Tennessee Supreme Court Cases
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The files located in the Tennessee Supreme Court Cases represent an especially valuable resource for historical and genealogical research at the Tennessee State Library and Archives [TSLA].
Tennessee Supreme Court Cases
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| View Entry | Year | Case Name | County | Cause/Crime | Case Description | Division | Location | # Pages | Order |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Entry | 1875 | John H. Burton v. A. C. McNeill & Co. | Carroll | Debt on Account | West | Range: 83 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 219 | 30 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1883 | John E. Givens v. J. V. Harrell | Carroll | Stay of Execution |
Additional parties: J. H. Harrell, dec., J. M. Brannock, Mary Brannock |
West | Range: 83 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 229 | 37 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1886 | J. R. Hillsman v. A. L. Gardner, Agent & the Louisville & Nashville Railroad Company | Carroll | Damages |
Plaintiff sued for damages due to death of a "large sow." |
West | Range: 83 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 304 | 32 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1892 | J. L. Butler v. Martha R. Moody | Carroll | Wrongful Death | West | Range: 83 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 374 | 129 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1893 | Jepp Shadd v. The Louisville & Nashville Rail Road Co. | Carroll | Damages |
The suit concerns a mare that was struck and killed by a passenger train. The plaintiff claims that the engineer blew the whistle only once, which was not enough to shoo the horse off the tracks. The mare had escaped from a pasture with a broken fence. |
West | Range: 83 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 384 | 66 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1902 | Jo McCracken v. the Gray & Dudley Hardware Company | Carroll | Libel |
Transcript of the record in this case only. Additional defendant: J.T. Jenkins of Davidson Co. TN. Damages of $25,000. Response to lawsuit made by defendants in Carroll Co. Court, 11 Jan. 1899. McCracken was a merchant in Carroll Co. Hon. John R. Bond, Judge, 18th Judicial Circuit, Carroll Co. |
West | Range: 81 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 836 | 34 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1905 | J. L. Taylor v. Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway Company | Carroll | Damages |
Damages for killing a fox hound. |
West | Range: 81 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 888 | 32 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1904 | J. F. Kennedy v. Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railroad Company | Carroll | Negligence |
Negligent acts of the defendant in the erection of the embankment by its refusal to provide a way for the water to flow under defendants tracks and therefore causing flooding in the defendants property and lessening rental value. Exhibits include a small blueprint of ditch at Hollow Creek and small hand drawn map. First 5 pages missing. |
West | Range: 80 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1032 | 250 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1882 | Joseph N. Whitehorn v. George M. Shankle | Carroll | Debt Dispute |
Whitehorn a carpenter who had done a considerable amount of work for Shankle. Also mentioned: Mrs. Dove C. Shankle & Mrs. Allie Hilliard, respectively, wife and daughter of G. M . Shankle. |
West | Range: 84 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 206 | 46 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1891 | J. A. Johnson v. The Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway Company | Carroll | Felonious Killing/Wounding of Livestock | West | Range: 83 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 329 | 56 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1891 | John Spellings v. W. H. Kilbreth | Carroll | Replevin | West | Range: 83 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 335 | 55 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1889 | John D. Copeland v. Mary A. Copeland | Carroll | Petition for Divorce |
Petitioning for Divorce due to adultery. |
West | Range: 83 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 442 | 43 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1907 | J. T. Mebane v. Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway Company | Carroll | Damages |
Cause of action: damages due to plaintiff's land by the defendant. |
West | Range: 81 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 955 | 51 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | John Atkins & wife v. Louisville & Nashville Railroad Company | Carroll | Injury and Damages | West | Range: 81 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 793 | 76 | Order A Copy | ||
| View Entry | 1912 | J.H. Williams v. Nashville, Chattanooga& St. Louis R.R. Co. | Carroll | Damages |
Damages in the sum of $250.00 |
West | Range: 79 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1326 | 110 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1916 | J. R. Hillsman v. P. H. Clay, et al. | Carroll | Promissory Note |
A plea of debt by promissory note, 14 Nov. 1913, due 1 Dec. 1914, and calling for $250.00 with interest from date and reasonable attorney's fees for collecting the debt. Other defendants: J. T. Clay and wife, L. H. Clay. |
West | Range: 79 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1394 | 32 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1921 | John Tippett, Jr., by next friend John Tippett v. American Extract & Vinegar Company | Carroll | Damages |
John Tippett Jr. is sued by his next friend for $10,000.00 in damages when he was burned or scalded by hot running water maintained in an open ditch by the defendant company. |
West | Range: 78 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1694 | 23 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1869 | Lucy H. Swayne v. R. Y. Langly | Carroll | Debt Settlement | West | Range: 84 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 8 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1904 | L. E. Brevard et al. v. Dan McCurry | Carroll | Contract Dispute and Damages |
Additional Plaintiffs: W.M. Buford and G.G. Buford. |
West | Range: 82 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 713 | 194 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1909 | L. A. Moody v. Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway | Carroll | Damages |
The plaintiff sued for damages to his crops and land for the defendant's failure to provide a sufficient channel to carry water over its right of way. Map shows plaintiff's farm. |
West | Range: 80 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 1219 | 126 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1889 | Louisville & Nashville Railroad Company v. C. D. Adams | Carroll | Damages |
Damages for killing one 4 year old bay horse. |
West | Range: 82 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 487 | 54 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1893 | Louisville & Nashville Railroad v. Cora Scates | Carroll | Damages for Wrongful Death |
The defendant's husband, Charley Scates, was killed while employed as a conductor for the L&N RR. |
West | Range: 82 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 589 | 269 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1907 | Lonnie Owen, widow of Jim Owen, dec. by next friend Andy Owen v. Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway Company | Carroll | Damages for Wrongful Death |
For the death of Jim Owen. |
West | Range: 81 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 961 | 228 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1913 | L. H. White v. Nashville, Chattanooga& St. Louis Railway& Illinois Central Railroad Company | Carroll | Contract Dispute and Damages |
Plaintiff made a contract with defendant to transport his child to be buried. Due to the negligence of defendant Plaintiff was forced to bury his child in another location. 2 folders |
West | Range: 79 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1365 | 175 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1916 | L. G. Norvell v. Dyer County Gin Company | Carroll | Negligence |
The plaintiff bought one cotton from the defendant. He claims that twenty three of the bales of cotton that he had bought had been water-soaked and contaminated with seed cotton. He claims he was damaged by the negligent or wrongful baling of cotton. |
West | Range: 79 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1419 | 138 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1920 | Lucian Strayhorn v. Allen McMinn | Carroll | Replevin |
Strayhorn claimed to have sold a mare to Wallace Wright with a note due payable to him. Wright then sold the mare, and after several transactions McMinn became the owner. Strayhorn sought to recover the mare for payment of the note. |
West | Range: 79 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 1610 | 90 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1881 | Marshall & Hilsman v. A. W. Hurt et al. | Carroll | Debt |
Motion to condemn land. Additional Defendants: Elizabeth Hurt, William Hurt, J. K. P. Clements. |
West | Range: 84 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 128 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1884 | Mayor & Board of Alderman of McKenzie v. James McKenzie | Carroll | Debauchery |
James McKenzie is identified as "colored." The case concerns a fine issued by the town of McKenzie against defendant McKenzie for unlawful sexual intercourse with Alice Haynes; "they did meet in A. G. Gilbert's hay barn for that purpose and he saw them." Folder includes several legal briefs. Corporation Laws of the town of McKenzie, Tenn. |
West | Range: 83 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 257 | 41 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1891 | Matthew G. Holland v. E. G. Flowers | Carroll | Habeas Corpus |
Writ of habeas corpus alleging that Holland is illegally restrained. |
West | Range: 83 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 335 | 49 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1912 | M. M. Swearengen v. A. J. Smith | Carroll | Unlawful Detainer |
Cause of action: A. J. Smith was a tenant on the land of M. M. Swearengen. Swearengen wanted to recover the possession of the land. |
West | Range: 79 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1309 | 12 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1929 | Mrs. Annie Mae McAlexander v. Haskell Woodard | Carroll | Lien Settlement |
Mrs. Annie Mae McAlexander brought suit against Haskell Woodard to enforce a landlord's lien on a crop of corn and cotton grown on her land in 1928 for supplies furnished by McAlexander, the landlord. |
West | Range: 77 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1981 | 33 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1878 | Mary J. Rogers v. John W. Rogers, et al | Carroll | Land and Title Dispute |
Additional Defendants: James C. Rogers, Minnie D. Rogers, A.J. Butler, and R. K. Pickley |
West | Range: 84 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 37 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1913 | Murray, Dibrell Shoe Company et al. v. Robert Young et al. | Carroll | Deed of Trust |
Additional Plaintiffs: Hart Manufacturing Company, Deeds & Hersig Manufacturing Co., Bray Clothing Co., and Leichtman, Goodman, and Company. Additional Defendants: R. L. Young, W. A. Young, W. F. Scates, R. M. Ellinor, and Charles Young. |
West | Range: 80 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 1303 | 314 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1920 | M. A. Enochs v. Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway | Carroll | Damages |
The plaintiff holds that negligence in caring for a fire resulted in approx. 2000 rails of fence and several fence posts being burned. He is sued for damages to those items as well as some stationary items. |
West | Range: 78 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1647 | 75 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1873 | Nancy Williams v. Nashville Chattanooga Railroad & St. Louis Railroad Co. | Carroll | Damages for Wrongful Death |
Plaintiff sued concerning the death of her husband Burrell Williams. Claim is that a locomotive ran over him in the town of Huntingdon. |
West | Range: 84 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 83 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1886 | Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway Company v. David McMackin | Carroll | Damages |
Lawsuit was filed over the death of a mule. |
West | Range: 83 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 309 | 56 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1911 | Nashville, Chattanooga, & St. Louis Railway v. L. M. Williams | Carroll | Damages |
Damages for unlawfully building a culvert under the defendant's railroad on its right of way, and unlawfully digging and cutting a ditch in and upon plaintiff's land connected said ditch with said culvert and thereby unlawfully causing plaintiff's land described or about 4 acres thereof to fill up with sand. |
West | Range: 81 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 910 | 180 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1913 | Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway Company v. Western Union Telegraph Company | Carroll | Other |
Case involved the right of petitioner to condemn a portion of right-of-way over the Paducah & Memphis Div., N.C.St.L. Railway, where line of division crosses line between Henderson and Carroll Counties. Telegraph company desired to build a connection line across 26.4 miles of the land. See WT1587 for more. See WT1394, WT1655, and WT1658 for connected cases. WT1658 is continuation of WT1655. |
West | Range: 79 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 1589 | 1074 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1924 | Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway v. S. T. Sparks | Carroll | Damages |
4 folders. "The suit was instituted…to recover damages for the destruction of a truck struck by one of the Railway's moving trains on a public crossing within the limits of the incorporated town of McKenzie, the suit being predicated upon a violation of the Statutory Precautions." |
West | Range: 78 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1767 | 933 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1884 | Nashville Chattanooga& St. Louis Rail Way v. W. B. Grizzard | Carroll | Damages |
Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Rail Way Company |
West | Range: 83 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 263 | 62 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1909 | Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway Company v. George Hooper | Carroll | Damages for Wrongful Death |
George Hooper brought suit against the railway company for the death of his wife, Ida Hooper. She was struck and killed by a train while on her way home. He sued for $1,200.00 in damages. |
West | Range: 80 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1045 | 58 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1907 | Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway Company v. W. G. Barnhart | Carroll | Other |
Appeal of damages awarded in killing of a mule, 15 March 1906, jury awarded damages $125 and court costs. |
West | Range: 80 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1067 | 52 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1874 | Pique, Manier, Hall & Co. v. David Bell & Thomas H. Dinwiddie | Carroll | Debt | West | Range: 84 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 52 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1892 | P. E. Parker v. G. F. McCall | Carroll | Bond Dispute | West | Range: 83 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 368 | 34 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1912 | Pearl Walker v. W. M. Stanford | Carroll | Child Custody |
Pearl and W. M. were previously married and had a son named John. Case concerns the shared custody arrangement. Pearl Walker claimed W. M. was not honoring the agreed upon custody arrangement. |
West | Range: 79 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1324 | 46 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1878 | Ragsdon Layman v. Louisville & Nashville Railroad Company | Carroll | Damages |
Damages for killing two cows and two yearlings. Defendants: R. P Cole, John C. Sweeney. |
West | Range: 84 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 117 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1878 | Robert H. Belew v. Louisville & Nashville Railroad Co. | Carroll | Trespass and Damages | West | Range: 84 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 122 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1894 | Robert Henry, by next friend v. George Ridley | Carroll | Damages |
Plaintiffs "next friend": Mrs. A. W. Henry. Pages 1-4 are torn with bottom half missing. Cause of Action: Damages due to an assault and battery by the defendant. |
West | Range: 82 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 610 | 26 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1873 | State v. John Couyers et al. | Carroll | Bail Bond |
E. J. Hutchins killed one Edmond Thompson with a pistol on January 22nd 1872. He was hired to do so by Frank Glawson and Robert Barnhart. James Barnhart, J. S. Wilburn and J. R. Hutchins served as bondsmen in the murder trial. All of the defendants failed to appear and defaulted on their bonds. |
West | Range: 84 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 16 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1871 | State v. John Ligon et al. | Carroll | Larceny |
Ligon and others had white sheets on their body, white rags on their head and their faces painted black. Initially they stole a gun from Borland (?) Clark. They repeatedly did this, asking for arms from their victims. However, they never hurt anyone. The usual routine was 3 or 4 of them would be dressed up riding horses and would confront a household while one person would stay afar off, not dressed up and riding a mule. Defendants were sentenced 10 years in prison in Nashville. |
West | Range: 84 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 24 | 0 | Order A Copy |