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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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Dates: 1815 - 1924

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1876 results

Habeas Corpus in the matter of John Medford

  • Earliest record date: December 8, 1854
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Habeas Corpus in the Matter of George Bailey

  • Earliest record date: August 8, 1856
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive slavery
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the Application of O. J. Watkins for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 11, 1904
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: obtaining money under false pretenses
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Habeas Corpus in the matter of William Emerson

  • Earliest record date: June 27, 1855
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: burglary and larceny
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Pearl Alma Bentley for writ of Habeas Corpus for minor son Richard Lloyd Green

  • Earliest record date: April 13, 1923
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Application of Albert Sykes for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 2, 1912
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: assault with a deadly weapon
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Habeas Corpus in the matter of William Omara & Margaret Omara

  • Earliest record date: June 1, 1855
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: refusal or inability to pay fine
  • Petition outcome: Petition withdrawn
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In re John Grant Lymon for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 10, 1911
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: conspiracy
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In re application of Madge Weeks for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 30, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: prostitution
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Sam Walton for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 13, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Application of Herman Weise for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 30, 1894
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: maintaining a common nuisance
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of John Sims, for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 12, 1912
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: assault and battery
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of H. T. Thomas for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

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

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

  • Earliest record date: September 23, 1892
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: juvenile detention
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Application of Lars Brown for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 22, 1882
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: murder
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Application of John P. Whitney for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 31, 1907
  • 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 Charles W. Nordstrom for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 27, 1891
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: first degree murder
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Anna, a woman of color vs. Thomas Higginbotham

  • Earliest record date: August 15, 1831
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: wrongful enslavement
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Frank H Monroe for a writ of Habeas Corpus. H.S. Lower, Petitioner

  • Earliest record date: February 8, 1923
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: assault and battery
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of Arthur Frost for a Writ of Habeas Corp.

  • Earliest record date: January 3, 1905
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • 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

In the matter of the application of Tom Weber, for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 29, 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: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Gussie Goldman Woods for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 13, 1914
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration | Carceral: prostitution
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Simon B. Swab for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 18, 1908
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: juvenile detention
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

State of Nebraska, ex rel Averil Mocroft, for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 7, 1915
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Application of Elizabeth A Wineteer, for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 16, 1910
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: insanity
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Territory of Washington v. Arlington and Johnson

  • Earliest record date: January 23, 1885
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: drug use
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of Jesse, a man of color

  • Earliest record date: July 14, 1845
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: wrongful enslavement
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Louis Brown for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 22, 1888
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of William J. Gurley for a writ of Habeas Corpus for Garnett C. Porter

  • Earliest record date: October 11, 1901
  • 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 Frank G. Bevans for a writ of Habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 5, 1900
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Custody transferred to third party

In the Matter of the Application of William G. Clarke, for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 19, 1907
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Harry E. Miller for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 19, 1923
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In re app of Mack Dwyer for writ of H.C.

  • Earliest record date: August 28, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy | Carceral: refusal or inability to pay fine
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Application of M. L. Hills and Myrtle Hills for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 19, 1924
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: juvenile detention
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of William P. Dinkens for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 24, 1892
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: bastardy
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of Dot 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 the Application of I. E. Spafford for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 29, 1887
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: administering drug to cause abortion
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

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 Alfred Woods for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 22, 1885
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: contempt of court
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Application of Sam Gum, for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 26, 1921
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Deceased | exhibits withdrawn

In the matter of application of Fred Sledge for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 19, 1922
  • Petition type(s): Carceral
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Sam Cohen for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 1, 1916
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Petition of Bertha Kuzek for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 2, 1905
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Merle Arlington for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 15, 1924
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy | Carceral: prostitution
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Fayette I. Foss, for a writ of Habeas Corpus on behalf of David Zimmerman

  • Earliest record date: July 3, 1894
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: contempt of court
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released on bail

Habeas Corpus of Frank Lagerquist against Peter A. Swanson

  • Earliest record date: November 11, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: insanity | Interpersonal: insanity
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Frank E. Shupe for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 9, 1891
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: assault
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Anna Sultz for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 6, 1906
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: insanity
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the Petition of Abe Townsend for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 1, 1894
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown
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