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 | 1879 | A. B. Tavel, et al. v. M. L. Moore, et al. | Davidson | Debt Dispute |
Other plaintiffs: J. B. Eastman, R. H. Howell. Other defendants: Jno. A. Moore |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 37 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1916 | Annie Peach v. George W. Martin | Davidson | Negligence |
Annie Peach was married to Sam Peach who died from an accident on a faulty road on the farm of Dr. George Martin. |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 85 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1918 | Abbie Arnett v. State | Davidson | Liquor Violation | Middle | Range: 21 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 98 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1920 | Anderson Martin v. State | Davidson | Tippling | Middle | Range: 21 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 138 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1882 | A. U. Johnson v. State | Davidson | Other |
Charge is Failure to report revenue. |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 158 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1889 | Atta Haury v. State | Davidson | Tippling |
Plaintiff in error is accused of Tippling on a Sunday. Plaintiff was found guilty and is seeking a new trial. |
Middle | Range: 35 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 768 | 12 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1891 | A .A. McEwen & Wife v. Henry Driver | Davidson | Slander |
Defendant was charged with slander after referring to Plaintiff's sons as "bastards", meaning they were not the sons of plaintiff |
Middle | Range: 35 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 861 | 65 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1827 | A. B. Shelby v. Oliver B. Hayes | Davidson | Debt | Middle | Range: 21 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 186 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1917 | Andrew Druffenbreck v. J. M. Lawrence | Davidson | Assault |
Druffenbreck owned a barbershop in Nashville and Lawrence was attacked by one of the employees named Thornton B. Ladd. |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 97 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1918 | Annie Ware v. State | Davidson | Larceny | Middle | Range: 21 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 102 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1858 | Alexander Winfred v. State | Davidson | Other |
Plaintiff is appealing the charge of Malicious Shooting on the basis that the witness against him is of "mixed blood" and is therefore "incompetent…as a witness against him." |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 281 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1871 | Andy Foster & Moses Jackson v. State | Davidson | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Plaintiffs are "men of color" who are appealing the charge of assault with intent to commit murder of Peyton Woods, another "man of color." |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 318 | 34 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1891 | A. W. Morgan v. State | Davidson | Gaming |
Plaintiff in error is accused of participating in and promoting unlawful gaming. |
Middle | Range: 35 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 890 | 17 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1878 | Bill Allen, William Chambers v. State | Davidson | Burglary |
Cause of action: "Housebreaking." Both Allen and Chambers are listed as "colored." |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 36 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1853 | Benjamin Hudson& William Rhea v. State | Davidson | Other |
Cause of Action: Malicious shooting. Includes Executive Clemency signed by Governor Andrew Johnson. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 245 | 32 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1828 | Benjamin Bashaw v. State | Davidson | Bigamy |
Bashaw married to Sally Cole in Davidson Co. in 1797. They lived together and had children until 1805. Sally cohabitated with Mr. Nowell and in 1827 Benjamin married Sallie Williamson. His first marriage was deemed invalid because the Justice of the Peace who officiated was from Sumner County. |
Middle | Range: 33 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 370 | 14 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1890 | Bill Daugherty v. State | Davidson | Gaming |
Plaintiff in error is accused of participating in and encouraging gambling. |
Middle | Range: 35 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 874 | 13 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1868 | Benjamin Hadley v. State | Davidson | Liquor, Sale of Illegal | Middle | Range: 32 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 266 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1918 | Ben Morford v. State | Davidson | Larceny | Middle | Range: 21 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 122 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1919 | Charles H. Gill v. State | Davidson | Larceny |
Charged with robbery, petit larceny. Theft of money from Amos Pool. |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 122 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1919 | Clyde G. Burson v. State | Davidson | Assault and Battery | Middle | Range: 21 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 142 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1870 | Charles Vinton | Davidson | Larceny |
Incomplete case file. A letter and a pardon from Governor D. C. Senter for Charles Vinton who was convicted of larceny in 1866 in Hawkins county. |
Middle | Range: 34 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 715 | 3 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1888 | C. W. Davies v. State | Davidson | Assault with Intent to Kill |
This is an appeal. Original case saw C.W. Davies accused of assault with intent to commit murder in the first degree. On June 26, 1888, Davies was said to have attacked Harry D. Martin with a club. Incident began over a perceived slur from Martin. Attack took place at Glendale Park, where Davies was a policeman, on the porch of the Casino, an amusement hall. |
Middle | Range: 35 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 741 | 118 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1893 | Chris Younker v. State | Davidson | Larceny |
Plaintiff in error and brother Charles Younker are charged with the theft of a Sussex cow worth $200 belonging to Overton Lee. Chris and Charles claim they purchased the cow in controversy from "two negroes," for $10.00. Casefile notes Lee lives on Granny White Pike near Glendale Park and owns a large (95 or 100 head) heard of Sussex cattle. Chris and Charles live near Vanderbilt University. |
Middle | Range: 36 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 960 | 75 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1919 | Cleve Quick& George Drifoos v. State | Davidson | Larceny | Middle | Range: 21 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 139 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1871 | Col. Young Alexander v. State | Davidson | Murder |
Murder of William Stewart |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 302 | 66 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | Caleb Jones v. State | Davidson | Larceny |
Amount: $150; Additional names: Nelson Jones. |
Middle | Range: 37 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1124 | 55 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1889 | Carrall Carter v. State | Davidson | Tippling |
The plaintiff in error is accused of Tippling on a Sunday. |
Middle | Range: 35 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 777 | 17 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1891 | Charles White v. State | Davidson | Gaming |
Plaintiff in error is accused of participating in and promoting unlawful gaming. |
Middle | Range: 35 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 886 | 12 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1918 | Dean C. Jackson v. State | Davidson | Receiving Stolen Goods |
The property in question was an automobile owned by W. A. Tennison. |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 106 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1915 | Dee Marks v. State | Davidson | Murder | Middle | Range: 21 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 134 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1917 | Dock Mannion v. State | Davidson | Liquor Violation | Middle | Range: 21 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 89 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1879 | David Hughes v. State Insurance Co. of Nashville | Davidson | Insurance Disputes |
The plaintiff owned a hardware store in Nashville which a fire destroyed in December 1877. |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 173 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1871 | D. L. Lapsley (col.) v. State | Davidson | Resisting an officer | Middle | Range: 32 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 302 | 31 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1873 | Daniel Galloway v. State | Davidson | Marriage, Breach of Promise |
Case involves the intermarriage of a "negro" and white person, Malinda Vine alias Malinda Brandon. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 340 | 83 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1908 | D. B. Cooper & Robin Cooper v. State | Davidson | Murder |
Duncan Brown Cooper & his son, Robin Cooper were accused of murdering Edward Carmack, the editor of The Tennessean & former U. S. Senator. Carmack had been publishing disparaging remarks about D. B. Cooper which prompted a feud between the two. On Nov. 9, 1908 the two men saw each other on the street in Nashville and shot at one another. Carmack was killed and Cooper's son Robin was accidently shot by Carmack while trying to protect his father. Both were convicted & sentenced. 9 vols. included. See MT 863. |
Middle | Range: 35 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 862 | 2930 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1890 | D. C. Kinney v. State | Davidson | Gaming |
Kinney was charged to have "with force and arms" pay a gamble in a game of hazard, identified as "Cards". |
Middle | Range: 35 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 876 | 15 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1891 | Dave Martin v. State | Davidson | Gambling |
Martin is accused of gambling. He was sentenced to thirty days in the county workhouse for gambling fifty cents. |
Middle | Range: 5 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 859 | 15 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1868 | Ed Gorman v. State | Davidson | Larceny | Middle | Range: 32 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 266 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1880 | Ex Parte W. A. Knight | Davidson | Ex Parte Petition |
Knight was trustee of Davidson County, and was relieved of his position, either by the Circuit - Criminal Court of Davidson or simply the Judge of that Court. Knight claims he has been given no legal reason or recourse for his release. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 70 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1916 | Elsie Latta v. State | Davidson | Fraud |
Witnesses included I.G. Batey, Mrs. James T. Crockett, Mrs. Irene Adams, Will Latta, Dr. W.M. Bell, Vernon Conway, F.L. Morton, and Mrs. Callie Morton. |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 85 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1915 | Eugene Higginbotham v. State | Davidson | Murder | Middle | Range: 21 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 124 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1917 | Ed Cantrell v. State | Davidson | Assault with Intent to Commit Rape |
Attempted rape of Bobbie Latham. Statutory |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 93 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | Ed Meadows v. State | Davidson | Gambling |
Case concerns illigal cock fighting and gambling. |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 158 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1871 | E. Franklin v. State | Davidson | Liquor, Sale of Illegal |
tippling on a Sunday; selling liquor on a Sunday |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 302 | 14 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1887 | Edward Isaacs v. State | Davidson | Assault with Intent to Commit Rape |
Amanda Hudson was in her home when a described Negro man came into her kitchen and tried to grab her. She and her children ran outside, grabbed rocks and sticks, and beat the man until he ran away when he saw a neighbor coming with a shotgun. He was apprehended 4 miles away. Defense claims the police arrested the wrong man because they lost the actual perpetrator. |
Middle | Range: 35 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 729 | 99 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1891 | E. C. Landsdown v. State | Davidson | Gaming |
Plaintiff in error is accused of participating in and promoting unlawful gaming. |
Middle | Range: 35 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 886 | 16 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1876 | Frank Johnson v. State | Davidson | Murder | Middle | Range: 20 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 30 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1919 | Fred Gholston v. State | Davidson | Liquor Violation | Middle | Range: 21 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 139 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1919 | Fred Tyrell v. State | Davidson | Liquor Violation | Middle | Range: 21 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 140 | 0 | Order A Copy |