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 | A. P. Massengill v. A. M. Shadden | Jefferson | Assault and Battery |
Additional Cause of Action: Trespass. Date: Unknown. Opinion only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 74 | 4 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1878 | Bailey P. Harrison v. State | Sumner | Assault and Battery |
Assault of Martha Jones. Joseph C. Stark, Judge of 10th Circuit, W. N. Cowden, Circuit Court Clerk, B. D. Bell, District Attorney General, D. P. Hart, Constable of Sumner Co. Jurors: J. K. Taylor, E. H. Green, J. J. Smith, T. F. Honeycutt, A. W. Overton, H. P. Enloe, George Schleuter, Charles Poston, M. V. Trout, H. E. Love, V. H. Allen, A. Escue. E. T. Bush, Foreman. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 38 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1890 | Bud Bradley v. State | Gibson | Assault with Intent to Kill |
Victim: Henry Sheppard |
West | Range: 82 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 552 | 54 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1914 | Bonner Thomasson, by next friend v. Western Union Telegraph Company, et al. | Shelby | Assault |
Plaintiff, Bonner Thomasson, sued by his next friend, C. D. Thomasson- both residents of Shelby Co., sued defendants, Western Union Telegraph Co., and C. H. Carroll, an employee of said company, for sum of $2,000.00, result of assault, 31 Dec. 1912, upon defendant Thomasson who was attempting to collect (wages?). Defendant had been discharged as result of labor strike by messenger boys against company. Carroll threatened bodily harm against defendant. |
West | Range: 79 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1378 | 78 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1853 | Benjamin Fowler v. Henry A. Farnsworth | Greene | Assault |
Fowler says Farnsworth violently assaulted him by kicking & striking him, throwing him down, & dragging him, causing bodily injury & damaging his clothes. Farnsworth says he was justified in doing so, as Fowler broke into his house & he was resisting it. Fowler's children mentioned: Benjamin F. Fowler, Catharine Fowler, & stepson Alexander Simons. NOTE: ET 1140 and 1173 contain other cases between same parties around same time period, & cause of actions are fraud and trespass & damages. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1152 | 42 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1884 | Calvin Smith v. Memphis & Arkansas City Packet Company | Shelby | Assault and Battery |
The folder includes three briefs, two hand-written and one printed. Smith worked as a "rouster" on the steamboat Rene Macready, loading cotton. He claims he was attacked by the first mate, beaten on the head and buttocks with a hickory stick, and then threatened with a pistol and shot at. |
West | Range: 83 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 253 | 45 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1893 | Calvin Lee v. State | Weakley | Assault and Battery |
Victim: Cora Hornsby |
West | Range: 82 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 576 | 78 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1873 | Ed Whitmore v. State | Fayette | Assault | West | Range: 84 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 38 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1879 | E. P. Monulton v. State | Jefferson | Assault and Battery |
Monulton was on trial for assault and battery of S. E. Whaler. He was charged with beating, wounding and the ill treatment of Whaler. |
East | Range: 19 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 1682 | 33 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1880 | E. M. Droke v. State | Sullivan | Assault |
Droke was on trail for claiming he would assault the plaintiff with a rock if he did not leave the area. He was also overheard using profanity during the altercation. |
East | Range: 19 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 1680 | 15 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1917 | George Dunwood v. John Lenti | Shelby | Assault with Force and Arms |
Dunwood alleged that Lenti fired a pistol at him while walking down North Pauline Street and Hubbard Place in Memphis. |
West | Range: 80 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1122 | 55 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1922 | Glover Davis v. National Life & Accident Insurance Co. | Shelby | Assault and Battery |
Plaintiff claims she was the victim of assault and battery by the defendant's agent in her home. She says that, "without provocation or excuse [he] cursed, assaulted, and beat" her. |
West | Range: 80 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1132 | 10 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1906 | Horace Graham v. State | Hamblen | Assault and Battery |
Plaintiff is appealing the charge that he assaulted Albert Stephens. Case file is incomplete; opinion only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 90 | 2 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1910 | Hills Business College v. Ethel Raney, big next friend John T. Raney | Shelby | Assault and Battery | West | Range: 80 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1185 | 147 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1844 | Henry A. Farnsworth v. John Walker, Caspien Easterly & John A. Park& Henry A. Farnesworth v. Samuel Allen | Greene | Assault with Force and Arms |
Defendants: Mordecai Lincoln, Charles Gafs. Defendants charged with trespass with force and arms and damages of $500, for assaulting (beating) plaintiff, detaining him for over 24 hours, and taking possession of his mare. Incident took place Oct. 1, 1836 in Greenville, Tenn. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1129 | 46 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1879 | Hiram Percell v. State | Washington | Assault and Battery |
Incomplete File. Document state that the plaintiff was in error by counsel. The county treasury was to pay the defendant. |
East | Range: 19 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 1684 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1851 | Jonathan McThompson v. State for Elizabeth Hill | Williamson | Assault and Battery | Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 245 | 14 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1853 | Jacob Turner v. Thomas Stratton | Sumner | Assault and Battery |
Jacob Turner claims Thomas Stratton beat and wounded him severely and he seeks damages for his pain and suffering |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 241 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1875 | John B. Bosley et al. v. William Butler | Davidson | Assault and Battery |
Additional defendant - Elias Napier |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 63 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1886 | J. J. Sikes, In Error v. State | Hamblen | Assault |
Indictment: Felony (?). "J. J. Sikes alias Josh Sikes of said County on the 24th Day of December 1884 with force and arms in the County of Hamblen and state aforesaid, in and upon one Richard Martin in the peace of God and the State then and there being feloniously, unlawfully, maliciously did make an assault and with a stick or piece of shingle … did put out and extinguish the right eye of the said Richard Martin …" |
East | Range: 19 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1868 | 56 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1890 | J. W. Young, in error v. State, in error | Hamilton | Assault and Battery |
Young was charged with unlawfully fighting in a public place, the county court house in Chattanooga, with Lo Kimble. Young…"ran behind the wire of the Clerk's office…and picked up an ink stand and I grabbed a poker at the fire place and stood there with.. it" from Kinble's testimony. |
East | Range: 19 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1810 | 35 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1851 | John Nance v. Calloway Hodges | Jefferson | Assault and Battery |
Nance accused Hodges of assaulting him, having "beat, wounded, and ill treated him," inflicting wounds & bruises on his face & eye & other body parts, which altercation took place at Nance's house after Hodges proposed to "adjust a difficulty about some land," which led to Hodges verbally abusing Nance & then striking him. Nance (who was 60-70 yrs old) attempted to defend himself with fire tongs. Venue changed to Sevier County & then to Cocke County. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1158 | 40 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1874 | J. L. Cobb v. State | Hawkins | Assault |
Cobb was charged with assault in the beating of John W. Beckner and Jacob Beckner. He was also charged with public profanity for saying "By God. God damned. I'll be God damned." Both cases were bound together. |
East | Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1592 | 36 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1875 | Lewis B. Barnes v. State | Jackson | Assault |
The victim is Jane Barnes. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 352 | 181 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1827 | Matilda v. John Crenshaw | Sumner | Assault and Battery |
Slave case. Recorded in Book H, Page 477. Additional parties Stephen Crenshaw next friend of the slave Matilda. The charge includes false imprisonment. |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 184 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1895 | Matt Hudson v. State | Madison | Assault with Force and Arms |
Victim: Sam Walker |
West | Range: 83 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 455 | 35 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1914 | Max Plesofsky v. Lattie Billingsley& husband, A.P. Billingsley | Shelby | Assault |
Plaintiff was in defendant's store when defendant wickedly, wantonly and unlawfully seized and assaulted plaintiff at the same time accusing her of having stone certain goods and violently searching Plaintiff's clothes and person for said articles. |
West | Range: 79 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1375 | 80 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1831 | Margaret Neil v. Richard F. Smith & George James | Maury | Assault with Force and Arms | Middle | Range: 33 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 376 | 36 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1885 | Maggie E. Rice v. Memphis& White River Packet Company | Shelby | Assault |
Rice was sued the company for $10,000 "for violently, forcibly, illegally, maliciously, and willfully ejecting" herself and her little child from a steamboat. |
West | Range: 83 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 286 | 32 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1886 | Mayor & City Council of Nashville v. M. Bridges | Davidson | Assault |
"Assault with a pistol on the person Ed Warden," at residence of R. A. Cole. Hon. Frank T Reid, Circuit Judge, 8th Judicial Circuit. |
Middle | Range: 34 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 694 | 20 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1924 | Mrs. May Stewart v. Ben Whitson | Dyer | Assault with Intent to Commit Rape |
Whitson was charged with breaking into the Stewart home, lying in bed with Mrs. Stewart, lifting her night dress, and placing his hand between her thighs. May is also listed as Mary in some of the court documents. Housed in 2 folders. |
West | Range: 78 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1757 | 256 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1817 | Noah B. Tindale v. John Shelby | Sumner | Assault and Battery |
Hon. Bennett Searcy, Circuit Ct. Judge, 3rd Circuit in Smith Co. Hon. Nathaniel W. Williams, Circuit Ct. Judge in Sumner Co. Anthony B. Shelby, Circuit Ct. Clerk for Sumner Co. Originally heard in Sumner Court; change of venue to Carthage, Smith Co. Jurors: William Pendarris (sic), Elijah Haynie, Joel Dyer, Jacob Feght, Abram Overrall, John Feght, George Tunney, Robert W. Roberts, Phillip Sutton, William Short, Matthew Duke, Jeremiah Taylor; Patrick Darby, John H. Bowen; Felix Grundy |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 212A | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1912 | Oscar Haaga v. Julius Brett, et al. | Shelby | Assault with Force and Arms |
Additional parts of case in WT Box 1265. Additional defendant: James H. Malone |
West | Range: 80 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 1265 | 282 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1884 | Robert Canaday v. J. E. Narton | Dyer | Assault and Battery |
Alternate defendant name spelling: Harton Alternate plaintiff name spelling: Canada |
West | Range: 83 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 257 | 42 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1870 | State v. L. P. Suggest | Fayette | Assault |
Assault of J. H. Woolley. |
West | Range: 84 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 9 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1874 | State v. Jesse Beatty, et al. | Fentress | Assault and Battery |
Defendants: James Beatty and Lidia Beatty. Beatty was accused of assaulting Samuel Wright. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 19 | 23 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1875 | State v. Sandy Kee | Rutherford | Assault | Middle | Range: 20 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 30 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1877 | State v. James M. Lasater | Coffee | Assault and Battery |
Lasater was accused of being guilty of turbulent and riotous conduct within and about a hotel in the town of Manchester kept by Joel Staver. He was seen quarrelling, committing assault and battery, breaching the peace, making loud noises, and trespassing within the hotel space. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 35a | 44 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1877 | State v. Joseph Braswell et al. | Putnam | Assault |
Defendant had the alias names of Jo Braswell, George A. Braswell, Luke Braswell, W. B. Bates and Dol Bates. Braswell was accused of assaulting Russell Allison with a gun. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 35a | 180 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1880 | State v. George Smith | Franklin | Assault with Intent to Commit Rape |
George Smith was African American. Victim: Sun Landers. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 58 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1873 | State v. Barney Montgomery | Madison | Assault | West | Range: 84 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 38 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1873 | State v. Jim Fisher | Shelby | Assault with Intent to Kill | West | Range: 84 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 41 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| 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 | 1838 | State v. William Hall | Bedford | Assault |
This relates to an affray in Shelbyville between Allen Nichols, Thomas Nichols, William Nichols and William Hall. Halls' security were Wesley Hall and John Wallace |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 306 | 14 | 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 | 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 | 1839 | Stewart, a man of colour v. Isaac Miller& Josephus Moore | Rutherford | Assault | Middle | Range: 33 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 378 | 10 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1886 | State v. Mack Kyle, J. H. Delp, Guilford Minor, J. A. Kyle | Hawkins | Assault |
Action: Felonious assault, forfeiture. "with intent to kill the said J. P. Davis," on or about 19 Nov. 1883. |
East | Range: 19 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1868 | 37 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1866 | State v. George Lewis & William Buler | Claiborne | Assault with Force and Arms |
Defendants are charged with shooting Samuel Ellis. Case file is incomplete; brief only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 75 | 8 | 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 |