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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 Petition of Neil MacDonald for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 15, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: espionage act | Carceral: treason
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In re application of Curley Stenson for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 1, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of John Murray for writ of Habeas Corpus for his minor child known as Harry McCaustland

  • Earliest record date: December 23, 1908
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Frank M. Ringer for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 26, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: seeking exemption from draft
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

application of Pearl Weaver v. Michael L. Clark Sheriff of Douglas County Nebraska and Sherman Clayton Jailer of Douglas County Jail, Nebraska, For writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 15, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy | Carceral: prostitution
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Application of Ex Rel Henry Hoffman vs. Michael Clark Sheriff of Douglas County and Sherman Clayton Jailer

  • Earliest record date: June 10, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: unlawful possession of intoxicating liquor
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Phillip Chiantis for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 5, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: seeking exemption from draft
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Theofarius George Mastoros for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 13, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: conscription
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Clara May Pearce, next friend and natural guardian of George Taylor for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 17, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of J. W. Kent for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 13, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: disorderly conduct
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Joseph Alexa for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 13, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Carceral
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Gerasimos Nicolovinis for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 1, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: seeking exemption from draft
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In re application of Henry Peterson for Writ of Habeas Corpus

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

In re application of Mary Harmon for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 24, 1918
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: convent
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • 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 re application of Jim Ryan for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 20, 1917
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: unlawful possession of intoxicating liquor
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Michel Koseris for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 7, 1917
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: seeking exemption from draft
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Edwin T. Wentz for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 20, 1917
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fraud | Carceral: fugitive from justice
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application for writ of Habeas Corpus for the body of Marion Lavonne Maurer

  • Earliest record date: October 2, 1917
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Alma Zerbst for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 28, 1917
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Don E. DeBow for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 21, 1917
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: selling securities without a license
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied | writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Morris Meyer for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 6, 1917
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: burglary
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Harry Davis for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 21, 1917
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: burglary
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In re application of E. C. Smeeth for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 20, 1917
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: false pretenses
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In re application of John Brown for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 7, 1917
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In re application of Margaret Holton for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: June 4, 1917
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released on bail

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

  • Earliest record date: June 2, 1917
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: unlawful possession of intoxicating liquor
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of John Reynolds for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 29, 1916
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: violation of Mann Act/White-Slave Traffic Act of 1910
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In re application of Jennie E. Turkington for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 28, 1917
  • Petition type(s): Unknown
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In re application of Williams Alfredo for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 18, 1917
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: unlawful detention
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In re application of F. J. Curtis for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 5, 1917
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: first degree murder
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Ex Rel Fred V. Larson vs. Henry W. Dunn, Chief of Police and Steve Maloney Chief of Detectives - Fred T. Ray Sheriff or other agents of the State of Kansas, For Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 21, 1917
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: false pretenses | Carceral: mortgage fraud
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In re application of Jesus Garcia for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 20, 1917
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: carrying a concealed weapon
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

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 George Craig, Olie Williamson and Mabel Williamson

  • Earliest record date: February 7, 1917
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In re Application of Franklin Kapps for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 5, 1917
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: larceny
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the Application of Glen Hull for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: January 22, 1917
  • Petition type(s): Carceral
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

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

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

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 re application of John F. Kinney for writ of Habeas Corpus for John F. Kinney Jr. Catherine Kinney and Margaret Kinney

  • Earliest record date: January 2, 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 George H. Harris for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 28, 1916
  • Petition type(s): Carceral
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of William L. Huffman on Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: February 15, 1916
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: wrongful imprisonment | Carceral: possession of opium derivatives
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of Ina Anderson, Plaintiff, vs. William Anderson and Nancy Anderson his wife and D. L. Anderson, Defendants, for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 16, 1916
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody | Interpersonal: kidnapping
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Application of Kunijiro Toguchi for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 6, 1916
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: immigration
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Charles Bird - and Josephine Bird, also known as Jack Lewis, by Irene Steward, petitioner for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 6, 1916
  • Petition type(s): Carceral
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application Lulu Huffman for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 5, 1916
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: insanity
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In re Mike Miller vs. Felix J. McShane and Henry Schroeder, application for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 25, 1916
  • 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 of Chase Randal Snyder for a writ of habeas corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 20, 1916
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: bastardy
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In re application of Richard Casey for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 31, 1916
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: carrying a concealed weapon
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown
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