpus for the custody of Constance Cheshire

  • Earliest record date: March 9, 1916
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Dennis H. Cronin, U. S. Marshal, et al., Appellants, vs. Mary Pierce

  • Earliest record date: June 17, 1924
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: unlawful sale of intoxicating liquor
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

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

  • Earliest record date: June 20, 1910
  • 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 L. S. LeWald for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 14, 1906
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

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

  • Earliest record date: July 6, 1893
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: burglary
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Territory of Nebraska v. Leonard A. Collins

  • Earliest record date: April 24, 1866
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: larceny
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the Application of T. E. Chase for a writ of Habeas Corpus on behalf of Thomas Gibbons

  • Earliest record date: February 22, 1893
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: burglary
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of Paul A. Palmer for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 28, 1907
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: false pretenses
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of Application of Henry Huckfeldt for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 30, 1886
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Charles I. John v. Thomas J. Flynn (U.S. Marshal) and Henry Schroeder (Jailer)

  • Earliest record date: February 24, 1916
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: violation of the Harrison Act | Carceral: possession of opium derivatives
  • Petition outcome: Petition withdrawn
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the application of George H. Place on Behalf of his two minor children Howard D. Place and Zella V. Place for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 21, 1898
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of Thomas Ross on Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 7, 1914
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: selling liquor to Indians
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

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

  • Earliest record date: December 2, 1920
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of William H. Beck and John F. Mackey for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 11, 1905
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: refusal or inability to pay recognizance
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Territory of Washington V. Wilson D. Coyle

  • Earliest record date: April 5, 1885
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: imprisoned for longer than term | Carceral: assault with a deadly weapon
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Knud Knudsen for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 18, 1923
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: violation of city ordinance | Carceral: selling and offering for sale milk and cream below the standard
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of Mike Indovino, for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 31, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the Matter of the Petition for writ of Habeas Corpus for the person of Nan Oy a Chinese woman

  • Earliest record date: February 20, 1888
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Deported

Habeas Corpus in the matter of J. C. Stewart

  • Earliest record date: October 13, 1855
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Not in custody

In re application of Ike Payne for writ of Habeas Corpus vs. Michael L. Clark Sheriff, Respondent

  • Earliest record date: September 12, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: unlawful possession and transport of intoxicating liquor
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed for want of prosecution
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Arthur Williams for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 1, 1923
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: larceny
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of B. W. Wittekopf application for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 1, 1903
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Jack Norton for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 12, 1899
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: selling liquor without a license
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

To Rolla Rose Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 23, 1825
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: wrongful enslavement | Interpersonal: kidnapping
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Frank Burke vs. L. V. Wyckoff Writ of Habeaus Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 21, 1875
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: assault and battery
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released on bail

In the matter of the application of Habeas Corpus for J. S. McGuire

  • Earliest record date: June 5, 1885
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Habeas Corpus in the matter of James McAlvoy

  • Earliest record date: August 27, 1855
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: underage military enlistment
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

The State of Nebraska, upon the relation of Mattie Cahill, Complainant, vs. Marshall Eberstein, Chief of Police of Omaha, Nebraska and Alta Berger, Matron and Superintendent of Omaha Detention Hospital, Eleventh and Dodge Streets, Omaha, Nebraska, Respondents.

  • Earliest record date: September 16, 1920
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: public health detention | Carceral: inmate of ill-governed house
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

B. Norman v. J. F. Warren

  • Earliest record date: January 25, 1837
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: violation of city ordinance
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Habeas Corpus in the matter of Henry M Stall

  • Earliest record date: March 7, 1855
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: underage military enlistment
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of John D. Decora for writ H. C.

  • Earliest record date: March 14, 1910
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: adultery
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Custody transferred to third party

Habeas Corpus of Adolph A. Gust against Edward Cudihee as Sheriff

  • Earliest record date: July 30, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: contempt of court
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the petition of William Jewett for Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 5, 1889
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: crime of seduction
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the Petition of Roy C. Jordan for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 20, 1917
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Louis A. Borsheim and Helen A. Borsheim for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 5, 1904
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: New custody arrangement reached

In the matter of the application of Calorina Merales for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 15, 1923
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: carrying a concealed weapon
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

On the Matter of the Application of Susie Hunter for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 19, 1921
  • Petition type(s): Carceral
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application Susie Jackson for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 5, 1915
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: refusal or inability to pay fine
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Pat Burns for Writ of Habeas Corpus and Relief thereon.

  • Earliest record date: July 12, 1898
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: grand larceny
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Donald Fallon and Frank Rogers for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 6, 1876
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed | writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody | remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Carl W. Sandberg and James Johnson on Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 14, 1893
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: burglary
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the Application of Henry Combs for a writ of Habeas Corpus for Thomas Combs and Charles Ross

  • Earliest record date: April 9, 1901
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: unlawfully collecting and removing garbage, ashes, filth, and other refuse matter without a contract
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Mike Aboud for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 21, 1905
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: obtaining money under false pretenses | Carceral: fugitive from justice
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Custody transferred to third party

On relation of Charles Holton, and Sarah Holton vs. Nebraska Children's Home Society

  • Earliest record date: February 26, 1907
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Application of Alice Bigelow for a Writ of Habeas Corpus on Behalf of Edith and Edna Bigelow, her Daughters

  • Earliest record date: March 22, 1899
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Charles Pollow for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 7, 1890
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: larceny
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In re application of Frank Fukaye and Dina Fukaye for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 10, 1908
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown
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