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 | 1937 | Bruner Powers v. State | McMinn | Manslaughter, Voluntary |
Statement of Case & Brief only. Plaintiff originally found guilty of causing the death of 19-year-old Verdie Seiber by striking her repeatedly during an argument so that she fell down a staircase & struck her head on the concrete. Seiber died of a fractured skull 14 Nov. 1936. Plaintiff & Seiber had been on friendly terms until the argument which was over his seeing another woman. Incident took place in roadhouse where Seiber also worked. Mentioned: Alf Daugherty, Seiber's stepfather. |
East | Range: 9 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1056 | 25 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1878 | Benjamin F. Payne, v. State | McMinn | Appeal for New Trial |
This case file is an appeal for a new trial from a case where plaintiff in error was charged with murder. |
East | Range: 20 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1631 | 65 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1926 | Bill Brock & Bill Price v. State | McMinn | Assault and Battery |
Order only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 70 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1940 | Bill Matlock v. State | McMinn | Receiving Stolen Goods | East | Range: 5 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 169 | 69 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1891 | Bill Frank, in error v. State | McMinn | Lewd Behavior |
The State charged Bill Frank with engaging in "lewd and sexual intercourse" in public with Mandy Emerson. They also charged that Frank and Emerson committed adultery and lewd acts because they lived together as man and wife but were unmarried. Majority of case (48 of 60 pages) is in box ET 1792. |
East | Range: 5 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 18a | 60 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1855 | Bank of Tennessee v. John L. Bridges, et al. | McMinn | Debt |
Numerous defendants including William H. Slover, Abraham Slover, Deaderick D. Anderson, Pierce [also Pearce] B. Anderson, Andrew Turner, M. Southard, and Samuel P. Ivins. Adaline A. Blackwell also executed a deed of trust to Bridges for Negro slaves Charlotte and her children Harriett, Edward, George Sherman, Nelson, Roger or Tobe, Henry, and David. Other Blackwell family names mentioned. Oversize. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1166 | 4 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1933 | Beecher Lawson v. State | McMinn | Robbery |
Plaintiff is accused of robbing Emmet Robinson of $25. Bills Stoops and Loyd Hagler were originally charged along with plaintiff. Robinson owns and operates a filling station in McMinn County and was tending to the station when the plaintiff, Stoops, and Hagler allegedly pulled in acting as if they were getting gas. The men then allegedly hit Robinson with a pistol and demanded money. |
East | Range: 10 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 1552 | 177 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1926 | Carl Cardin v. State | McMinn | Manslaughter |
Order only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 70 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1876 | E. A. Cate v. State | McMinn | Larceny |
Cover lists name as "A. E. Cate" but it is "E. A. Cate" throughout the rest of the case materials. For breaking into the house of J. F. Partain and stealing various items. |
East | Range: 20 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1649 | 19 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1906 | Ernest Underwood v. State | McMinn | Murder |
Aliases of Plaintiff: Earnest Powers, Earnest Beritsin. Final Order only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 85 | 2 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | Earnest Underwood alias Powers v. State | McMinn | Unknown |
Order only. Date: Unknown. |
East | Range: 5 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 92 | 1 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1926 | F. A. Lattimore v. State | McMinn | Breaking and Entering |
Additional Cause of Action: Larceny. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 74 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1861 | Francis B. Jack v. State | McMinn | Murder, 1st degree |
For 1st degree murder of William B. P. Smith by stiking him on right temple with a club on 4/21/1860. Smith died from his injury on 4/26/1860. |
East | Range: 9 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1193 | 39 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1935 | Glen White & Wade White v. State | McMinn | Larceny | East | Range: 8 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 882 | 23 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1926 | Hoyt Hanby v. State | McMinn | Other |
Cause of Action: Drunk Driving. Order only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 70 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1926 | Hurley Moore v. State | McMinn | Liquor Violation |
Cause of Action: Possessing a Still and Keeping in Stock Intoxicating Liquors. Order only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 70 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1928 | Hearsh Rymer& Arthur Merrill v. State | McMinn | Liquor Violation |
Plaintiff is appealing the charge that he transported liquor illegally. Case is incomplete; opinion only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 84 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1926 | Hubert Seals v. State | McMinn | Murder |
Order only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 70 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1926 | Howard (alias) Pinkie Hamilton & Leck Coppinger v. State | McMinn | Breaking and Entering |
Order only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 70 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1939 | Homer Williams v. State | McMinn | Liquor Violation |
"Transporting liquor." |
East | Range: 5 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 169 | 60 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1877 | Jackson Hunt v. State | McMinn | Murder |
The plaintiff in error is accused of shooting and killing his wife Margaret Ann Hunt. At the time of the murder Margaret was 18 and the plaintiff was 22 or 23. Plaintiff and the deceased were married for 8 months before the murder. The plaintiff is described as a "drinking fellow." Additional documents located in ET 1651. |
East | Range: 5 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 31 | 79 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1928 | Jewell Long v. State | McMinn | Other |
Plaintiff is appealing the charge of "V. B. D. L." Case is incomplete; opinion only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 84 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1906 | John Cobb & Quince Cobb v. State | McMinn | Unknown |
Final Decree only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 92 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1942 | Jack Williams v. State | McMinn | Murder |
Murder in the First Degree. Knifing Victim: Thomas Jackson. |
East | Range: 5 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 169 | 90 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1859 | John Harrell v. The State | McMinn | Appeal for New Trial |
The opinion of the court discusses the ability of the state to allow questions regarding the religious faith of witnesses. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1173 | 27 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1871 | James Robison v. State | McMinn | Other |
The cause of action in this case is listed as "false pretenses." It is involves a dispute over the sell of a horse. |
East | Range: 9 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 1237 | 24 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1938 | James Spurling v. State | McMinn | Liquor, Unlawful Transportation of |
For illegally transporting 20 gallons of intoxicating liquors. |
East | Range: 9 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 1259 | 84 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1931 | J. A. Sanders v. State | McMinn | Liquor, Unlawful Transportation of |
Plaintiff was arrested on the 4th of July while carrying home brewed alcohol from his car into his restaurant. The arresting officer found 72 bottles of what appeared to be home brewed alcohol. The contents of the bottles were never analyzed. Plaintiff's restaurant is described as being in the City of Athens in the Wilson building near the L. & N. Depot. |
East | Range: 10 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1360 | 36 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1892 | James W. Foster, in error v. State | McMinn | Assault with Intent to Commit Rape |
Foster was accused of attempting to kill William T. Wattenbarger. He hid in the bushes in broad daylight while Wattenbarger approached on the road. The defense argued that the jury was coerced in its decision. The main evidence was a pair of shoes worn by Foster the day of the shooting, and the tracks they made in the freshly plowed soil of the corn field. |
East | Range: 18 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 1969 | 181 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1926 | Jeff Redman v. State | McMinn | Manslaughter |
Final Decree only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 72 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1926 | Joe Wallace v. State | McMinn | Manslaughter |
Order only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 70 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1926 | Jake Parris v. State | McMinn | Liquor Violation |
Order only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 70 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1893 | James Foster v. State | McMinn | Assault |
Bill of Costs only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 98 | 3 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1893 | John A. Hicks, in error v. State | McMinn | Assault and Battery |
Hicks was a professor at Ulysses S. Grant University in Athens, and was accused of assaulting Miss Bell. Bell tried to leave the room before class was complete, & Hicks caught her by the arm. She hit him in the face with books, & he tried to force her to sit. |
East | Range: 18 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 2037 | 152 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1853 | Jacob L. McClary v. James S. Bridges | McMinn | Slaves, Selling of |
Dispute over the sale of slaves named Jenny, Charles, and Moses. Bridges sold the three for $1500.00 with the promise that they were sound and healthy. However, it was discovered that Jenny was "diseased in her Lungs, Liver, Breast, Heart, Chest, Bowels, and greatly diseased with a disease called consumption [tuberculosis]." Jenny died. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1147 | 44 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1853 | James S. Bridges v. Milton R. May | McMinn | Debt |
May was said to owe Bridges a substantial amount for goods, wares, merchandise, horse feed, boarding and lodging, medicines, labor, and care and attention to horses, etc. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1147 | 41 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1867 | J. P. Carroll v. Nathan Kelly | McMinn | Replevin |
Kerfuffle over the ownership of a sorrel mare. |
East | Range: 9 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 1222 | 17 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1879 | John Carver v. State | McMinn | Murder |
Victim was Donas Magill and was murder with a loaded gun. |
East | Range: 19 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 1682 | 44 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1876 | John L. Hurst v. State | McMinn | Assault and Battery |
For assault and battery of Elijah Cate. |
East | Range: 20 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1654 | 22 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1940 | Mack Price v. State | McMinn | Liquor Violation |
"Violating the Bone Dry Law." |
East | Range: 5 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 169 | 34 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1939 | McMinn County& J. J. Ward v. Paul Cantrell | McMinn | Other |
Sheriff of McMinn is sued to have employees (deputies etc.) appointed. |
East | Range: 6 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 226 | 221 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1936 | Mae True v. Ray True | McMinn | Divorce |
Mae sought a divorce "from bed and board" and applied to obtain alimony. Court admitted that the case was difficult because of the "pathetic condition of a man and wife and their innocent off-spring." The children ranged in age from 1 to 13 years. Mae alleged that Ray had never supported the family, but that they continued living together. It was charged that Ray had mistreated Mae and had "tried to get rid of her in various ways," one an attempt to confine her to a lunatic asylum. |
East | Range: 8 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 945 | 48 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1871 | Noah Dillard v. State | McMinn | Rape |
Case also include charges of assaulting Susan Brady. |
East | Range: 5 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 38 | 23 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1928 | Orange Moss v. State | McMinn | Other |
Plaintiff is appealing the charge of "V. B. D. L." Case file is incomplete; opinion only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 80 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1861 | Peter, a slave v. State | McMinn | Burglary |
Owned by Thomas B. Mayfield. For "feloniously and burglariously" breaking into the home of Andrew McKeldin & stealing money & property from him. |
East | Range: 9 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1193 | 34 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1937 | Rans Price & Creed Withrow v. State | McMinn | Liquor Violation | East | Range: 9 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1069 | 32 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1823 | State v. John Walker, Sr. | McMinn | Assault with Force and Arms |
Defendant is charged with stabbing Spencer Beavers. Typed transcript included. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 56 | 14 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1926 | Sam Breedwell v. State | McMinn | Rape |
Order only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 70 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1928 | State v. Albert Sims | McMinn | Liquor Violation |
Plaintiff is appealing the charge that he possessed liquor illegally. Case is incomplete; opinion only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 84 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1928 | State v. Roy Sims | McMinn | Liquor Violation |
Plaintiff is appealing the charge that he possessed liquor illegally. Case is incomplete; opinion only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 84 | 1 | Order A Copy |