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 | 1893 | Arthur Gillispie V. State | Monroe | Arson |
Arson of a barn. According to testimony in the case, Gillispie was "reported to be 12 or 13 years old" at the time of the incident. |
East | Range: 18 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 1984 | 66 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1874 | Calvin Porter v. State | Madison | Arson |
Indictment. |
West | Range: 83 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 248 | 3 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1860 | Edward F. Gallager v. State | Robertson | Arson |
Defendant is charged with burning down the stables of George Draughon. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 299 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1948 | Eugene Richardson v. State | Knox | Arson | East | Range: 5 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 167 | 22 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1917 | Henry Ghosten v. State | Davidson | Arson | Middle | Range: 21 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 103 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1932 | John Sissom v. State | Hamilton | Arson | East | Range: 5 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 171 | 196 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1908 | J. H. Wise v. State | Henderson | Arson |
Exhibits - 1 large (ca. 3.5 x 2 ft.) hand-drawn map located in M-17-17. |
West | Range: 81 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 919 | 110 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1887 | John Coughlin & wife, Mary v. John Campbell | Davidson | Arson |
Wife: Mary Coughlin. Crossbill, damages of $25,000 result of arson on Campbell's residence 31 Dec. 1877 result of an ongoing dispute between parties. Hon. Frank T. Reid, Circuit Judge, 8th Judicial District. |
Middle | Range: 34 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 670 | 110 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1933 | James Gibbons & Frank Hutson v. State | Hawkins | Arson |
Plaintiffs in error are charged with setting fire to and burning three stacks of hay of the value of $30. |
East | Range: 10 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 1552 | 14 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1874 | James Downing v. State | Obion | Arson |
James Downing was charged and convicted of burning down the house of the M.M. Faught. Faught was an attorney in Obion County. |
West | Range: 84 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 19 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1941 | James McGuire v. State | Bradley | Arson | East | Range: 6 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 242 | 34 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1870 | John A. Robinson v. A. S. McQueen | Johnson | Arson |
Action was brought to recover damages for burning the plaintiff's [McQueen's] house and other personal property during the Civil War. McQueen was Unionist and defendants were Confederates. Additional defendants: James Brown and Jacob Wagner. |
East | Range: 8 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 816 | 29 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1887 | James V. Ballyjack v. State | Davidson | Arson |
Arson charge for burning the house of Mrs. Betsey Hamlett. Elisha Griggs was also charged. |
Middle | Range: 34 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 689 | 285 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | James Fugate v. State | Sullivan | Arson |
Alias James Fugua. For burning barn of George Scruggs. |
East | Range: 9 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1084 | 63 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1851 | John F. Farris v. State | Meigs | Arson |
Lively McRoy, spinster, and John F. Farris, laborer, set fire to and burned down James Pearse's (Pierce) mill house containing valuable property. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1155 | 34 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1916 | John Archie v. State | Obion | Arson | West | Range: 79 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1420 | 209 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1892 | James M. Dunn v. State | Claiborne | Arson |
Plaintiff was charged with burning several stacks of hay of one Nancy M. Travis. The hay was worth around $100.00. |
East | Range: 19 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 1728 | 32 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1938 | Jimmie Sakelaris (alias) v. State | Sevier | Arson |
Sakelaris charged with burning the house of I.A. Watson. Jury found him guilty and sentenced him to 1 year and 1 day in the penitentiary. |
East | Range: 9 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 1262 | 24 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1926 | Lawrence Potter v. State | Scott | Arson |
Final Decree only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 72 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1928 | Lizzie Gee v. State | Campbell | Arson |
Case file is incomplete; opinion only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 80 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1944 | Mary Dunn, alias v. State | Knox | Arson | East | Range: 6 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 230 | 97 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1943 | Mary Dunn (alias) v. State | Knox | Arson |
Plaintiff is appealing the charge that she burned down the Hotel Farragut. |
East | Range: 5 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 34 | 12 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1890 | Paul Bond v. State | Haywood | Arson |
Victim was Robert Mann. See also WT1249 for Paul Bond v. State for Illegal Sale of Liquor case. |
West | Range: 82 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 501 | 51 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1947 | Rex Strong v. State | Greene | Arson | East | Range: 5 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 172 | 283 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1876 | State v. Alec Kirby (col.) | Montgomery | Arson |
Kirby was arrested for being drunk and disorderly and was housed in the Calaboose. The Calaboose was a cell in the market house. The defendant was said to have started a fire on the cell floor and the cell caught on fire. He was found guilty of house burning and sentenced to four years in the Penitentiary. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 30a | 28 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1880 | State v. John Hall (col) et al. | Rutherford | Arson |
Defendants, all but the last identified as colored: John Hall, Burrell Smith, Rush Holbert alias Tolbert, Ed Lytle, Joe Butler, George alias Ed Mcadoo, and Henry McFerrin; also Hick Slaughter. They are accused of burning the Barton and Ridley Block. See related case of same name (docket# 8561) in same box, MT 1221 |
Middle | Range: 37 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1221 | 75 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1881 | State v. Joe Pike, et al.. | Robertson | Arson |
Additional defendants: Lewis Sadler and Jeff Warner. |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 174 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1881 | State v. Joe Harrison et al. | Wilson | Arson |
Additional defendant - Ben Bondurant |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 174 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1888 | State v. Copeland Hunter | Hamblen | Arson |
Hunter was sentenced to "ten years confinement at hard labor in the Penitentiary." |
East | Range: 19 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1879 | 10 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1874 | Samuel Fergusson | Jackson | Arson | West | Range: 83 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 246 | 4 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1885 | State v. E. T. King | Gibson | Arson | West | Range: 83 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 283 | 85 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1886 | State v. Lewis Glidewell, col'd. | Madison | Arson |
Actual charge is malicious burning. Defendant is charged with burning a barn containing a corn crib and sorghum molasses, the property of F. A. Weatherly. In the first reading of the charge, Robert Meriwether is also named. |
West | Range: 83 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 291 | 91 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1933 | State v. Boyce J. Hart | Dyer | Arson |
Boyce Hart, alias J. C. Campbell was accused of moving, inciting, counseling, hiring, commanding, and procuring some person or persons to unlawfully, willfully, feloniously, and maliciously burn a house on Tickle St. in Dyersburg. The home was the property Vandevelde & Burks. Connected to State v. Minnie Lee Hart, alias Ada Campbell, et al. in WT2118. 27645 was against Boyce Hart individually, 27646 was against all dfnts. listed in that case, incl. Boyce J. Hart. |
West | Range: 77 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 2118 | 27 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1895 | State v. James Hickerson | Warren | Arson |
The State charged Hickerson with maliciously burning the barn/home of Peter Bailey (on the land of G. W. Stround) with the contents of said barn being some fodder, corn and farming utensils/implements, and two mules. Exhibit is a diagram/map of the property near Morrison that was burned and several sets of tracks that were found on the property, some of which were believed to be the perpetrators.' |
Middle | Range: 36 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1091 | 48 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1890 | State v. Ben Martin& Thomas Mathis | Weakley | Arson |
Victim: R. B. Simmons, House Burning. |
West | Range: 82 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 552 | 32 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1905 | State v. John Lindsey | Henderson | Arson |
John Lindsey is charged with arson in this case for burning the house of Bill Sanders in Henderson County. He was sentenced to five years in the state penitentiary. |
West | Range: 82 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 700 | 21 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1902 | State v. Jeff Williams | Shelby | Arson |
Sweet Williams is also named with Jeff Williams on the indictment. |
West | Range: 81 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 853 | 13 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1938 | State v. C. W. Hill | Hamilton | Arson | East | Range: 7 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 733 | 14 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1916 | State v. Bert Crow | Carter | Arson |
Verdict only, no other documents included. |
East | Range: 7 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 747 | 5 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1894 | State v. William Free | Claiborne | Arson | East | Range: 7 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 749 | 2 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1894 | State v. Will Driver | Hamblen | Arson |
For burning the barn of Henry Breeden. See also State v. Frank Driver (ET 19) & Alex Cox, Will Driver, Frank Driver, & William Talbot v. State (ET 2000). |
East | Range: 7 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 749 | 2 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1894 | State v. William Fred | Claiborne | Arson | East | Range: 7 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 749 | 2 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1932 | State v. Tom Johnson, alias | Knox | Arson |
Defendant charged with burning the house of Elsie Carr in July 1925. Revenge cited as a possible motive. Johnson worked for Charlie & Rufus Lyons. The Lyons family had the reputation of being bootleggers & Elsie Carr's complaints to the Federal authorities about their activities had resulted in their arrest. |
East | Range: 8 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 795 | 318 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1935 | State v. Clyde Newsom | Marion | Arson |
Defendant charged with setting fire to Masonic Hall in Tracy City, TN on 27 April 1935. Building owned by the Sewanee Lodge No. 405 of the Free & Accepted Masons. Fire spread to other buildings, destroying every structure on the block. Opinion included. Supreme Court affirmed the lower court's verdict of guilty & ordered Newsome sentenced to the penitentiary for not more than 4 years & not less than 1 year. |
East | Range: 8 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 834 | 209 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1885 | State v. Alf Wright | Wilson | Arson |
Wright was indicted for setting fire to a barn, the property of William Phillips. |
Middle | Range: 34 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 585 | 39 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1909 | State v. Homer L. Higgs | Weakley | Arson |
Cause of action: arson; Plaintiff (Higgs) is accused of burning down his own house for the insurance money. Plaintiff claims the fire was an accident. |
West | Range: 80 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1164 | 483 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1880 | State v. John Wilson | Fayette | Arson |
Incomplete case file. Copy of sentence only. |
West | Range: 80 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 1236 | 2 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1913 | State v. Oliver Pierce& Sherman Adair | Obion | Arson |
The defendants were convicted of maliciously burning a barn belonging to Caleb Cherry. |
West | Range: 79 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1348 | 251 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1845 | State v. Joseph Davis | Greene | Arson |
Davis accused of setting fire to barn & house of William Willoughby, who discovered fire with son John William at 2 am. Willoughby (separated from wife, as was Davis) said to be "too thick with" Davis' wife. Davis allegedly threatened to shoot Willoughby. Lots of witnesses. Geographical references: Guthrie's bridge, Shields' mill, Warrensburg, Aquilla Jackson's old doggery, the South Carolina Road, Daniel Petit's mill dam, Gap Creek. Testimony indicated Davis might've been paymaster for Allen Bakery. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1128 | 39 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1853 | State v. George W. Deathridge | Meigs | Arson |
Deathridge & 2 others, Philip Wilson & George Gideon, charged with arson for setting fire to a storehouse belonging to Jacob Peake & containing $3,000 worth of goods & merchandise belonging to Joseph T. Bryan, John K. Brown & Morgan Bryan. Deathridge testified against Wilson & Gideon. Venue moved to Hamilton County. Originally, Deathridge said he was with Wilson & Gideon building a raft, but later confessed & said Wilson & Gideon came to him to go with them on a frolic. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1138 | 39 | Order A Copy |