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 | 1880 | Addison Morrison v. Shelby, Scott,& Company | Montgomery | Insurance Disputes |
The plaintiff, Morrison, was an African-American tobacco grower in Montgomery County. The firm of Shelby, Scott & Co., who owned a tobacco warehouse, was headed by J.H. Shelby and D.W. Scott. |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 173 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1893 | Abe & Pomp Thompkins v. State | Montgomery | Trespass |
The plaintiffs in error are accused of entering the property of S. B. Seat and tearing down fences and gates. The fence in controversy was built across "Old Seven Mile Ferry Road," which runs through Seat's property. Seat claims the road was no longer public but that is still occasionally used as a "shun," road to avoid a nearby toll-gate. Seat and the plaintiffs are neighbors. Plaintiffs claim the road is still public and the only way to travel from their homes. Exhibit materials include a small map. |
Middle | Range: 36 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 955 | 28 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1870 | A. J. Register v. State | Montgomery | Conversion of Property |
Plaintiff is appealing the charge that he appropriated two cows from W. J. Shearon. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 327 | 34 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1895 | Ben Leavell v. State | Montgomery | Rape |
Plaintiff in error was accused of rape and having intercourse with a female under the age of sixteen. Plaintiff admitted to a relationship with Mary Moore but stated the intercourse was consensual. Casefile notes Moore lived with her mother and father in district 3 of Montgomery County. |
Middle | Range: 36 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1030 | 48 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1874 | Chris Hickman v. State | Montgomery | Liquor, Sale of Illegal |
Selling whiskey on a Sunday. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 353 | 30 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1871 | Drew Johnson v. State | Montgomery | Larceny |
Larceny against M. J. Hornberger |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 320A | 25 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1878 | George Bennett v. State | Montgomery | Larceny |
George Bennett, colored, Additional parties: Stephen Whitlock, colored |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 38 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1878 | Henry Quarles v. State | Montgomery | Theft |
Henry Quarles is "colored" |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 38 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1892 | Irvin Quarles v. State | Montgomery | Motion for Appeal |
This casefile is an appeal from a case where plaintiff was charged with Murder in the Second Degree for the death of Abe Slaughter. Plaintiff struck Abe Slaughter with a bat, causing his death. |
Middle | Range: 35 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 913 | 52 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1868 | James Nolan v. State | Montgomery | Larceny |
For "feloniously take & carry away of four cattle" |
Middle | Range: 34 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 609 | 29 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1887 | Joe Jackson v. State | Montgomery | Possession of Illegal Weapons |
carrying a pistol unlawfully |
Middle | Range: 34 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 696 | 24 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1870 | Jesse Gray v. State | Montgomery | Theft |
Defendant is a "colored man" accused of stealing a mule. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 327 | 58 | Order A Copy |
| 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 | 1922 | Lizzie, Alias Margaret Garard v. State | Montgomery | Other |
Accessory after the fact to murder, and aiding in concealing and covering up the crime of murder. |
Middle | Range: 33 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 460 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1871 | Pleasant Hunt v. State | Montgomery | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Assault and battery with intent to commit murder in the first degree |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 302 | 30 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1873 | Pat Sullivan v. State | Montgomery | Assault |
Assault and battery with intent to commit murder upon Tom Morrisey. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 355 | 81 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1867 | R. M. Hodges v. State | Montgomery | Assault with Intent to Commit Rape | Middle | Range: 32 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 321 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1838 | State v. William Rose | Montgomery | Assault and Battery | Middle | Range: 32 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 207 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1843 | State v. Corporation of Clarksville | Montgomery | County Issues | Middle | Range: 32 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 212A | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1845 | State v. Ambrose Martin | Montgomery | Other |
Cause of Action: Selling liquor to a negro slave |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 219 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1845 | State v. William L. Davis | Montgomery | Other |
Cause of action: Keeping a tippling house |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 219 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1845 | State v. Levi Chester | Montgomery | Liquor, Sale of Illegal | Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 220 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1849 | State v. Johnathan Eatherly | Montgomery | Other |
Cause of Action: Betting on election |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 229 | 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 | 1868 | State v. S. K. Cross | Montgomery | Larceny | Middle | Range: 21 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 157 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1868 | State v. John W. Harris | Montgomery | Theft | Middle | Range: 32 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 333 | 26 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1875 | State v. Henry Fort | Montgomery | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Henry Fort, referred to as "colored" was accused of assaulting Abraham Wimberly, with the intent to kill him by stabbing. Incomplete case file; missing testimony. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 13a | 16 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1874 | State v. Phil Hoffman, T. Herndon, John S. Howell | Montgomery | Scire Facias |
Incomplete case file. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 13 | 10 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1875 | State v. Dick Moore (col.) | Montgomery | Gambling | Middle | Range: 20 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 19 | 14 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1877 | State v. William Hall | Montgomery | Larceny, Grand |
Hall was accused of stealing $5 dollar bill and five $10 dollar bills from Miss Inez Packer. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 35a | 44 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1880 | State v. Allen Gupton | Montgomery | Larceny |
Victim: H. T. Lyle. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 55 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1880 | State v. William Weber | Montgomery | Larceny |
Wiliam Weber's alias is John Bradshaw. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 55 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1880 | State v. Alex Kirby | Montgomery | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Attacked G. Hollowman. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 58 | 0 | 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 | 1881 | State v. David Barton | Montgomery | Obstructing a Public Road/ Road/ Ri | Middle | Range: 21 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 173 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. James Maverty | Montgomery | Resisting an officer | Middle | Range: 21 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 173 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1858 | State v. William Emerson | Montgomery | Larceny, Grand |
Issues on appeal: validity of confession, illegal imprisonment, admissibility of witness testimony, incompetency of witness. The property taken was an enslaved girl named Halle |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 273 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1870 | State v. Norfleet | Montgomery | Theft |
Property taken was one hog. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 319 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1870 | State v. Granville Wilcox | Montgomery | Theft |
File references the alleged theft of a horse. The document doubts the credibility of the witness, which the Defendant describes as an "uneducated man of color." |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 327 | 8 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1872 | State v. Charles Clark (col.), et al. | Montgomery | Felonious Killing/Wounding of Livestock |
Additional defendants: John Johnson, col., Elizabeth Johnson, col.; killing a cow; arson |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 302 | 10 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1872 | State v. Chris Hickman | Montgomery | Liquor, Sale of Illegal |
selling liquor on Sunday |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 302 | 12 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1879 | State v. Charles Harris (col.) | Montgomery | Larceny |
Sentenced to five years in prison |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 368 | 4 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1834 | State v. William Smith | Montgomery | Illegitimate Child/Bastardy |
Mother of the children is Lethy Crockett |
Middle | Range: 33 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 374 | 7 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1846 | State v. John Shelby | Montgomery | Failure to Perform Official Duties |
Cause of action: failure to have the road measured and the mile marked |
Middle | Range: 33 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 382 | 6 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1848 | State v. Duncan Marr | Montgomery | Assault with Force and Arms | Middle | Range: 33 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 382 | 5 | Order A Copy |