Tennessee Supreme Court Cases

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View Entry Year Case Name County Cause/Crime Case Description Division Location # Pages Order
View Entry 1890 John Gilmore v. State Montgomery Murder

Pla. in error is accused of shooting and killing Abe Clardy. Gilmore and the victim were members of the same church and were on opposites sides of a debate regarding the employment of their current church pastor, Ephraim Dennis. The debate stemmed from a suit won by the church involving the title to the church property. The church sustained debt from said suit, and some in the church leadership wished to, "turn the pastor off," until debts were paid. This appears to have been an African American church.

 Middle Range: 35 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 868 74 Order A Copy
View Entry 1879 Lee Rose v. State Montgomery Murder

Additional parties: Charles Cosmell

 Middle Range: 20 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 38 0 Order A Copy
View Entry 1854 State v. Ben, alias Ben Herbert a slave Montgomery Murder Middle Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 244 0 Order A Copy
View Entry 1854 State v. Ben Herbert Montgomery Murder

Ben Herbert, a freed slave murdered a slave named Hannah with an axe

 Middle Range: 32 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 248 0 Order A Copy
View Entry 1860 State v. Elijah Duncan Montgomery Attempted Murder

Elijah Duncan allegedly shot James Perrigon.

 Middle Range: 32 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 264 20 Order A Copy
View Entry 1881 State v. Joe Wimberley Montgomery Murder

Joe Wimberley, colored. Victim: Wilson Ligon.

 Middle Range: 20 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 62 0 Order A Copy
View Entry 1918 State v. J. T. Bryant Montgomery Murder Middle Range: 21 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 120 0 Order A Copy
View Entry 1921 State v. Irvin C. Riggins Montgomery Murder

The co-indicted in this case was woman named Margaret Garrard. The victim's name was W. Frank Smith. The paperwork is filed in five folders.

 Middle Range: 21 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 161 0 Order A Copy
View Entry 1850 State v. Calvin Williams Montgomery Murder, Attempted

Calvin Williams was charged with assaulting William Speedy

 Middle Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 230 0 Order A Copy
View Entry 1866 State v. William Brockman Montgomery Murder

Defendant is found guilty and sentenced to one year of hard labor at the state penitentiary. He is rendered infamous and ordered to pay costs for the prosecution.

 Middle Range: 35 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 726 2 Order A Copy
View Entry 1889 State v. Harper Jordan & Allen McCullum Montgomery Murder

Harper Jordan, a 24 year old blacksmith, and McCullum charged for murdering John T. Nolen. A hand-drawn map of the blacksmith shop and surrounding area can be found in State v. Harper Jordan in MT OV 11.

 Middle Range: 35 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 759 120 Order A Copy
View Entry 1849 State v. Thomas J. Wynne Montgomery Murder Middle Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 229 50 Order A Copy
View Entry 1891 State v. George Avant Montgomery Murder

Victim: Kate Avant, wife of George, died by poisoning with strychnine.

 Middle Range: 33 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 487 64 Order A Copy
View Entry 1887 State v. Lewis Martin Montgomery Murder, Attempted

Lewis Martin attempted to murder Mary Martin.

 Middle Range: 34 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 690 21 Order A Copy
View Entry 1889 State v. Harper Jordan Montgomery Murder

Exhibit only. A hand-drawn map of blacksmith shop and surrounding area where John T. Nolen was murdered. This map was filed by . H. Marable as exhibit to his testimony. Allen McCullum was also accused of murdering Nolen. See case State v. Harper Jordan and Allen McCullum (MT 759).

 Middle Range: 34 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: Oversize Box 11 2 Order A Copy
View Entry 1918 Wash Langford v. State Montgomery Murder

Originally charged with Mark Langford for the murder of Lee Varner. Two African-Americans accused of killing a white man. In two folders. 3 folders.

 Middle Range: 32 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 112 0 Order A Copy
View Entry 1895 William Evans v. State Montgomery Murder

The State charged Evans with the shooting murder of Fan M. Weakley. Evans was the son-in-law of Weakley and at the time was involved in a divorce case with Weakley's daughter. The circuit court convicted Evans of 2nd degree murder and sentenced him to 10 years hard labor in the penitentiary a Nashville.

 Middle Range: 37 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1095 45 Order A Copy