Order Cases Online
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].
Use quotes for an exact search. ex. "J. W."
View Entry | Year | Case Name | County | Cause/Crime | Case Description | Division | Location | # Pages | Order |
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View Entry | 1931 | Adam Bunch v. State | Anderson | Liquor, Sale of Illegal |
For selling liquor within 4 miles of a schoolhouse. |
East | Range: 10 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1315 | 53 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | Burrell Badgett v. State | Knox | Liquor Violation |
Plaintiff in error is charged with violating the Bone Dry law by transporting liquor into and within the state of Tennessee. |
East | Range: 10 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1355 | 13 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | Bill Castle v. State | Sullivan | Violation of Age of Consent |
Bill Castle was charged with violating the age of consent because of his relationship with one Lola Carter. |
East | Range: 10 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1372 | 92 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | Buford Cole v. State | Sevier | Assault, Felonious |
Pla. in error is accused of stabbing Charlie Dodgin with a pocket knife with intent to kill. Pla. in error, his wife, Otha Reagan, and Dodgin spent the night at Skiyuki Inn, which is described as a restaurant and soft drink stand. During the night, all of the parties consumed whiskey. After Pla. in error fell asleep, Dodgin and Pla.'s wife got into an argument and struck each other. Upon learning this, the Pla. in error went to Dodgin and stabbed him. |
East | Range: 10 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1325 | 37 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | Bob Burkett v. State | Hamilton | Liquor Violation |
The defendant was charged with transporting more than one gallon of liquor that was more than 0.5% alcohol and selling it within four miles of a school. |
East | Range: 10 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1354 | 41 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | Charles Kennedy & Clarence Bridges v. State | Hamilton | Murder |
Plaintiffs appeal murder conviction in the death of Ed Hogue. Few details. |
East | Range: 10 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1372 | 15 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | C. C. Rogers and Mary Jones v. State | Henry | Liquor, Unlawful Transportation of | West | Range: 77 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 2045 | 53 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1931 | Charlie Ginn v. State | Hamilton | Manslaughter |
Pla. in error is accused of committing manslaughter against Otis Atkerson. Pla. in error was allegedly under the influence of alcohol while operating a vehicle. Atkerson was a passenger when Pla. in error lost control of said vehicle on Brainerd road causing it to crash and ejecting and killing Atkerson. |
East | Range: 10 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1330 | 27 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | Charlie Gregory v. State | Scott | Liquor, Unlawful Transportation of |
Plaintiff in error is accused of transporting liquor. The original case also included Lizzie Wyatt as a defendant. Wyatt runs a restaurant and lunch counter out of her home. Plaintiff in error claims he stopped at Wyatt's to get out of the rain when Wyatt gave him the keys to her cellar and asked him to lock it. While in the cellar, Plaintiff in error found and picked up a jar of whiskey. A constable who had been watching the house confronted and eventually arrested Gregory. |
East | Range: 10 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1355 | 26 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | Dock Trusley v. State | Hamilton | Liquor, Unlawful Transportation of |
For transporting four 5-gallon cans of corn whiskey in his 1930 Oldsmobile Roadster cabriolet (which was wrecked running from the police). |
East | Range: 10 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1843 | 85 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | Dewey Metcalf v. State | Knox | Assault |
Plaintiff in error is accused of assaulting Walter P. Russell. Plaintiff and Russell were at the home of Ade Gray in Back Alley. Gray was intoxicated and the two were trying to get him to go to bed. The Plaintiff and Russell began arguing when Plaintiff allegedly cut Russell with a knife. |
East | Range: 10 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1376 | 34 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | Dolly Crane v. State | Hamilton | Liquor Violation |
Cause of action: Guilty of possessing liquor, $100, and cost-bond fixed at $250.00 and five days allowed to file motion for new trial. This file contains only transcript of case file. |
East | Range: 10 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1381 | 13 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | Earl Baker v. State | Cumberland | Larceny |
2 folders. Plaintiff is accused of stealing the personal property of Rufus Martin, Neal Martin, Victor Martin, and Francis Martin, including 2 steers, and 3 heifers. The Martins are siblings and in the cattle business together. Baker lives close to where the sibling's cattle are kept, described as Meadow Creek Falls. |
East | Range: 10 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1302 | 236 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | E. A. Smith v. State | Scott | Liquor Violation |
E. A. Smith was charged with possessing liquor and was fined $250.00 |
East | Range: 10 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1372 | 13 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | E. E. Berney v. Cumberland Grocery Company | Campbell | Injury and Damages |
Berney was driving a Pontiac Roadster on a Claiborne County public road when he struck the bumper of a large truck operated by the defendant. Berney averred that truck driver had "unlawfully, carelessly, negligently, and recklessly parked said truck and left it standing" diagonally into the road in front of Brown's store (Speedwell, Tennessee). |
East | Range: 10 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1346 | 110 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | F. A. Goodwin v. State | Hamilton | Fraud |
Goodwin charged and convicted of fraudulently appropriating $1288.25 given to him by Sam Bazell to repair a house then belonging to Goodwin to be sold to Bazell, and give any remaining money back o him. Additional cause of action: breach of trust. |
East | Range: 10 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1320 | 180 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | Frank Thompson& Will Evans v. State | Hamilton | Liquor, Sale of Illegal |
Evans was operating a restaurant and found to be in possession of illegal liquor. When the police entered the restaurant, a buzzer was heard in the back and Thompson was observed pouring a liquid into a tub. The bottle holding the liquid smelled like alcohol. Evans is the former owner of the restaurant, having been jailed in Atlanta for some time, and claims he was only there when it was raided to eat. Exhibit material includes search warrants. Restaurant is located at 323 W. 9th St. Chattanooga, TN. |
East | Range: 10 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1334 | 55 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | G. E. Suggs v. State | Greene | Liquor, Unlawful Transportation of |
Pla. in error was originally tried alongside of L. M. Ingle and Walter Reed and is accused of transporting more than a gallon of whiskey. Additional details are unavailable. |
East | Range: 10 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1360 | 30 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | Grover Hartline v. State | Hamilton | Larceny |
Incomplete case file. Plaintiff in error is accused of stealing a watch from Charley Johnson and converting it to his own use. |
East | Range: 10 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1377 | 13 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | Horace Woodruff, Marion Cox & Morton Smith v. State | Davidson | Murder |
Opinion only. Davidson County case found in East TN boxes. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 83 | 16 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | Henry Martin v. State | Hamilton | Larceny |
Add. Cause of Action: Receiving stolen property and housebreaking. Filed with this case is another case against Martin with the same case style but for Possessing Liquor. Both arrests appear to have occurred in a relatively short time frame but for completely separate situations. In the first, Pla. is accused of breaking into the garage of E. O. Butcher located on Lake Street in Knoxville. In the second, Martin was arrested in his home for possessing liquor. |
East | Range: 10 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1311 | 74 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | Harry M. Lawrence v. H. A. Wilson& J. B. Wilson, alias John Wilson | Rhea | Notes |
In 1927 J. B. Wilson executed a note to purchase an automobile from Lawrence. Plaintiff soon tried to discount the note but failed. Lawrence then bamboozled H. A. Wilson into signing the note after Lawrence promised he would not be required to pay it. |
East | Range: 10 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1348 | 58 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | J. C. Fuller v. State | Knox | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Fuller was tried and found guilty of assaulting John C. Cox and attempting to commit voluntary manslaughter. An argument took place when Cox's friends Wright and Davis forced Fuller off the road--Fuller admitted that his car was undamaged, but that the incident did "irreparable injury to his feelings." Fuller pursued the two, but they cut him off again. By then Fuller was so agitated that he "applied to the occupants of the Ford an epithet suggesting canine maternal ancestry." |
East | Range: 10 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1843 | 515 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | J. C. Clinton & Clara Clinton v. J. H. Malicoat | Hamilton | Damages |
In action of damages of $2500 for expenses, loss of services, etc. by reason of person injuries of his wife, Clara Clinton. Malicoat is accused of driving careless and negligent and hitting the Clinton's car while Clara Clinton was trying to exit her car. |
East | Range: 10 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1324 | 126 | 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 | 1931 | Jess& Will Guinn v. State | Carter | Liquor Violation |
Jess Guinn is the son of Will Guinn. Plaintiffs in error are charged with unlawfully manufacturing intoxicating whiskey and brandy. Plaintiffs were found and arrested at a still that was under police observation. Plaintiffs deny owning the still and state that they were cutting cross ties when they came upon said still. Case file notes Will Guinn was 64 and Jess Guinn was 28 at the time of the trial. |
East | Range: 10 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1411 | 39 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | John & Emma Jordon v. State | Hamilton | Murder |
Incomplete document: Motion for a new trial only. Unnamed victim. Motion filed partially because of the Attorney General's inflammatory closing arguments about sentence leniency. |
East | Range: 10 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1327 | 19 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | Jessie Lafollette v. State | Washington | Illegitimate Child/Bastardy |
Bessie Tittle is 28 and lives in Johnson City with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Tittle. She accuses the Pla. in error of fathering her illegitimate child. Bessie worked at a small store owned by her family. Pla. delivered ice and coal to the store. Bessie was 26 when she and the pla. were first intimate. Bessie originally planned on marrying Roy Crockett, a soldier, but she had not seen him for two years while he was in the army. When he came home, she was pregnant. Exhibit: Post Card from Pla. |
East | Range: 10 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1339 | 66 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | John Glasper v. State | Hamilton | Liquor Violation |
Incomplete case file. Plaintiff in error is accused of unlawfully possessing liquor. |
East | Range: 10 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1376 | 13 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | Lon Livingston& Walter Pierce v. State | Greene | Burglary |
Lon Livingston and Walter Pierce were both charged with Burglary and sentenced to no less than five years in the state penitentiary. |
East | Range: 10 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1372 | 35 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | Lettie Jones v. State | Hawkins | Murder, Inciting of |
Pla. in error is accused by the State of causing Grant Mabe to murder her husband William Jones and was initially tried in the case of, "Grant Mabe et al. v. State." Mabe's trial was put on hold after he was found to be insane and committed to the State Hospital For the Insane near Knoxville. Pla. was granted a separate trial and found guilty of Accessory Before the Fact to Murder in the First Degree. Pla. lived with her husband, children, and Mabe on a farm rented from George Campbell near Rogersville. |
East | Range: 10 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1311 | 98 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | Lewis Henry, alias v. State | Knox | Liquor Violation |
Illegal manufacture of intoxicating liquor (operating a still). |
East | Range: 10 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1315 | 36 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | Louise Montgomery v. State | Hamilton | Liquor Violation |
Defendant was charged with possessing liquors with a higher alcohol content of 0.5% and with intent to sell. |
East | Range: 10 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1354 | 40 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | Leola Duncan v. State | Hamilton | Possession |
Duncan appealed her conviction for possession of liquor. |
East | Range: 10 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1361 | 11 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | Mat Earley v. State | Washington | Other |
Cause of action: age of consent. Unclear whether she was raped. Earley charged and convicted of assault and battery upon Kate Myers, 20 years old, and violently, forcibly and againist her will, ravish and carnally know her. Myers became pregnant and the baby was a month old at time of case. Earley was sentenced to 3-5 years in penitentiary. |
East | Range: Section: Shelf: Box Number: Oversize Box 30 | 146 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | Odum Martin v. State | Hamilton | Liquor, Unlawful Transportation of |
Incomplete case file. Plaintiff in error is accused of being in possession of and transporting liquor within four miles of a schoolhouse. |
East | Range: 10 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1377 | 12 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | Ollie Smith v. State | Rhea | Assault, Felonious |
Pla. in error disturbed a prayer session at Smyrna Church by going through the church with a flashlight, looking for a lost pocket watch. After being unable to find it, Pla. in error left the church and began walking along the highway. Pla. in error then turned around to go back to the church to look for the watch again. On his way back, Pla. in error passed Rolly West and began cussing. When asked not to use such language in front of women, Pla. in error cut West and his wife with a knife. |
East | Range: 10 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1325 | 75 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | Robert Smith v. State. | Cocke | Assault and Battery |
Additional cause of action: Drunk in a Public Place. Pla. in error is accused of is accused of beating and stabbing Luther Gammons and Clifton Bible. |
East | Range: 10 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1325 | 18 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | Roy Chitwood v. State | Roane | Murder |
Shooting Victim: Annie Grace Gilliland. 2 folders |
East | Range: 5 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 173 | 516 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | Raymond Davis v. State | Knox | Unknown |
Opinion only: there is no reversible error on the record and that the judgment of the court should be affirmed. Davis's sureties on the appeal bond were Lacy Davis and E. W. Thompson, who were ordered to pay the costs of the appeal. The crime is not identified. |
East | Range: 8 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 813 | 1 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | Roy Chitwood v. State | Roane | Murder |
Victim: Anna Grace Gilliland. Killed by electrocution. |
East | Range: 8 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 862 | 20 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | State v. Happy Haynes | Crockett | Other |
Dfnt. charged with larceny and housebreaking. State intially also accused J. E. Ware and Delores Butler for the same crime(s). Dfnt. was accused of stealing four cigarette cartons, eight boxes of candy, four quarts of cylinder oil, eight spark plugs, and several boxes of patching (total value of theft approx. $17.50). Property stolen from Ed Hammond and Millard Irvin. |
West | Range: 77 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 2129 | 115 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | State v. Hafford Howard | Henry | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Howard was accused of beating and bludgeoning W. T. Porter with a stick, intending to "kill and murder the said W. T. Porter in the 2nd degree". |
West | Range: 77 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 2119 | 29 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | State v. Bowlin Smith | Hardin | Other |
State accused dfnt. of unlawfully engaging in the business of burying the dead and creating/operating an illegal burial insurance association business. |
West | Range: 77 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 2118 | 80 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | State v. Martin Brown | Roane | Rape |
Victim: Nellie Pittman. 2 folders. |
East | Range: 5 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 171 | 532 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | State v. Fred Mills | Hamilton | Liquor, Unlawful Transportation of | East | Range: 7 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 720 | 34 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1931 | State v. Euel Tallent | McMinn | Liquor, Unlawful Transportation of | East | Range: 8 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 794 | 54 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1931 | State v. Wiley Hyatt | Hamilton | Murder | East | Range: 8 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 795 | 142 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1931 | State v. Jack Jones a/k/a Jack Wright | Knox | Liquor, Unlawful Transportation of | East | Range: 8 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 795 | 65 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1931 | State v. Jesse Marshall | Henry | Liquor Violation |
Charged with selling liquor within 4 miles of a school house, unlawful possession of liquor, unlawful transport of liquor. |
West | Range: 77 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 2071 | 18 | Order A Copy |