Tennessee Supreme Court Cases

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View Entry Year Case Name County Cause/Crime Case Description Division Location # Pages Order
View Entry 1940 Brab Deck & Lenora King alias Mrs. Albert King Greene Adultery East Range: 5 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 172 92 Order A Copy
View Entry 1928 Charlie West& Kate Rush v. State Hawkins Adultery

Plaintiff is appealing the charge of "lewdness and adultery." Case is incomplete; opinion only.

 East Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 84 1 Order A Copy
View Entry 1880 Early Crain and J. Carver v. State Cocke Adultery

The State was seeking a judgment for Crain and Carver who were caught having sexual intercourse and not being married.

 East Range: 19 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 1680 15 Order A Copy
View Entry 1883 John Roper v. Henry Brown Shelby Adultery

In 1882 Brown sued Roper for $25,000 on the grounds that he stole the affections of his wife, Nancy J. Brown, thereby destroying their marriage. Plaintiff won judgment for $500 which defendant is appealing. Henry Brown a grocer, formerly a policeman with Memphis police force. Browns have one living child, a daughter named Sopha. Brown allowed members of African American community to have parties in back room of his store.

 West Range: 83 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 220 168 Order A Copy
View Entry 1913 John C. Holden v. Lizzie Holden Dyer Adultery West Range: 80 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 1304 370 Order A Copy
View Entry 1847 James M. Young v. Martha Young Campbell Adultery

The parties were married in December 1845 and lived with her until February 1846, but moved out when he discovered she was four months pregnant. Defendant sued for acts of adultery as the parties hadn't had sexual relations before their marriage.

 East Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1167 5 Order A Copy
View Entry 1933 N. T. Roupe, Mrs. E. B. Wexler Roupe v. State Washington Adultery, Open and Notorious

Thad Roupe abandoned his wife, Mrs. Bonnie Roupe and her children Howard Wayne, aged 1, and Floyd Roupe, aged 8, after he began a sexual relationship with a Mrs. Wexler, Bonnie's first cousin. Roupe attempted to keep both women in the same home and bed, but Mrs. Roupe objected. He filed divorce papers in Arkansas (on charges of "general indignities: nagging") without notifying Mrs. Roupe & left the state. Newly married Roupes appealing the guilty verdict of adultery.

 East Range: 10 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 1492 154 Order A Copy
View Entry 1858 Polly Wright v. William Wright et al. Jackson Adultery

Polly Wright wanted to divorce her husband of nine years, William Wright, because he carried on affairs with numerous women

 Middle Range: 32 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 262 0 Order A Copy
View Entry 1880 R. Yarborugh and D. Williams v. State Washington Adultery

Case for living together and acting as man and wife. The state claimed the couple was committing adultery.

 East Range: 19 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 1676 19 Order A Copy
View Entry 1879 State v. Eliza Osburn Jackson Adultery, Open and Notorious

Eliza Osburn alias is Eliza Jackson. Additional parties: William Keith.

 Middle Range: 20 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 43 0 Order A Copy
View Entry 1855 State v. Hiram Edde Bedford Adultery

Defendant is being tried for lewd and notorious behavior, including adultery. Defendant is accused of adultery with Louisa Davis.

 Middle Range: 32 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 247 22 Order A Copy
View Entry 1860 State v. Stephen C. Bowers& Louisa Anderson Robertson Adultery

Defendants are charged with cohabitating out of wedlock.

 Middle Range: 32 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 299 0 Order A Copy
View Entry 1935 State v. Claude Grindstaff & Grace Oliver Carter Adultery

Grindstaff divorced his first wife, married Oliver, divorced her & remarried his first wife, but continued to see Oliver openly. Oliver has a baby, but will not name Grindstaff as the father. Grindstaff's wife charges that he provides for Oliver & her baby, but will do nothing for her & their children. Opinion included. Supreme Court reversed the decision of the lower court & orders the case remanded to the lower court. Suggestion case based on rumors started by jealous wife.

 East Range: 8 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 834 53 Order A Copy
View Entry 1841 State v. Elijah Cagle & Elizabeth aka Betsy Bowling [Boling?] Sevier Adultery

Also lewdness. Witnesses testified Betsy raised in the neighborhood in Sevier County, had lived at Elijah's with him & his wife (part of the time in the house with them & part of the time in a cabin on Elijah's land). One witness happened on defs. laying in the woods on one occasion. Another testified Mrs. Cagle had been intimate with Squire Pickins when Cagle was in the army. Witnesses included Elijah's brothers William & John, Benjamin Tipton, Squire Pickins.

 East Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1148 22 Order A Copy
View Entry 1844 State v. Edward Averdeen& Francis A. Free Hamilton Adultery, Open and Notorious

Edward and Francis are accused of publicly and notoriously did cohabit and have illicit sexual intercourse.

 East Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1165 6 Order A Copy
View Entry 1869 State v. John Ross & Mary McGee Greene Adultery

For the period of a year, the defendants lived together as man and wife without being lawfully wed.

 East Range: 9 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1187 31 Order A Copy
View Entry 1878 State v. Bettie Wiggins Washington Adultery, Open and Notorious

Defendant was accused, along with Abe Richardson, of unlawfully, openly, lewdly, notoriously and publicly cohabitating together as man and wife although they were not legally married.

 East Range: 20 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1639 16 Order A Copy
View Entry 1849 State v. James Peak, et al. Overton Adultery, Open and Notorious

Other defendants: Susanah Greenwood.

 Middle Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 229 18 Order A Copy
View Entry 1874 State v. James M. Slagle Putnam Adultery, Open and Notorious

Slagle & Nancy Slagle was accused of "unlawfully, publicly, openly and notoriously, live and dwell, cohabitate together in lewd acts of fornication and adultery as they were unmarried to and with each other to corruption of their own and the morals of the community where they lived, to the evil example of others and against the State…"

 Middle Range: 20 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 18a 26 Order A Copy
View Entry 1841 State v. Peter Finley Wayne Adultery, Open and Notorious

Finley was a "free man of colour" and married. Woman was Ruth Powell, a "spinster" (race not listed).

 Middle Range: 33 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 380 7 Order A Copy
View Entry 1889 State v. A. J. Frye and Virginia Miller Fentress Adultery

Plaintiffs were indicted for "unlawfully, openly, publicly, notoriously, recklessly, and scandalously did dwell, live, and cohabit together as man and wife and in lewd acts of fornication and adultery" on July 1, 1888 until day of indictment, third Monday in November, 1888.Defendant alias Virginia Stepp.

 East Range: 19 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1835 18 Order A Copy
View Entry 1949 State v. Clifford Barnes et al. Hawkins Adultery, Open and Notorious

Verdict: Guilty, affirmed on appeal to Supreme Court with recommendation to the Governor. Additional Defendant: Bonnie Davis

 East Range: 6 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 353 22 Order A Copy
View Entry 1887 Solamon Johnson v. Ollie Johnson Davidson Adultery

The plaintiff is petitioning to obtain a divorce from defendant on the grounds of adultery. The defendant denies the adultery and wishes to obtain a divorce from plaintiff on grounds of plaintiff beating, whipping and threatening to kill her.

 Middle Range: 35 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 806 55 Order A Copy
View Entry 1931 State v. B. R. Livingston& Ellen Perry Carter Adultery

Mrs. B.R. Livingston had went to Perry's home when she caught her and her husband in bed together. Defendants charged with lewdness and adultery. Defendants were found guilty and fined $10 each.

 East Range: 9 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 1291 13 Order A Copy
View Entry 1874 State v. James Little, et al Carter Adultery

Defendants were accused of living together as man and wife although they were not legally married. Defendants were charged with adultery. Additional Defendants: Jane Foust

 East Range: 20 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1596 18 Order A Copy
View Entry 1919 T. J. Justice v. Jeff D. Clinard Robertson Adultery

Additional party: Sallie Justice.

 Middle Range: 21 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 127 0 Order A Copy
View Entry 1893 T. J. Klutts v. Mattie Klutts Weakley Adultery

The plaintiff, husband of the defendant, sued for divorce on the grounds of adultery.

 West Range: 82 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 580 354 Order A Copy
View Entry 1843 Winnefrid Richmond v. Braddock Richmond Davidson Adultery, Open and Notorious

Defendant having an affair with a slave named Polly.

 Middle Range: 21 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 176 0 Order A Copy