Tennessee Supreme Court Cases

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View Entry Year Case Name County Cause/Crime Case Description Division Location # Pages Order
View Entry 1947 Alex Culpepper v. Grady Head Hamilton Habeas Corpus East Range: 6 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 299 54 Order A Copy
View Entry 1887 Abe McClellan, Asst. Warden v. E. H. Johnson Hamilton Habeas Corpus

Incomplete file; only McClellan's brief to Supreme Court. 1875: Johnson convicted of robbery in Shelby County; sentenced to 21 yrs, 5 yrs of which Gov. Alvin Hawkins commuted in 1883. Also in 1883, TN passed law allowing time off sentence for "good time". Also passed law to allow leasing out of prisoner labor (1st work release program in country). This case involves Johnson's 2nd attempt to use the "good time" law to get out of prison, despite 2 escapes & 1 attempted escape.

 East Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1167 19 Order A Copy
View Entry 1885 Charles Fitzsimmons v. State Shelby Habeas Corpus

Fitzsimmons is complaining of being held illegally in the county jail.

 West Range: 83 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 291 11 Order A Copy
View Entry 1933 City of Chattanooga & Ray Bryan Chief of Police v. State Ex rel John Henry Jones Hamilton Habeas Corpus

Defendant claims he is being held without cause due to a governor’s warrant issued in Georgia for the charge of burglary. Defendant denies the charge and is seeking release. Exhibit materials include the original governor's warrant.

 East Range: 10 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 1486 25 Order A Copy
View Entry 1944 Fred Payne, sheriff, Homer Edmondson & Marion Perkins v. State ex Rel. J. W. Groover Hamilton Habeas Corpus

Cause of Action: petition for habeas corpus, defendant is an alleged fugitive from justice found in TN who allegedly committed the crime of larceny in GA.

 East Range: 5 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 223 35 Order A Copy
View Entry 1942 Hubert Adams et al. v. Herbert N. Russell et al. Knox Habeas Corpus

Add. Plaintiffs: Clarence Porter, Merch Walden. Add. Defendants: Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary, Thomas P. Gore.

 East Range: 7 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 587 73 Order A Copy
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 1939 J. E. Echols v. E. G. Murrell Hamilton Habeas Corpus

Exhibits: writ of habeas corpus form, appearance bond.

 East Range: 6 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 408 20 Order A Copy
View Entry 1897 J. A. Dickey v. State Knox Habeas Corpus

Case incomplete; brief only.

 East Range: 5 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 102 2 Order A Copy
View Entry 1909 John Bedner & George Ramsey v. W. G. Person, Sheriff Madison Habeas Corpus

Plaintiffs claim that they are being held illegally, that they have been charged with no crime. The names of the plaintiffs are different throughout the case record, where they are referred to as J. E. Faltsy (Faltys, Faultsy) and George M. Gilliam. They are managers of a traveling vaudeville show and insist they were arrested under false pretenses and should be released immediately.

 West Range: 80 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1160 27 Order A Copy
View Entry 1935 John H. Howe v. State ex rel. William Pyne Knox Habeas Corpus East Range: 8 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 892 49 Order A Copy
View Entry 1898 Luthur Sanders v. State Knox Habeas Corpus

Case incomplete; opinion only.

 East Range: 5 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 101 4 Order A Copy
View Entry 1850 Margaret North v Micheal Goldman Grainger Habeas Corpus

Plaintiff claimed: April 3, 1849, defendant gained possession of plaintiffs child, Eliza Jane North, under pretense that said child had been bound to him by the court & refused to return her to her mother's custody. Defendant claimed the colored child was indentured to him, the bond a matter of court record.

 East Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1134 8 Order A Copy
View Entry 1940 Ray Bryan, Chief of Police v. Paul Langston, Ex Rel. Hamilton Habeas Corpus

Incomplete case file. Langston is charging that he was illegally restrained of his liberty at the police department of the City of Chattanooga. Police claim that he was a fugitive from justice from Georgia.

 East Range: 6 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 326 16 Order A Copy
View Entry 1879 State v. Cad Perkins Williamson Habeas Corpus

Prisoner held past the end of their term to serve out a previous prison term. Habeas Corpus granted.

 Middle Range: 32 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 367 2 Order A Copy
View Entry 1912 State ex rel. v. C. J. Herbert Hamilton Habeas Corpus

Additional Cause of Action: Fraud. Habeas petition only.

 East Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 74 135 Order A Copy
View Entry 1885 State v. Andrew McDonald Shelby Habeas Corpus

Defendant also fighting charge of vagrancy. McDonald a steam boat mate who had been without work for some time.

 West Range: 83 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 288 18 Order A Copy
View Entry 1940 State ex rel. Lewis Wilson v. Fred Payne Hamilton Habeas Corpus East Range: 6 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 265 38 Order A Copy
View Entry 1948 State, ex rel Robert Zahnd v. Grady Head Hamilton Habeas Corpus

Plaintiff seeks to avoid extradition to Georgia, petitions for writ of Habeus Corpus. Argues Georgia Warrant not based on affidavit properly filed before a magistrate. Judgment for defendant, upheld on appeal.

 East Range: 6 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 327 26 Order A Copy
View Entry 1944 State ex rel. Lawrence Daugherty v. Fred Payne Hamilton Habeas Corpus

Exhibits include arrest warrant, state documents, D

 East Range: 6 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 402 52 Order A Copy
View Entry 1947 State ex rel. Alex Culpepper v. Grady Head Hamilton Habeas Corpus

Plaintiff disputes jurisdiction of Defendant to arrest Plaintiff. Defendant Title: Hamilton County Sheriff.

 East Range: 7 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 495 27 Order A Copy
View Entry 1934 State, ex. rel., Hal Hobbs v. E. G. Murrell, Superintendent of the Work House Hamilton Habeas Corpus

Case concerns State v. Hall Hobbs, where Hobbs was charged with carrying a pistol and assault and battery.

 East Range: 8 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 817 47 Order A Copy
View Entry 1935 State ex rel, Thomas Ward, alias Warren v. E.G. Murrell, Supt. Of Workhouse of Hamilton County Hamilton Habeas Corpus

This is a habeas corpus case. Thomas Ward was charged with carry a pistol…he feels that he is being illegally held by the workhouse of Hamilton County and that his rights have been violated.

 East Range: 8 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 831 89 Order A Copy
View Entry 1935 State, ex rel. Hal Hobbs v. E. G. Murrell Hamilton Habeas Corpus

Cause of Action: Habeas Corpus against the Superintendent of the Hamilton County Workhouse.

 East Range: 8 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 915 22 Order A Copy
View Entry 1936 State Ex Rel, T. M. Van Scoyoc v. Frank Burns, Sheriff Hamilton Habeas Corpus

T. M. Van Scyco wants make his defense in Tennessee rather than California, however officers from California are already present and in possession of extradition papers Exhibits include extradition papers.

 East Range: 8 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 1019 34 Order A Copy
View Entry 1938 State ex rel Carl Davis v. Frank J. Burns, Sheriff Hamilton Habeas Corpus

Carl Davis claims he is illegally restrained from his liberty by Frank J. Burns, Sheriff of Hamilton County. Frank J. Burns acting on a warrant from Marshall County Alabama, arrested Davis for arson.

 East Range: 9 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1118 60 Order A Copy
View Entry 1933 State ex rel. Charles Favors vs. John K. Tate, Sherriff Hamilton Habeas Corpus

Favors was arrested in Catoosa County, Georgia after found with liquor, that Favor said he had just come across. He was arrested and charged incorrectly under the name Charles Fabers. He insists there is no proof of his guilt, and if he is to be held, the court should produce it. Although the alleged crime took place in Georgia, he lives in and was held in Hamilton County until he could be brought back to Catoosa.

 East Range: 10 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 1534 26 Order A Copy
View Entry 1885 State v. L. Karr Shelby Habeas Corpus

Case name appears in different ways. On the cover it is "State Ex Rel L. Karr v. Taxing District of Shelby County" the second page has "L. Karr v. Taxing District of Shelby County" but "State v. L. Karr" appears most often

 West Range: 83 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 291 38 Order A Copy
View Entry 1947 State on Relation of A. F. Allen v. Bud Cash, sheriff of Bradley Co., TN & William Southern, agent of the State of Ohio Hamilton Habeas Corpus East Range: 6 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 258 20 Order A Copy
View Entry 1940 State ex rel. Clyde Boelen v. Frank Burns sheriff Hamilton Habeas Corpus

Includes warrant.

 East Range: 6 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 310 19 Order A Copy
View Entry 1950 State ex rel Eddie Lee Jackson v. John Henry Hamilton Habeas Corpus

Plaintiff alleges he was arrested in Georgia by a Tennessee deputy on a Georgia warrant, transported across state lines into Tennessee, and thus held illegally.

 East Range: 6 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 321 63 Order A Copy
View Entry 1940 State Ex. Rel. Otis Donahue v. Frank Burns, Sheriff Hamilton Petition for Habeas Corpus

Exhibits: writ of habeas corpus.

 East Range: 6 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 412 94 Order A Copy
View Entry 1945 State ex rel. Rachael Kennedy v. Grady Head Hamilton Habeas Corpus

Original charge: escaped quarantine after being confined there by the Chattanooga-Hamilton Co. Health Dept. due to a venereal disease. Exhibits include medical regulations book.

 East Range: 6 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 463 53 Order A Copy
View Entry 1941 State ex. rel. Grover Holt v. R. Y. Wert Hamilton Petition for Habeas Corpus

Exhibits: warrants, certificates, bonds, typed statements, copy of official ballot,

 East Range: 7 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 526 141 Order A Copy
View Entry 1944 State ex rel. Tommy Lester v. Noah Smith Claiborne Habeas Corpus

Plaintiff Lester sued as next friend of Claude Campbell.

 East Range: 7 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 605 20 Order A Copy
View Entry 1931 State ex rel. Willie Jackson v. Charlie S. Taylor, Sheriff Hamilton Petition for Habeas Corpus

William Jackson was arrested by R.W. Rogers for reckless driving, was placed in jail and told to sign on a line-not knowing nor intending to plead guilty to the offense. Jackson charged that he was not guilty and sought habeas corpus-to be released from illegal imprisonment, prevented from being transported to a workhouse to serve out the fines and costs, and allowed to make bond.

 East Range: 10 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1326 46 Order A Copy
View Entry 1936 Tom Armstrong, Ex Rel State v. Frank Burns Hamilton Petition for Habeas Corpus East Range: 8 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 982 26 Order A Copy
View Entry 1904 W. P. Hayes v. H. P. Genter Hamilton Habeas Corpus

W.P. Hayes was the former sheriff of Hamilton County and H.P. Genter was a runaway felon from Alabama that was arrested and detained in Tennessee. Genter filed a petition of Habeas Corpus

 East Range: 8 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 817 3 Order A Copy