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 | 1944 | Jake Smith v. State | Greene | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Victim: Dale Jones. |
East | Range: 6 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 255 | 117 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1939 | Jesse Vickers v. State | Hamilton | Assault with Intent to Kill | East | Range: 6 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 314 | 113 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1870 | John Mickley v. State | Knox | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Victim: William Merres |
East | Range: 8 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 813 | 5 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1914 | Jim Dock Hall v. State | Tipton | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Victim: John Wortham. John Wortham was vesting Robert Cotten. Jim Dock Hall arrived outside the window where Wortham was sleeping and shot him. |
West | Range: 79 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1347 | 135 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1931 | J. C. Fuller v. State | Knox | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Fuller was tried and found guilty of assaulting John C. Cox and attempting to commit voluntary manslaughter. An argument took place when Cox's friends Wright and Davis forced Fuller off the road--Fuller admitted that his car was undamaged, but that the incident did "irreparable injury to his feelings." Fuller pursued the two, but they cut him off again. By then Fuller was so agitated that he "applied to the occupants of the Ford an epithet suggesting canine maternal ancestry." |
East | Range: 10 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1843 | 515 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1916 | John W. Smith v. State | Bedford | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Smith was charged with assault with intent to commit murder in the first degree on Tom A. Russell. |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 93 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1915 | John Johnson v. State | Davidson | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Victim was Eliza Patton. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 362 | 28 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1928 | Jim Webster v. State | Anderson | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Plaintiff is appealing the charge of "Assault with intent to commit Voluntary Manslaughter." Case is incomplete; opinion only. |
East | Range: 20 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1694 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1920 | John Tow v. State | Davidson | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Victim: F. A. Bumpous |
Middle | Range: 33 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 390 | 77 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1950 | John Hurley Jr. v. State | Greene | Assault with Intent to Kill | East | Range: 5 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 184 | 142 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1902 | J. C. Partin v. State | Decatur | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Partin was sentenced to 2 years. While in prison, he argued for a new trial based on his accusation that it was W. F. Warden who attacked him and provoked the fight. Partin claimed that he was defending himself. Witnesses: Ludie Herdon (?), E. J. Houston, William Lavery, Joe Fuller, S. W. Snider, Gat Burchet (?), Dr. R. M. Brown (?), Millie Wilson (colored), and Thomas Hays. 2 brads not removed. Several sheets of browned pulp paper are fragile. |
West | Range: 31 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 843 | 33 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1902 | James Travis v. State | Henry | Assault with Intent to Kill |
James & Alvin Travis accused of shooting John Vandyke and Mellie Vandyke. Testimony: George Hobby, Raymond Hancock, Dr. L. A. McSwain, H. B. Sweeney, Walter Blackwood, Smith Lankford, James Sweeney, John Parkhill & Cora Travis. The Vandykes also testified. The case involves miscegenation: The Travis family accused John Vandyke (white) of raping their sister Cora, who gave birth to his child. |
West | Range: 81 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 843 | 51 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | John Mickels v. State | Knox | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Dissenting opinion only. Written by "Judge Nelson". Victim is not identified. Date is unknown. |
East | Range: 8 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 813 | 9 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1886 | John A. Miller v. State | Warren | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Victim: M. D. Smith alias Watt Smith. Assault with loaded pistol. Minus Miller listed as additional defendant |
Middle | Range: 34 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 690 | 127 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1894 | Jordan Carothers v. State | Williamson | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Plaintiff in error and Alex Hodge were accused of shooting Ike Blair with intent to kill. Blair testified that he was attending a dance given by Robt. Wilson on the farm of Harve Temple when the plaintiff attacked him without provocation. Witnesses testified that it was Blair who first showed a pistol. |
Middle | Range: 36 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1031 | 59 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1918 | John Bell v. State | Gibson | Assault with Intent to Kill |
2 folders. Plaintiff was originally indicted for a charge of assault and battery upon Emmett Dement with a pistol with the intent to commit murder in the first degree. This file is an appeal to the original bill. |
West | Range: 79 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1506 | 262 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1932 | John Fields v. State | Campbell | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Fields was convicted of shooting Howard Ward because he was peeping through a hole in a carnival tent. |
East | Range: 10 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1372 | 81 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1892 | John Malone v. State | Davidson | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Plaintiff in error was accused of attempting to murder Sim Fuller with a shotgun. Plaintiff and Fuller were at Dick Arnolds store and saloon on the corner of Murfreesboro Pike and Fairfield Ave. when they began to argue about a cigarette. Fuller left the store and the plaintiff followed him out. The plaintiff asked Fuller if he wanted to fight and then shot him. Casefile notes Fuller lives on Fairfield Ave. in South Nashville. |
Middle | Range: 36 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 955 | 26 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1876 | J. D. Isham v. State | Roane | Assault with Intent to Kill |
For assault with intent to kill on George Cook. Philip Wilson also took part in assault but was tried separately. |
East | Range: 20 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1654 | 63 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1927 | Louis Curry v. State | Hamilton | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Final Decree only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 72 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1929 | Luther Wilder v. State | Hamilton | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Case also includes a charge of Voluntary Manslaughter. Case file is incomplete; opinion only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 80 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1909 | Lonnie Hurdle & Bill Beasley v. State | Fayette | Assault with Intent to Kill | West | Range: 80 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1178 | 46 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1898 | Lewis Guinn v. State | Hardin | Assault with Intent to Kill | West | Range: 82 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 646 | 118 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1935 | Lucian Asque v. State | Sullivan | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Victim: Howard Fletcher |
East | Range: 8 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 836 | 33 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1873 | Michael Cooney v. State | Shelby | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Michael Cooney assaulted Milton Gaurdlock, who was African American. |
West | Range: 84 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 15 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1919 | Marcus Ward v. State | Rutherford | Assault with Intent to Kill | Middle | Range: 21 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 137 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1915 | Moulton Wylie v. State | Shelby | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Assault with intent to commit murder upon Collins B. Moore, on October 13, 1913. |
West | Range: 79 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1407 | 151 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1933 | Money Ward v. State | Hawkins | Assault with Intent to Kill |
This case file is an appeal of a felony assault conviction. Plaintiff convicted of slitting his wife's throat with a razor. |
East | Range: 10 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 1511 | 453 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1911 | Marvin Dickson v. State | Hardin | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Victim: J. H. Gardner. Assault with a knife and pistol. |
West | Range: 80 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 1236 | 42 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1885 | Nat Harry v. State | Hamilton | Assault with Intent to Kill |
The incident took place in Carpenter's Saloon on 628 Market St in Chattanooga. Harry was charged with shooting W. R. Jenkins with a pistol in the first degree. Charles Hodges was also charged. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 81 | 76 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1894 | Ned Farris (col.) v. State | Marshall | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Plaintiff in error was accused of assaulting Columbus (Lum) Smith with intent to commit murder. Smith was at his home eating with his family when the shooting occurred. Shots hit Smith, his wife, and two of his daughters. Smith had an argument with Farris a year prior to the shooting. Farris denies the charges. Casefiles notes that Farris is 68 years old and lives in Caney Spring. Smith's stepson also lived with Farris at the time of the shooting. |
Middle | Range: 36 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 959 | 120 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1926 | Oscar Jaggers v. State | Madison | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Assault of J. A. Jones with intent to commit murder in the first degree. |
West | Range: 77 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1908 | 37 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1923 | O. D. Coats v. State | Madison | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Cause of action: Felonious Assault. Coats is charged with assaulting B. A. Wilson with a pistol with malice and "aforethought to kill and murder." See WT1733 for related case. |
West | Range: 78 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1733 | 24 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1887 | P. H. Monahan v. State& State v. P. H. Monahan | Davidson | Assault with Intent to Kill |
In this appeal, plaintiff had previous judgment of guilt regarding an assault with intent to commit murder in the first degree and malicious shooting case. Victim was Laura D. Carney. Result of jury trial was sentence of 10 yrs. in TN State Penitentiary Plaintiff, who lived at the Carney Boarding House and had been engaged to Laura, attempted to kill her once she ended their relationship. Plaintiffs lawyers claimed insanity, as two Monahan first cousins suffered this condition. |
Middle | Range: 35 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 806 | 352 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1871 | Pleasant Hunt v. State | Montgomery | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Assault and battery with intent to commit murder in the first degree |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 302 | 30 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1943 | Ray Kirby v. State | Sevier | Assault with Intent to Kill |
"Assault with Intent to Commit Voluntary Manslaughter." Victim: Glen Tarwater. Exhibits include Tarwater's soiled shirt and pants in ET OV 28. |
East | Range: 5 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 123 | 219 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1941 | Roy Taylor v. State | Hamilton | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Taylor is accused of assaulting Tom J. Rogers with a club with intent to kill. Rogers and Tylor had a disagreement about a ownership of a mower and then Taylor accused Rogers of shooting his dog. |
East | Range: 6 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 326 | 91 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1870 | Robert L. Turley v. State | Grainger | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Opinion document. Turley charged with felonious assault upon George A. Greenlee using a pistol with intent to murder. Jury found Turley guilty and fined him $50 and sentenced him to 3 months in jail. |
East | Range: 8 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 814 | 44 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1936 | Rufus Lakins v. State | Claiborne | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Rufus Lakins is charged with "assault with intent to commit voluntary manslaughter." |
East | Range: 8 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 944 | 125 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1920 | Ross Graves v. State | Madison | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Ross Graves is charged with "assault with intent to commit murder upon Jesse Browner." |
West | Range: 78 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1613 | 44 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1915 | R. L. Alexander v. State | Rutherford | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Victim: J. K. P. Robinson. |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 130 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1866 | Richard Hudson et al. v. State | Macon | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Additional Plaintiffs: W. W. Meador and Joseph King. Script is extremely difficult to read; further details of the case are unclear. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 315 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1932 | Robert Granstaff v. State | DeKalb | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Opinion only. DeKalb County case found in East TN boxes. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 83 | 2 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1928 | Robert Berry v. State | Hancock | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Plaintiff is appealing the charge of "Assault with intent to commit Murder in the Second Degree." Additional materials located in ET 1360. Case is incomplete; opinion only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 84 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1943 | Roy Bruce v. State | Knox | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Case incomplete; opinion only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 93 | 2 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1922 | Raymond Cole v. State | Madison | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Cole was indicted for "assault with intent to commit murder in the first degree upon the body of Henry Hall in May, 1921." |
West | Range: 78 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1691 | 80 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1836 | State v. James Jones | Williamson | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Person he was trying to kill - Soloman Oden |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 199 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1850 | State v. Woodford Lester | Jackson | Assault with Intent to Kill | Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 231 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1867 | State v. James M. Allard | Jackson | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Victim: Caleb Anderson. James M. Allard alias: Mat Allard. |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 172 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. Henry "Cuff" Ventress | Henry | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Ventress indicted for attempting to murder George Wiley in April of 1881 by striking him on the head with a "heavy stick or club". |
West | Range: 83 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 213 | 24 | Order A Copy |