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 | 1883 | Anderson Sevor & Clay Jackson v. State | Murder |
Victim: Van Stubblefield. County Unknown. |
East | Range: 5 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 35 | 7 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1883 | Caleb Jones v. State | Davidson | Larceny |
Amount: $150; Additional names: Nelson Jones. |
Middle | Range: 37 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1124 | 55 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | Ed Meadows v. State | Davidson | Gambling |
Case concerns illigal cock fighting and gambling. |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 158 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | Fleet Young v. State | Wilson | Assault and Battery | Middle | Range: 21 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 146 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1883 | John D. Cox, Jr. v. The Mayor & Aldermen of Paris, Tennessee | Henry | Damages |
Plaintiff sued for damages of $5,000 for assault and battery and illegal imprisonment. |
West | Range: 83 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 224 | 30 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | John Huts v. State | Knox | Unknown |
Case incomplete; opinion only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 101 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | Jesse Fults v. State | Warren | Carrying an Illegal Weapon | Middle | Range: 21 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 158 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1883 | Mayor and City Council of Nashville v. H. C. Link et al. | Davidson | Ordinance Violation |
Additional Defendants: Theo. Seifried, Fred Pfiter, and B. F. Moore. The City filed suit against the defendants for violating the "Sunday Ordinance," which was passed on Dec. 16, 1883, the day before their arrests. The ordinance forbid the sale of goods on the Sabbath Day. Link was accused of Seifried charged with selling a beer; Pfister accused of selling a newspaper after 8am; Link sold a drink of liquor; and Moore sold a cigar on Sunday. Two copies of reported case (1 has notes) and copy of ordinance. |
Middle | Range: 37 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1143 | 198 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | Mayor& Alderman of Knoxville v. State | Knox | Other |
Not maintaining a public road. Case incomplete; brief and opinion only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 103 | 6 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. Jeff Cook | Weakley | Assault with Force and Arms |
Cook was indicted for assaulting D. R. Rivers. |
West | Range: 83 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 234 | 5 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. Frank Treadwell | Shelby | Other |
Cause of Action: Keeping a Gaming House |
West | Range: 83 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 234 | 19 | 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 | 1883 | State v. James Maverty | Montgomery | Resisting an officer | Middle | Range: 21 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 173 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. Henry Webb | Shelby | Gambling |
Cause of Action: Allowing gaming in a saloon. |
West | Range: 84 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 134 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. E. L. Palmer | Shelby | Destruction of Property/ Petition to Halt Construction |
Charge is stealing and destroying valuable paper, which was a receipt for partial payment of the cost of a mule. Of the total cost of $120, a cash payment of $90.58 had been made, leaving a balance of $39.42. |
West | Range: 83 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 216 | 10 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. Sam Low | Shelby | Assault and Battery |
Defendant is accused of assaulting a woman named Mary Handly -- he "then and there did strike, beat, bruise and would the said Mary Handly and other grievous wrongs and injuries to the said Mary Handly then and there did do." See also Docket No. 5665, in which Low is charged with assaulting Mrs. Handly's husband, Edward. |
West | Range: 83 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 216 | 14 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. Charles Mullen | Shelby | Contempt of Court |
Defendant is accused of contempt of court for his refusal "to answer questions put to him on the witness stand." The case in question was State v. John Wendell, which concerned his selling liquor on Sunday. |
West | Range: 83 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 216 | 6 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. Joe Nelms | Shelby | Carrying an Illegal Weapon |
Defendant is charged with carrying a pistol, "said pistol not being an Army or Navy pistol, such as are used in Civilized Warfare, and said pistol not being then and there carried openly in the hand." |
West | Range: 83 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 216 | 17 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. Jesse W. Page | Shelby | Contempt of Court |
Defendant is charged with contempt of court for "refusing to answer questions and testify on the witness stand" in the earlier case of State v. C. B. Galloway, indicted for retailing liquors on Sunday. Folder contains one legal brief. |
West | Range: 83 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 216 | 10 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. J. F. Benton | Shelby | Garnishment |
The actual indictment is for oppression. Defendant is charged with unlawful garnishment of the wages of Robert Green for unpaid poll tax. The garnishment was said to be based upon a distress warrant in the defendant's possession. |
West | Range: 83 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 216 | 12 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. Jim James | Shelby | Receiving Stolen Goods |
Actual charge is larceny and receiving stolen goods. The first charge is that he "feloniously did steal, take and carry away two hogs of the value of 15 dollars, the property of Robert Bankster." The second charge is that he "feloniously and fraudulently did buy, receive, conceal, and have in his possession with intent to deprive the true owner thereof two hogs … well knowing said hogs … to have been recently before then feloniously stolen, taken and carried away." |
West | Range: 83 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 216 | 32 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. Monday Graham | Shelby | Carrying an Illegal Weapon |
Defendant is charged with carrying a pistol, "said pistol not being an Army or Navy pistol, such as are used in Civilized Warfare, and said pistol not being then and there carried openly in the hand." |
West | Range: 83 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 216 | 17 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. James Madden | Shelby | Failure to Perform Official Duties |
Indictment is for "escape." However, Madden is a jailer, not a prisoner. Indictment says he unlawfully released T. B. Morton, jailed for "forgery, larceny, and fraudulent breach of trust" - "voluntarily and corruptly of purpose by negligence and disregard of duty as turnkey in charge of said Jail, permitted the said T. B. Morton to escape from said jail and go at large." |
West | Range: 83 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 216 | 21 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. Sut Gardner | Obion | Gambling |
Cause of action: gaming and debt |
West | Range: 83 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 210 | 45 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v J. E. Terry | Shelby | Carrying an Illegal Weapon | West | Range: 83 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 210 | 32 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. Solomon Whitesides | Shelby | Unlawful Selling of Goods |
Actual charge is selling cotton after dark, "between the hours of sunset and sunrise." |
West | Range: 83 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 210 | 17 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. Alonzo Shelton alias Toadhopper | Shelby | Malicious Stabbing |
Victim: George Davis. Cause of Action: Malicious Cutting |
West | Range: 83 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 218 | 27 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. George McChristian, et al. | Henry | Murder |
Defendants: Ad Sevor, Clay Jackson. Victim: Stubbfield. Additional parties: Sidney Bridges, Oke McGehee, Ewing Haley, Ike Oliver, |
West | Range: 83 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 219 | 110 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. Isham Stubblefield | Henry | Arson |
Additional parties: John Mays, Bill Garrett |
West | Range: 83 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 219 | 16 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. N. M. K. Humes | Shelby | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Victim: Henry D. Ellis. Additional parties: H. P. Ricketts, Emanuel Rainds, Dan Cowley |
West | Range: 83 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 219 | 16 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. Ike Atchison | Shelby | Gambling |
Defendant indicted for operating a poker game on 21 Nov. 1883. C. F. Farrow, Eugene Sutcliff & Frank Smith were also involved in the game. They were playing for money, drinks & cigars. |
West | Range: 83 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 225 | 108 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. A. T. Wimberly | Shelby | Carrying an Illegal Weapon |
Wimberly indicted for unlawfully carrying a pistol on 5 Oct. 1882. |
West | Range: 83 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 228 | 18 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. Dixie Knight | Shelby | Murder |
Victim: Willie Dickins |
West | Range: 83 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 233 | 124 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. Celia Turner | Shelby | Keeping a Bawdy House | West | Range: 83 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 237 | 14 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. John Reeves | Crockett | Carrying an Illegal Weapon |
Defendant is accused of carrying a pistol "otherwise than open in his hand." |
West | Range: 83 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 237 | 10 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. Sherri Forest | Henry | Murder |
Victim: David Cruise |
West | Range: 83 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 264 | 8 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. A. B. Jewell | Shelby | Carrying an Illegal Weapon |
Convicted of carrying a concealed pistol. |
West | Range: 83 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 291 | 8 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. Wilson Larkins | Humphreys | Liquor, Sale of Illegal |
Larkins was accused of selling liquor within four miles of an incorporated institution of learning, Waverly High School. |
Middle | Range: 37 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1122 | 23 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. J. S. Dunlop and John Windham | DeKalb | Liquor, Sale of Illegal |
Defendants were charged with selling liquor within four miles on an institution of learning. Windham was accused of using a false prescription for brandy to get liquor from Dunlop’s pharmacy which is within one half mile of Pure Fountain College. |
Middle | Range: 37 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1122 | 46 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. Ben Johnson | Williamson | Gambling |
Johnson was charged with "gaming shooting at a mark" for "silver and nickels" or gambling. |
Middle | Range: 37 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1124 | 6 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. B. T. Owen | Williamson | Liquor Violation |
The State charged Benjamin T. Owen with selling liquor within 4 miles of a school. |
Middle | Range: 37 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1145 | 28 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. Tom Warren | Wilson | Liquor, Sale of Illegal |
Warren was tried for unlawfully selling liquor within four miles of an educational institution. This case is similar to or possibly a duplicate of another case found in MT 1124. |
Middle | Range: 37 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1124 | 26 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. Burrell Nance (col.) | Rutherford | Assault with Intent to Kill |
The State charged Nance with assault with the intent to commit murder in the first degree against Edward Poston with an axe, hatchet, and rocks. |
Middle | Range: 37 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1145 | 29 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. Albert McClellan | DeKalb | Liquor, Sale of Illegal |
The case includes four charges against McClellan for selling liquor to J. W. Campbell without a license. The four charges are divided into four separate cases but there is only one docket number and each charge occurred on the same date. |
Middle | Range: 37 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1122 | 45 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. J. S. Dunlap and F. B. Terry | DeKalb | Liquor Violation |
The State charged Dunlap and Terry with selling whiskey within 4 miles of a school in violation of liquor laws. |
Middle | Range: 37 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1145 | 36 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. John Beach | Warren | Assault |
The State charged Beach with assault and profanity for threatening Mack Milton with a knife, cursing, and threatening to return with his "crowd" to kill Mack, Henry Melton, and H. M. Rogers. |
Middle | Range: 37 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1147 | 19 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. James Shoffner (col.) | Franklin | Theft |
The State charged Shoffner with taking a coat, vest, and pantaloons worth $10 total from William Huddleston. |
Middle | Range: 37 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1145 | 12 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. W. J. Alias Buck Brown | Davidson | Carrying an Illegal Weapon |
W. J. Buck Brown unlawfully carried a pocket pistol. |
Middle | Range: 37 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1120 | 19 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. Michael Dolen | Lincoln | Murder, 2nd degree |
Dolen was found guilty of murder in the second degree and received 20 years in a penitentiary. Dolen murdered Nancy Dolen whose body was discovered by neighbors after Dolen asked for their help. Her skull was smashed in and she had also been burnt. Dolen claimed she was “flouncing” about and had fallen against a stick and then into the fire. Dolen seemed remorseful and confused about the situation. Case includes hand drawn map of Dolen's property. |
Middle | Range: 37 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1126 | 208 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. William Puckett | Houston | Larceny |
Stolen item: pig, livestock. |
Middle | Range: 33 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 497 | 26 | Order A Copy |