Tennessee Supreme Court Cases

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View Entry Year Case Name County Cause/Crime Case Description Division Location # Pages Order
View Entry 1855 State v. John Williams, et al Davidson Other

Charged with harboring a slave named Asa. Additional defendants: John Graham, Isaac Taylor, Thomas Wright, Ann Rabey.

 Middle Range: 32 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 254 84 Order A Copy
View Entry 1855 State v. Joel N. W. Conn Grundy Other

Defendant is charge with unlawfully concealing a weapon (bowie knife).

 Middle Range: 32 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 263 0 Order A Copy
View Entry 1855 State v. Joseph Roulston& John Roulston Marion Other

Cause of action: public obscenity. For publicly calling one Catharine McBee [also spelled Magbee] a "god-damned strumpet," among other things.

 East Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1162 4 Order A Copy
View Entry 1855 State v. Jesse W. S. Graham Morgan Other

Cause of action: Public obscenity. For calling one Jesse Adkins a "god-damned hog thief and a god-damned liar."

 East Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1162 6 Order A Copy
View Entry 1855 State v. Pryor L. Harbison Knox Other

Cause of action: public obscenity. For publicly singing "a black guard song, very vulgar" and making a lewd comment about the wife of one Thomas W. Kearnes. William G. Brownlow was one of the grand jurors.

 East Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1162 9 Order A Copy
View Entry 1855 State & David S. Turner v. Lawson Widby Johnson Other

Turner accused Matilda Wilcox, wife of C. C. Wilcox, of unlawfully trading with a slave, the property of M. M. Wagner. Widby claimed the Turner family's accusation was made from malice and ill will "for the purpose of venting their spleen…." Matilda was said to have purchased a turkey from the unidentified slave.

 East Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1162 16 Order A Copy
View Entry 1855 State v. John D. Lowery Roane Other

Lowery charged with blasphemy for uttering words considered to be to the "great scandal and reproach of the Christian religion". Grand jury witnesses: Benjamin Crenshaw & his 12-yr-old son Samuel, who said Lowery came to the house to have Ben whip Samuel, who had spoken saucily to Def's mom (he had apparently told her to kiss his posterior, but used a more vulgar term), & Def said if Jesus Christ himself spoke that way, Def would strike him or knock him down. Jury convicted Lowery & he appealed to SC.

 East Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1164 11 Order A Copy