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 | 1879 | State v. Elijah Overton | Davidson | Assault and Battery |
Elijah Overton, colored. Victim: Lithe Overton, colored. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 36 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1879 | State v. Samuel Dowell (col.) | Smith | Assault and Battery |
Defendant was listed as "colored." Victim: G.W. Pride (also listed as "colored"). |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 49 | 80 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1880 | State v. Atta Shackelford | Coffee | Assault and Battery |
Victim of the assault: Sallie Anderson. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 56 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1881 | State v. Sydney Smith | Wilson | Assault and Battery |
Co-defendant: Henry Smith. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 58 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1880 | State v. T. G. Brown | Wayne | Assault and Battery |
Defendant was accused of assualting and beating Thomas Bell. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 67 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1919 | State v. Coin E. Henderson | Wilson | Assault and Battery | Middle | Range: 21 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 144 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1920 | State v. Howard Martin | Shelby | Assault and Battery |
Howard Martin and Calvin Cleaves were indicted on assault and battery/rape against Inez Coughran. This case was related to the Albert Barrasso and Myrtle Perry. They both invited the girls for a coke and raped them. |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 145 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1922 | State v. Charlie Swafford | Overton | Assault and Battery | Middle | Range: 21 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 173 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1921 | State V. Bailey Peyton | Maury | Assault and Battery | Middle | Range: 21 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 170 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1879 | State v. James Sanders et al. | Gibson | Assault and Battery |
Additional Defendants: D. M. McMahon. Additional parties: F. C. Hicks |
West | Range: 84 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 125 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1880 | State v. Jim Neal | Shelby | Assault and Battery |
Defendant "then and there did strike, beat, bruise, & wound the said George Phillips and other grievous wrongs and injuries … against the peace and dignity of the state." |
West | Range: 84 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 151 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1881 | State v. F. M. Fennell | Shelby | Assault and Battery | West | Range: 84 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 166 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1881 | State v. W. F. Cornell | Shelby | Assault and Battery |
Victim: William Parker |
West | Range: 84 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 175 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1856 | State v. David B. Walker | Lincoln | Assault and Battery |
Case also involves trespassing. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 259 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1858 | State v. Samuel Scott | Cannon | Assault with Force and Arms |
Defendant is accused with the malicious stabbing John Stureall. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 269 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1859 | State v. Andrew Halfacre et al. | Jackson | Assault and Battery |
Additional Defendants: John Halfacre, Mat Halfacre, and James Halfacre. Defendants are accused of assaulting William Jackson. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 271 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1882 | State v. Dan Good | Shelby | Assault and Battery |
Good is accused of beating his wife, Nora Good. |
West | Range: 83 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 191 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1882 | State v. Henry D. Boone | Shelby | Assault and Battery |
Victim: Dan Strong. Additional parties: Charles H. Moise, Scott Jones |
West | Range: 83 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 192 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1859 | State v. Abraham Waddle | Jackson | Assault and Battery |
Defendant was charge d with beating Wiley Argenbright. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 289 | 9 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. Sam Low | Shelby | Assault and Battery |
Defendant is accused of assaulting a man named Edward Handly -- he "then and there did strike, beat, bruise and would the said Edward Handly and other grievous wrongs and injuries to the said Edward Handly then and there did do." See also Docket No. 5664, in which Low is accused of assaulting Mr. Handly's wife, Mary. |
West | Range: 83 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 216 | 14 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. Charles Moore | Shelby | Assault and Battery |
Charge is that the defendant "on and upon the body of one John B. Finley, unlawfully an assault did make, and he … then and there did strike, beat, bruise and wound the said John B. Finley, and other grievous wrongs and injuries … then and there did do." |
West | Range: 83 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 216 | 17 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. George Good | Shelby | Assault and Battery |
Defendant is charged with an assault against Michael Ahern, during which he "did strike, beat, bruise and wound the said Michael Ahern, and other grievous wrongs and injuries to the said Michael Ahern then and there did do." |
West | Range: 83 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 216 | 16 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. William Hannah | Shelby | Assault and Battery |
The charge is that the defendant "did then and there strike, beat, bruise and wound … Lewis Campbell, and other grievous wrongs and injuries to the said Lewis Campbell then and there did do." |
West | Range: 83 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 216 | 18 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. P. W. McKittrick | Shelby | Assault and Battery |
Charge is that the defendant "unlawfully an assault did make with a rifle, and … then and there did attempt to strike, beat, bruise, shoot, and wound … J. J. Murphy and other grievous wrongs and injuries to the said J. J. Murphy then and there did do." |
West | Range: 83 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 216 | 16 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | S. A. Pool v. Jacob Storz | Shelby | Assault and Battery | West | Range: 83 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 232 | 18 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1823 | State v. John Walker, Sr. | McMinn | Assault with Force and Arms |
Defendant is charged with stabbing Spencer Beavers. Typed transcript included. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 56 | 14 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1824 | State v. James Baker | White | Assault with Force and Arms | Middle | Range: 32 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 365 | 8 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1827 | State v. Amos, a negro | Hickman | Assault and Battery |
Defendant was the property of Henry Maberry. Victim was Elizabeth Hughlett. |
Middle | Range: 33 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 370 | 16 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1884 | State v. James Kirk | Shelby | Assault and Battery |
The defendant was accused of attacking Henry Steele. |
West | Range: 83 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 251 | 17 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1884 | State v. Wesley Maniss(?) | Henderson | Assault and Battery |
Defendant indicted for assaulting his wife, Virginia, on 15 Aug. 1882. |
West | Range: 83 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 254 | 17 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1884 | State v. George Houston | Shelby | Assault and Battery |
Thomas Cassels, one of the earliest black legislators (42nd General Assembly, 1881-1882), is the attorney for the defendant's appeal (see cover page). The defendant is indicted here for an assault against James Rose. Houston is not identified anywhere in the record as being African American, but since Cassels is his lawyer, he probably is. |
West | Range: 83 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 263 | 26 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1884 | State v. W. L. Henderson | Shelby | Assault and Battery |
Henderson is accused of attacking and beating Mary McFadden, who presented witnesses to the attack. |
West | Range: 83 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 263 | 15 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1884 | State v. J. Foppiano | Shelby | Assault and Battery |
Victim: Thomas Waters |
West | Range: 83 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 265 | 34 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1884 | State v. Mrs. S. Trabucco | Shelby | Assault and Battery | West | Range: 83 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 270 | 15 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1887 | State v. Alex Allen | Knox | Assault and Battery |
Defendant was charged with assault and battery. He "did beat, wound, and ill-treat," Edward Maples on September 1 1886. Defendants also called Alexander Allen. |
East | Range: 19 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1861 | 22 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1885 | State v. Thomas M. Alexander | Shelby | Assault and Battery |
Victim: J. J. Smith |
West | Range: 83 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 282 | 15 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1921 | State v. Herschel Bellar | Smith | Assault and Battery | Middle | Range: 33 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 431 | 11 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1886 | State v. Bob Wilkins | Shelby | Assault and Battery |
The victim's name was John Furman. Wilkins was accused of "malicious cutting." |
West | Range: 83 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 294 | 13 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1891 | State v. Dove Fitzgerald | Gibson | Assault and Battery | West | Range: 83 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 327 | 40 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1944 | State v. Anna Mae Tweed | Greene | Assault and Battery |
Victim: Vida Gass. |
East | Range: 6 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 257 | 62 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1940 | State v. W. B. Stephenson | Hamblen | Assault and Battery |
Verdict: Guilty, verdict affirmed due to late filing of Bill of Exceptions. |
East | Range: 6 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 333 | 34 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1940 | State v. Frank Henry | Hamblen | Assault and Battery |
Verdict: Guilty, reversed on appeal to Supreme Court. |
East | Range: 6 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 335 | 63 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1949 | State v. Cecil McClelland | Hawkins | Assault and Battery |
Verdict: Guilty, reversed on appeal to Supreme Court. |
East | Range: 6 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 349 | 50 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1889 | State v. Samuel Marks | Shelby | Assault and Battery |
Docket number incomplete: 99_ _ |
West | Range: 83 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 442 | 30 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1943 | State v. Wilton Espy | Hamilton | Assault and Battery |
Verdict: Guilty, affirmed on appeal to Supreme Court. |
East | Range: 6 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 359 | 15 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1945 | State v. Thomas Hagood | Hawkins | Assault and Battery |
Judgment affirmed by Supreme Court of Tenn. |
East | Range: 6 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 298 | 19 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1889 | State v. T. H. Lane | Shelby | Assault and Battery |
T.H. Lane was an appointed agent of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to animals in Shelby County. He came upon a mule being driven by a Mr. Mosley. Lane ordered Mosley to stop to allow his mule to be inspected. Mosley refused and Lane pulled a gun. |
West | Range: 82 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 469 | 20 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1889 | State v. J. F. Wilkerson | Shelby | Assault and Battery |
Defendant is accused of striking A. H. Taylor with a whip. |
West | Range: 82 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 498 | 12 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1944 | State v. Harrison McGrady | Sullivan | Assault and Battery |
Victim: J. B. Isley. |
East | Range: 6 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 423 | 18 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1881 | State v. John W. Lowe | Coffee | Assault with Force and Arms |
The State charged Lowe with cutting and stabbing Elijah Messick, alias Lige Messick. |
Middle | Range: 37 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1145 | 49 | Order A Copy |