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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 Eva Tolls alias Eva White for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 30, 1898
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: prostitution | Carceral: vagrancy
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Habeas Corpus in the matter of Jacob Dahr

  • Earliest record date: June 15, 1854
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: highway robbery | Carceral: fugitive from justice
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Habeas Corpus in the matter of Henry J. Leonari

  • Earliest record date: May 28, 1855
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: underage military enlistment
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Territory of Washington v. George Grant

  • Earliest record date: February 14, 1888
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: infamous crime against nature with a beast
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Max Rosenthal, for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 25, 1902
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: maintaining a solicitor without having a license
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the Application of L.S. Bartlett for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 9, 1890
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: embezzlement
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In re application of Albert Larson for and on behalf of his Daughter Nellie E. Larson for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 3, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In re application of Joseph W. Fleming for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 23, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fraud
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Habeas Corpus in the matter of Alfred Conrad

  • Earliest record date: January 2, 1855
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive slavery
  • 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

Application of George Webb for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 24, 1896
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

John vs. William Campbell

  • Earliest record date: November 18, 1831
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: wrongful enslavement
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Application for a Writ of Habeas Corpus by certain Chinamen, whose names are hereafter written

  • Earliest record date: October 11, 1888
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Gus A. Fagerberg for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 26, 1924
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: unlawful sale of intoxicating liquor
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Habeas Corpus in the matter of Amadee E. Quevreux

  • Earliest record date: December 22, 1855
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody | Interpersonal: wrongful servitude
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the Application of Edward Shelmidine and Mrs. Edward Shelmidine, for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 9, 1899
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Petition of Celia I. Dougherty for Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 25, 1906
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of James B. Graham for a writ of Habeas Corpus for Joseph Edward Ohlson

  • Earliest record date: September 10, 1908
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: insanity
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in 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 of Fred O. Lane for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 9, 1917
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

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

  • Earliest record date: May 16, 1905
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: possession of stolen property
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of Application of A. F. Ryan for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 4, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of application of Ethel Siefken for and on behalf of Marvel Siefken, Elmo Siefken and Kennard Siefken, minors for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 3, 1920
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of Alfonso Gagliardi for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 13, 1921
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Exhibits withdrawn | released from custody

In the matter of the application of Mary Cowing for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 1, 1903
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Mortimer Fox by his next friend and counsel Parke Godwin for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 24, 1891
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: forgery
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Application of Elvie D. Kerby for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 24, 1921
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: first degree murder
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In re Thomas V. Redman on Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 13, 1911
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: passing counterfeit currency
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Eddie Toman by Anna Cohen, his mother and next friend, for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 2, 1923
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed for want of prosecution
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Application of Claus Hubbard for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 26, 1898
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy | Carceral: wrongful imprisonment
  • 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 re: E. Stubley on Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 1, 1909
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: imprisoned for longer than term | Carceral
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of H.A. Carleton for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 6, 1880
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: bastardy
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Blanche Finn for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 24, 1908
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

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

Mary Ann Speaks v. John M. Jameson and James Quisenberry

  • Earliest record date: September 27, 1844
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: wrongful servitude | Carceral: wrongful arrest
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of William Edwards

  • Earliest record date: August 14, 1858
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive slavery
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Wong Yuen for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 25, 1903
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: spousal custody | Interpersonal: child custody
  • 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 Re Mac Fock v. State of Washington

  • Earliest record date: July 23, 1908
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: deportation
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

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

In re application of Louie Simmons and Joe Cavarra for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 10, 1923
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

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

  • Earliest record date: January 3, 1919
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released on bail

Habeas Corpus in the matter of Charles Groves

  • Earliest record date: June 5, 1855
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: larceny
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Habeas Corpus in the matter of Patrick McDonald

  • Earliest record date: January 11, 1855
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the Matter of the Application of Ernest Piper For Writ Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 14, 1914
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: bastardy
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

By the Habeas Corpus Act in the matter of Philip Ahren

  • Earliest record date: December 18, 1851
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: underage military enlistment
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Edson Sturgeon of Seattle Washington for Writ of H. Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 1, 1901
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody | custody transferred to third party

In the Matter of the Application of Caleb Sykes for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 1, 1897
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice | Carceral: larceny | Carceral: fraud
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of Sam Hop and Chinese subjects, for Writs of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 28, 1885
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: immigration
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown
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