Tennessee Supreme Court Cases

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View Entry Year Case Name County Cause/Crime Case Description Division Location # Pages Order
View Entry 1894 Henry Fennel v. R. R. Caldwell et al. Davidson Petition for Habeas Corpus

Add def: N. A. Kemper. Pla. was convicted by the Caldwell (judge in the case) of several misdemeanors and ordered to pay fines and costs. Pla. was unable to make payment and sentenced to the county workhouse. T. A. Sykes, Wm. Perkins, and J. P. Rhines then delivered several notes to satisfy plaintiff’s costs and obtain his release. Def. later brought suit against said notes and received judgement. Pla. complained that he was then unlawfully re-arrested and placed in a workhouse to work off the debt.

 Middle Range: 36 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 965 33 Order A Copy
View Entry 1889 John Griffin v. State Davidson Habeas Corpus

Plaintiff was convicted of carrying a pistol and fined $50 and court costs. Unable to pay the fine, the Plaintiff was sentenced to the County Workhouse to pay off the debt. The Plaintiff then received a pardon from Tennessee Governor Robert L. Taylor; however, the state contends that the pardon only remitted the $50 fine and not the court costs. Therefore the state continued to hold the Plaintiff in custody.

 Middle Range: 35 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 846 39 Order A Copy
View Entry 1886 State ex. rel. E. H. Johnson v. T. S. Harris, Warden Davidson Habeas Corpus

See subsequent habeas corpus case involving same prisoner in ET Box 1167 (Abe McClellan, Asst. Warden v. E. H. Johnson), which recounts facts of this case.

 Middle Range: 34 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 593 38 Order A Copy