Tennessee Supreme Court Cases

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View Entry Year Case Name County Cause/Crime Case Description Division Location # Pages Order
View Entry 1932 Al Taylor v. State Cocke Violation of Age of Consent

Taylor was married with six children when he was convicted of violating Vege McAlister when she was 12-13. Their relations began in 1929 and ended in 1931 when her people learned of it. Taylor admitted to intercourse, but not to paternity of Vege's child. Counsel (former governor) Ben Hooper charged that she was a "bawd, lewd, or kept female" who also had relations with Hugh Hance and Carl Taylor. Lawyers also argued Vege's identity based on different spellings of her name, e.g., "Verge McAllister."

 East Range: 10 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1413 208 Order A Copy
View Entry 1932 City of Chattanooga v. Leon Silverman Hamilton Ordinance Violation

Silverman charged with violating Ordinance No. 1429 on 16 Oct. 1930 by "indulging in acrobatic flying" over the municipal airport (Lovell Field) while piloting an airplane. Question as to whether city can legally enforce this ordinance as it regulates the operation of aircraft within the city's jurisdiction. The airport is 2 miles outside Chattanooga's corporate limits & at the time of the incident the city had no ordinance regulating the operation of aircraft over its airport.

 East Range: 10 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1423 30 Order A Copy
View Entry 1932 D. A. Jones& Clyde Harrell v. State Hamilton Liquor Violation

"Possessing whiskey."

 East Range: 5 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 173 72 Order A Copy
View Entry 1932 Ed Blevins v. State Sullivan Liquor Violation

The plaintiff, also referred to as E. K. Blevins and Edward K. Blevins, is accused of being in possession of 18 gallons of intoxicating liquors. Case file notes plaintiff's home is located at 612 Florida Ave. in Bristol, Tennessee. Plaintiff claims the search warrant obtained to search his home was unlawful.

 East Range: 10 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1428 29 Order A Copy
View Entry 1932 Frank Peyoulatas v. State Hamilton Tax Violation East Range: 6 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 320 81 Order A Copy
View Entry 1932 Jess Waters v. State Polk Liquor Violation

"Possessing whiskey."

 East Range: 5 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 173 23 Order A Copy
View Entry 1932 Jeff Palmer v. State Hamilton Liquor Violation

Jeff Palmer was charged with the illegal possession of liquor

 East Range: 8 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 793 14 Order A Copy
View Entry 1932 J. W. Harris v. Lenoir City et al. Loudon Ordinance Violation

Additional defendants: Stanley Barnett, T.J. Campbell, Lacy Keebler, Luther Lancaster, H. Law, John Johnson, William Hair, William Holder, J.W. Bussell, W.A. Peek, H.L. Bacon, and Richard M. Goss. Harris sued over contract the Lenoir City Mayor entered into with the Fairbanks Morris Co. to buy an oil engine for $18,839.76 for city's waterworks. Plaintiff wanted def. restrained from purchasing said engine and save the city from enormous debt. A current steam boiler could be repaired for less.

 East Range: 10 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1378 173 Order A Copy
View Entry 1932 Jack Edwards v. State Unicoi Liquor Violation

Edwards was found guilty of manufacturing "intoxicating whiskey and brandy… against the peace and dignity of the State." Deputy Sheriff and other officers went to the site of a still on Rock Creek, and saw two men running away from it. Edwards was nabbed.

 East Range: 10 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1388 29 Order A Copy
View Entry 1932 Jefferson City, Tennessee v. Bernard Mills Jefferson Liquor Violation

Defendant charged with violating a Jefferson City ordinance & disturbing the peace of the city by selling liquor within the corporation limits on the date of 17 Dec, 1931.

 East Range: 10 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1443 40 Order A Copy
View Entry 1932 John Ayers v. State Campbell Liquor Violation

Plaintiff in error is accused of being in possession of intoxicating liquor. Plaintiff was driving from Morley to Jellico and was being followed by a deputy sheriff. Plaintiff pulled his car into an alley near a store owned by Reuben Murray where he was finally arrested and searched. There is a question about the legality of the search warrant used to search the plaintiff's car. A copy of the warrant is included in the case file.

 East Range: 10 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1360 26 Order A Copy
View Entry 1932 Jesse Hyder v. State Cumberland Liquor Violation

Appeal from Criminal Court, Cumberland Co. Criminal possessing intoxicating liquors, including wine, whiskey, ale, and beer. Violation of Ch. 12, Senate Bill No. 186, Acts of 1917.

 East Range: 10 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1407 22 Order A Copy
View Entry 1932 Kaiser Weaver, alias, Addison Mynatt, alias & Phillip Hinderlight alias Knox Liquor Violation East Range: 6 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 232 16 Order A Copy
View Entry 1932 Oscar Hall v. State Polk Liquor Violation

A. B. Green, a Polk County Sheriff, noticed Hall standing in front of the Antioch Church near Benton, Tennessee, and observed several people surrounding him. Upon investigation, Green determined that Hall was under the influence of alcohol. Agreeing not to arrest him if he went home, Green allowed Hall to enter his car and drive away. Shortly after, Green heard a crash and found that Hall had run off the road. He was then arrested.

 East Range: 10 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 1501 11 Order A Copy
View Entry 1932 State v. Van Wilder Haywood Liquor Violation

Wilder was reported to the sheriff by W. V. Whitten. Sheriff issued a search warrant, and found Wilder, owner/operator of a hotel in Brownsville, in possession of intoxicating liquors violating many liquor laws.

 West Range: 77 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 2120 45 Order A Copy
View Entry 1932 State v. Will Sauls Anderson Liquor Violation

Cause of action: Possessing liquor.

 East Range: 8 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 789 48 Order A Copy
View Entry 1932 State v. Jarvis Kite Carter Liquor Violation

Kite charged and convicted of possessing and transporting liquor. He was fined $100. Kite appealed.

 East Range: 10 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1389 42 Order A Copy
View Entry 1932 State v. E. L. Banner Carter Liquor Violation

Banner charged and convicted of possessing and transporting more than 1 gallon of whiskey. He was sentenced to 1 year and 1-2 days in penitentiary.

 East Range: 10 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1389 32 Order A Copy
View Entry 1932 State v. Floyd Rainwater Cocke Violation of Age of Consent

Defendant charged with violating the age of consent. However on the basis that he and woman in question were married, defendant motioned for mistrial. The court found that the marriage was never valid and therefore he was convicted of violating the age of consent.

 East Range: 10 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1468 74 Order A Copy
View Entry 1932 Sam Waters v. State Blount Liquor Violation

"Manufacturing whiskey."

 East Range: 5 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 171 157 Order A Copy
View Entry 1932 State v. Sarah Benjamin Hamilton Liquor Violation

Defendant originally indicted for unlawfully possessing liquor on 17 Dec. 1930. Also accused of unlawfully personally transporting intoxicating liquors from "a place unknown" to another place in the county & selling liquor within 4 miles of a school. Bonds with signatures included.

 East Range: 8 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 794 24 Order A Copy
View Entry 1932 State v. Lee Collins& Ike Kinser Greene Liquor Violation

Incomplete case file. Defendants are accused of illegally manufacturing liquor.

 East Range: 10 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1363 21 Order A Copy
View Entry 1932 State v. Hugh Gilreath Sevier Liquor Violation

Plaintiff, along with Moore Allen, is accused of receiving, possessing and transporting whiskey. The defendant was initially arrested for public intoxication. Said whiskey was found after the car he was driving was searched.

 East Range: 10 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1432 33 Order A Copy
View Entry 1932 State v. J. Homer Smith Knox Violation of Age of Consent

Plaintiff is charged with said felony against Helen Stevens.

 East Range: 10 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1437 299 Order A Copy
View Entry 1932 Tom Sewell & Eddie Jackson v. State Hamilton Liquor Violation

"Transporting whiskey."

 East Range: 5 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 175 44 Order A Copy
View Entry 1932 Town of Greeneville v. W.A. Harris Greene Ordinance Violation

Harris charged and convicted of violating Ordinance #118 and fined $50. Harris appealed. Ordinance #118 prohibited the keeping of a house of ill fame for the purpose of prostitution and lewdness, any gambling house, or any house where drunkenness, quarrelling, fighting or other breaches of the peace were carried on.

 East Range: 10 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1392 39 Order A Copy
View Entry 1932 Tom Martin v. State Loudon Liquor Violation

County deputy sheriff Lee Scott purportedly obtained a warrant to search the home of Tom Martin. Deputy John Bailey accompanied Scott. After arriving at Martin's house, they searched him and found four bottles of whiskey in his pockets and three bottles tied under his belt. He was charged with possession of intoxicating liquors.

 East Range: 10 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1449 52 Order A Copy
View Entry 1932 W. A. Torrance v. State Carter Liquor Violation

The plaintiff in error was in a room at the Jewel Hotel when W. J. Fair, Sheriff of Carter County, entered the hotel looking for another man. Fair testified that the plaintiff invited him into his room where a bottle of whiskey was sitting in the open. Fair immediately arrested the plaintiff. The plaintiff argues that the search was illegal and the evidence against him was obtained illegally.

 East Range: 10 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1404 19 Order A Copy
View Entry 1932 Walter Smith v. State Washington Liquor Violation

Deputy Scott Vines arrested Smith after Smith tossed away a box--while Vines was running after him. The deputy later examined the box, smelled liquor, and arrested Smith. Some members of the jury sampled the evidence. The trial took place while Prohibition was still in effect.

 East Range: 10 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1450 44 Order A Copy