Order Cases Online
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].
Use quotes for an exact search. ex. "J. W."
View Entry | Year | Case Name | County | Cause/Crime | Case Description | Division | Location | # Pages | Order |
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View Entry | 1823 | Benjamin Powell et al. v. Thomas L. Gray | Franklin | Trespass |
Additional Plaintiffs: Joseph Klepps. Powell and Klepps were partners trading under the firm of Powell & Klepps. |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 185 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1870 | Catherine M. Barrett, et al. v. Thomas A. Anderson, Louis Morgan, Von A. Anderson | Franklin | Estate Dispute/ Settlement |
Add'l pls: C.W. Barrett, E.S., G.D., & C.M. Monroe, Moses G. & Sophia M. Copp, H.S. & Susan D. Smith, George W. & Anna S. Eastman, and Louisa S. Monroe. Barrett was widowed by Samuel B. Barrett of Boston, her children's father was Edmund Monroe. Barrett owned 20k acres of land at his death, leaving them to his widow, who divided & sold them to Edmund Monroe, who then died intestate. Conflicting deeds were discovered. Suit was filed to settle estate & land ownership. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 10a | 471 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1916 | Earl Finney v. State | Franklin | Larceny |
Charged with petit larceny and burglary |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 93 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1916 | Ernest Keith v. State | Franklin | Murder |
Additional parties: John Woods, John Taylor, Jackson Wiesman, Boone Templeton, Roy Templeton, T. J. Motlow |
Middle | Range: 27 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 289 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1915 | J. L. Shasteen& W. B. Burns v. State | Franklin | Assault and Battery |
Assignments of Error and Briefs. Incomplete |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 163 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1919 | J. M. Colston v. State | Franklin | Assault and Battery |
Assaulted and battered Charlee Keith, Douglas Woods, Crawford Taylor and Dan Hatchett. |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 128 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1915 | Leslie Russell et al. v. State | Franklin | Bail Bond |
Additional plaintiffs: G. D. Garner, A. G. Russell and H. Bunn, sureties on the bail bond |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 92 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1920 | Robertson & Johnson v. J. L. Shasteen | Franklin | Debt Dispute | Middle | Range: 21 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 145 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1835 | State v. Nathan Gillaspie et al. | Franklin | Disturbing the Peace |
Additional Defendants: William Gillaspie; James Faris; Thomas Dixon |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 195 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1854 | State v. Absolom Williams | Franklin | Extortion | Middle | Range: 32 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 246 | 19 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1854 | State v. Jesse Arledge, et al.. | Franklin | Larceny, Grand |
Additional defendants: James P. Keith and Andrew J. Gossage. Amount was $1,000.00. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 246 | 18 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1877 | State v. Albert C. Price | Franklin | Murder |
Victim: Hardy H. Smith. According to testimony Price accused Smith of harboring bushwhackers. They got into an altercation and Price shot and killed Smith. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 29 | 119 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1877 | State v. Bronn Coble (col.) | Franklin | Murder |
Coble was convicted of murdering Felix Gardner, another African-American on June 23, 1876. "The Prisoner is a negro, the record shows that he is unlettered, uneducation, ignorant, and totally unaware of his legal rights and privileges." |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 29a | 78 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1877 | State v. Robert Russell (col.) | Franklin | Assault with Force and Arms |
Robert Russell, referred to in the case as "colored," was accused of unlawful and malicious shooting of Joshua Robertson. The argument states that Robertson was never indeed shot and that his veracity was in question. Russell was eventually found not guilty of the charges. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 35 | 28 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1879 | State v. William Ives | Franklin | Malicious Stabbing |
Victim: Samuel Southerland. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 59 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1881 | State v. Sarah Tankersly | Franklin | Bigamy |
Also spelled Sarah Tankersley (?) |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 59 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1881 | State v. George Smith (col.) | Franklin | Assault with Intent to Commit Rape |
Victim: Ann Landus. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 58 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1919 | State v. Arthur Keith | Franklin | Liquor Violation | Middle | Range: 21 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 116 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1920 | State v. Jourdan Aylor | Franklin | Manslaughter |
The victim was Jim Clepper. The venue was changed from Grundy County. The defendant also went by the alias Jurd Aylor. |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 147 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1921 | State v. Fred Smith | Franklin | Liquor, Sale of Illegal | Middle | Range: 21 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 157 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1921 | State v. N. W. Goodrich | Franklin | Liquor Violation | Middle | Range: 21 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 157 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1920 | State v. Mrs. Sam Ramsey | Franklin | Liquor Violation |
Defendant name was Jennie Ramsey |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 160 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1881 | State v. George Fountain | Franklin | Malicious Destruction/ Mischief | Middle | Range: 21 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 158 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1874 | State v. Tom Turner | Franklin | Larceny |
For petty larceny. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 200 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1858 | State v. B.O. Nevils& William G. Baker | Franklin | Attempted Murder |
Defendants are charged with beating and stabbing James Wileman. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 281 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1858 | State v. John Berry | Franklin | Malicious Stabbing |
Victim: Daniel Crowly. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 275 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1865 | State v. Julius Swagg | Franklin | Gambling |
Defendants is accused of betting on a game of cards. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 305 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1866 | State v. Hinton | Franklin | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Defendant is white and assaulted a free person of color. Victim: Joshua Gore. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 307 | 15 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1870 | State v. Eli Steele | Franklin | Disturbing the Peace |
Defendant is being charged with profanity for saying "God damned." |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 327 | 6 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1849 | State v. Richard Sharp Jr. | Franklin | Gambling | Middle | Range: 33 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 382 | 8 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1883 | State v. Moses Miller | Franklin | Robbery | Middle | Range: 33 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 503 | 197 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1886 | State v. George Gibson | Franklin | Carrying an Illegal Weapon |
The defendant was charged with "carrying a pistol." The transcript has the defendant's name as "George Gipson." |
Middle | Range: 34 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 671 | 24 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1887 | State v. Allen Armstrong | Franklin | Carrying an Illegal Weapon | Middle | Range: 34 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 693 | 7 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1877 | State v. Samuel Gregory (col.) | Franklin | Assault and Battery |
Incomplete case file. Judgment only. Cause of action: Assault and battery with intent to rape. |
Middle | Range: 35 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 758 | 4 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1889 | State v. John Brazellon | Franklin | Liquor Violation |
Brazellon charged with selling and tippling liquor within 4 miles of a school house. Jury found him guilty and fined him $10 and sentenced him 10 days in county jail. |
Middle | Range: 35 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 815 | 24 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1890 | State v. T. A. Clark | Franklin | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Clark charged with shooting H.C. Sanders with a pistol with intent to murder him. Clark was found guilty of assault and battery and fined $75. Clark appealed. |
Middle | Range: 35 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 837 | 67 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1893 | State v. R. C. White | Franklin | Nuisance |
White was accused of unlawfully and knowingly obstruct a roadway. White supposedly blocked "the Beans Creek and Paint Rock Road by placing with stone, a[n]d rails and logs roots brush ties another matter". |
Middle | Range: 36 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 966 | 19 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1849 | State v. Hugh Francis, admr. | Franklin | Tax Violation | Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 229 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1853 | State v. James Hilton& Riley James | Franklin | Murder | Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 244 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1875 | State v. Anderson Franklin | Franklin | Murder |
Wilborne Franklin died after he was struck with a rock in the side of his head by Anderson "Anse" Franklin. The two were at Louisa Franklin's property. Anderson and Wilburne were half brothers. Anderson struck Welburn (alt. spelling) with a rock, then jumped on top of him and punched in multiple times. Wilborne died few months later from sustained injuries. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 9a | 120 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1876 | State v. W. G. Smith & John H. Martin | Franklin | Carrying an Illegal Weapon |
Defendants charged with carrying a pistol. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 19 | 30 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1881 | State v. John Poe and Cicero Poe | Franklin | Murder |
The State charged the defendants with the 1st degree murder of K. E. Baker in Pierce's Store in "Owl Hollow" in Franklin County on Feb. 8, 1881. They were convicted in the circuit court: John sentenced to death, Cicero sentenced to life of hard labor in prison. Defendants appealed on many grounds including that the evidence was circumstantial and they were handcuffed during the entire proceedings. The militia arrived and people were "excited" when they were first captured. There is detailed testimony. |
Middle | Range: 37 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1123 | 360 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1917 | State v. Earnest Keith | Franklin | Murder |
T he victim, John Woods, |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 102 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1920 | State v. Sam Ramsey | Franklin | Liquor Violation | Middle | Range: 21 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 160 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1883 | State v. James L. Hatchett | Franklin | Obstructing a Public Road/ Road/ Ri | Middle | Range: 21 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 158 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1874 | State v. William Conner | Franklin | Larceny, Grand | Middle | Range: 32 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 200 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1855 | State v. Matison Lewis | Franklin | Murder |
Lewis was a free black man who was accused of stabbing an enslaved man named Wash to death in Winchester. Wash was the property of Charles Crisman. Many enslaved people gave testimony. The two had a disagreement and Lewis allegedly stabbed Wash. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 261 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1865 | State v. Thomas Grant | Franklin | Assault with Intent to Kill | Middle | Range: 32 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 303 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1871 | State v. Luke Kelley | Franklin | Carrying an Illegal Weapon |
Carrying a pistol |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 302 | 4 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1871 | State v. W. B. Atkinson | Franklin | Malicious Threats |
Malicious threats; verbally, maliciously threaten to hang by the neck with a rope the person of one Harry Vanzant in order for Vanzant to tell him where there was whiskey |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 302 | 0 | Order A Copy |