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 | 1876 | State v. Aaron M. Knight | Haywood | Assault with Intent to Commit Rape |
Victim was Julia Rogers. The defendant and victim both African American. |
West | Range: 84 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 85 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1879 | State v. E. H. King | Shelby | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Alias: Bob King. |
West | Range: 84 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 127 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1879 | State v. Charles Mosby | Shelby | Assault with Intent to Kill |
The victim's name in this case was A. Pierotti. |
West | Range: 84 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 135 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1880 | State v. Jonah Kelley | Weakley | Assault with Intent to Kill | West | Range: 84 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 149 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1880 | State v. James Moore et al. | Benton | Assault with Intent to Commit Rape |
Additional Defendants: Ethridge Moore, Stephen Townsend, Henry Coble, James Townsend, William Williams, and Lish Townsend. The defendants were charged with assaulting a woman named Mary F. Townsend. |
West | Range: 84 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 150 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1880 | State v. G. W. Kneedle | Shelby | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Defendant charged with "assault and battery with intent to murder" in attack on J. A. Signiago(?). Attack occurred 19 Jan. 1880. |
West | Range: 84 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 150 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1881 | State v. Walker Austin | Shelby | Assault with Intent to Commit Rape |
The exact charge is assault with intent to rape a child under 10 years old. The little girl later needed to be treated for gonorrhea, which Austin admitted to having picked up at a fair. There is additional testimony that the child's mother frequently beat her violently. |
West | Range: 84 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 163 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1865 | State v. Thomas Grant | Franklin | Assault with Intent to Kill | Middle | Range: 32 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 303 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1870 | State v. Thomas Harrison | Warren | Assault with Intent to Commit Rape | Middle | Range: 32 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 302 | 9 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1877 | State v. James Moyers | Claiborne | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Defendant is charged with assaulting Joseph Gulliver. |
East | Range: 5 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 30 | 9 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. N. M. K. Humes | Shelby | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Victim: Henry D. Ellis. Additional parties: H. P. Ricketts, Emanuel Rainds, Dan Cowley |
West | Range: 83 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 219 | 16 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1881 | State v. Charles McAfee (col.) | Davidson | Assault with Intent to Kill |
The State charged McAfee with assault with the intent to commit murder upon Jennie McAfee "c[olored]." |
Middle | Range: 37 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1108 | 12 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1874 | State v. Hamp Boss | Shelby | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Verdict and Sentence Document Only. |
West | Range: 83 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 246 | 2 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1828 | State v. Anos, a slave | Hickman | Assault with Intent to Kill |
An African-American slave boy named "Anos," owned by Henry Mayberry. Assault and battery upon Agnes Mayberry, aged six or seven years, daughter of Frederick Mayberry; also assault upon Elizabeth Mayberry, wife of Frederick. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 369 | 12 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1879 | State v. Gabe Price | Shelby | Assault with Intent to Kill | West | Range: 83 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 247 | 2 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1879 | State v. Jim Logan | Madison | Assault with Intent to Kill | West | Range: 83 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 247 | 4 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1879 | State v. Steve Perkins | Shelby | Assault with Intent to Kill | West | Range: 83 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 247 | 2 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1874 | State v. Junior Bell (col.) | Hardin | Assault with Intent to Commit Rape | West | Range: 83 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 247 | 3 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1879 | State v. Peter Tappan | Fayette | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Indictment. |
West | Range: 83 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 248 | 4 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1831 | State v. James J. Darnell | Franklin | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Assault and battery with intent to kill, Polly Darnell in 1830. |
Middle | Range: 33 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 374 | 14 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1879 | State v. C. H. Lancaster | Henderson | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Indictment. |
West | Range: 83 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 248 | 4 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1874 | State v. Godfrey Sykle | Shelby | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Indictment. |
West | Range: 83 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 249 | 2 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1886 | State v. Phil Wallace | Lauderdale | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Actual charge is assault with intent to commit voluntary manslaughter. Wallace is accused of assaulting W. D. Given with a loaded gun, which he fired (apparently missing his target). |
West | Range: 83 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 291 | 22 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1886 | State v. James Shearley | Benton | Assault with Intent to Kill |
The victim's name was M. D. McElyea. |
West | Range: 83 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 293 | 40 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1886 | State v. Daniel Parker | McNairy | Assault with Intent to Commit Rape |
The defendant was African-American. The victim's name was Annie R. Kelsey. |
West | Range: 83 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 294 | 31 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1885 | State v. J. W. Moore | Shelby | Assault with Intent to Kill |
The victim's name in this case is James Roper. |
West | Range: 83 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 299 | 69 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1944 | State v. John D. Groover | Washington | Assault with Intent to Maim |
Acid permanently blinds the victim. Victim: James O. Tolley. |
East | Range: 5 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 117 | 95 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1923 | State v. Elmer Dunlap | Warren | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Assault and battery on John E. Jaco, 21 May 1922, in Campaign, Warren Co., TN. |
Middle | Range: 33 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 461 | 74 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1886 | State v. Joe Hall | Shelby | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Defendant is accused of assaulting George Smiley with a sharp instrument with the intent of committing manslaughter. |
West | Range: 83 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 309 | 55 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1891 | State v. Tom Banks, T. L. Flake, et al. | Henry | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Charged with felonious assault. Additional plaintiffs: Tom Banks, T. L. Flake, Lewis Gilbert, Wilson Howard. Assault against Frank Dortch with a pistol. Hon. W. H. Swiggart, Judge, 12th Judicial Circuit. J. R. Bond, Attorney General. |
West | Range: 83 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 329 | 170 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1890 | State v. Henry Kennedy | Shelby | Assault with Intent to Kill | West | Range: 83 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 337 | 146 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1889 | State v. James G. W. Clapp | Union | Assault with Intent to Kill |
The State charged Clapp with armed assault with intent to commit first degree murder for an attack on D. F. Smith in February of 1888. |
East | Range: 19 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1830 | 20 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1889 | State v. T. K. Porter | Henry | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Porter is charged with assaulting A. B. White with a pistol, with the intent of murdering him (in the first degree). |
West | Range: 83 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 440 | 68 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1932 | State v. Lester Shirley | Hamilton | Assault with Intent to Commit Rape |
Verdict: Guilty, affirmed on appeal to Supreme Court. |
East | Range: 6 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 359 | 80 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1896 | State v. Tom Cribbins | Shelby | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Defendant is accused of assaulting Joe White, alias Joe Baby, with a pistol with the intention of killing him. Folder includes one legal brief. |
West | Range: 83 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 454 | 42 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1949 | State v. Bert Kaylor | Hamilton | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Verdict: Guilty, affirmed on appeal to Supreme Court. |
East | Range: 6 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 375 | 112 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1896 | State v. Richard Caldwell& Tom Cribbins | Shelby | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Victim: John Winfield |
West | Range: 82 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 456 | 91 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1888 | State v. John H. Rum | Benton | Assault with Intent to Kill | West | Range: 82 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 458 | 16 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1896 | State v. Vickie Burns | Shelby | Assault with Intent to Commit Rape |
Victim: Maggie Bridgeforth |
West | Range: 82 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 480 | 38 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1895 | State v. Abe Haskins | Grundy | Assault with Intent to Kill |
The State charged Haskins with assaulting E. W. Hamby with a pistol held in the defendant's hand and therefore with the intent to commit 2nd degree murder. The circuit court found him guilty and sentenced him to 1 year hard labor in the state penitentiary |
Middle | Range: 36 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1089 | 31 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. Burrell Nance (col.) | Rutherford | Assault with Intent to Kill |
The State charged Nance with assault with the intent to commit murder in the first degree against Edward Poston with an axe, hatchet, and rocks. |
Middle | Range: 37 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1145 | 29 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1940 | State v. Paul Price | Cocke | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Victim: Sloly Davis. |
East | Range: 6 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 431 | 19 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1893 | State v. J. T. Smithwick | Weakley | Assault with Intent to Kill |
The defendant was accused of shooting a Dr. Fitzpatrick. |
West | Range: 82 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 578 | 56 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1893 | State v. Calvin Lee | Weakley | Assault with Intent to Commit Rape |
The victim in this case was Cora Hornsby of Dresden, Tennessee. |
West | Range: 82 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 580 | 14 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1945 | State v. John Davidson | Hamilton | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Victim: C. R. Ball. |
East | Range: 6 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 481 | 11 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. Elias Whitley | Maury | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Alias of Defendant: Elias Wheatley. Victim: Chester Johnson. |
Middle | Range: 33 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 499 | 27 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1895 | State v. Al Robinson | Shelby | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Defendant is charged with attempting to kill Will Thomas by shooting him after an altercation at a neighboring store, even though Robinson's original quarrel had been with a man named Jim Morgan. |
West | Range: 82 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 622 | 28 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1890 | State v. William Leak | Sevier | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Leak was charged with assaulting John Maples "with rocks, sticks, and pistols" and with intent to murder Maples. |
East | Range: 19 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1804 | 30 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1898 | State v. Sam Tall | Hardin | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Cover is missing. Many pages are devoted to explaining why the defendant is not in court on the first day of his trial. Charge is assault to commit murder in the first degree and malicious shooting. The victim's name is John Moore, whom Tall allegedly cut and stabbed. The conflict seems to have had racial overtones -- Sam Tall is black, and Moore and his companion, Mr. Sloan, were white. A number of insults were traded before the assault. |
West | Range: 82 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 656 | 82 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1899 | State v. Sam Tall (col.) | Hardin | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Cause of action: Assault with the intent to commit murder in the second degree. |
West | Range: 82 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 680 | 55 | Order A Copy |