Tennessee Supreme Court Cases

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View Entry Year Case Name County Cause/Crime Case Description Division Location # Pages Order
View Entry 1880 A. J. Allen v. Jane Elliot Montgomery Marriage, Breach of Promise Middle Range: 20 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 54 0 Order A Copy
View Entry A. T. Buren& Maggie Buren v. Henry Buren Marriage, Breach of Promise

Case involves charges of mistreatment and abandonment. Case file is incomplete; opinion only.

 East Range: 5 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 91 21 Order A Copy
View Entry 1935 Bessie Perrin v. R. C. Perrin Shelby Marriage, Breach of Promise

These two were married for 18 years. R.C. Perrin said he stopped loving Bessie and wanted a divorce--they separated and he stopped supporting her. He charged that living with her and all of her complaining and quarreling was unsafe and he deemed it "improper to cohabit with her." Chancellor--John E. Swepston

 West Range: 84 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 20 0 Order A Copy
View Entry 1873 Cecilla Huber v. John Huber, et al. Shelby Marriage, Breach of Promise West Range: 84 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 18 0 Order A Copy
View Entry 1868 Charles Jacobs v. State Knox Marriage, Unlawful

Charles Jacobs (col.), a minister and also known as Charles Smith, is accused of unlawfully marrying a white woman, Rebecca Burrus to Dock Loues (col.)

 East Range: 9 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1191 11 Order A Copy
View Entry 1873 Daniel Galloway v. State Davidson Marriage, Breach of Promise

Case involves the intermarriage of a "negro" and white person, Malinda Vine alias Malinda Brandon.

 Middle Range: 32 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 340 83 Order A Copy
View Entry 1947 Elizabeth Lewellyn v. Clarence Ladd Sullivan Marriage, Breach of Promise East Range: 6 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 273 25 Order A Copy
View Entry 1922 Eula Maie Carroll v. Henry H. Carroll Shelby Marriage, Breach of Promise

Henry and Eula were married 11 years before Henry decided he didn't want to be married any longer. He doesn't want to support Eula, but she doesn't want a divorce. She says she is at least entitled to $100/month compensation.

 West Range: 84 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 23 0 Order A Copy
View Entry 1857 Elizabeth Eaton v. William Moore Sr. McMinn Marriage, Breach of Promise

Eaton & Moore entered into marriage contract & set a date but, before that day, Moore asked to postpone because his son was sick. Again day was set & marriage license procured, but on set day, Moore failed to show & Eaton hasn't seen him since. She filed suits against him in Circuit (debt suit on $1250 marriage license bond & breach of promise suit); filed this suit to keep him from disposing of property: negro women Rose & Caty & negro men Jack & Daniel, 341 acres Hiwassee District land.

 East Range: 9 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: Oversize Box 16 9 Order A Copy
View Entry 1898 John Graham, in error v. Lucretia McReynolds, in error Marion Marriage, Breach of Promise

The defendant in error, Lucretia McReynolds, sued the plaintiff in error, John Graham for $50,000 in damages for "intending her ruin," debauching, and knowing her "carnally," which resulted n the birth of a child. McReynolds and Graham had entered a contract for marriage that the plaintiff in error had refused to honor. Majority of case in ET 1785 (644 of 661 pages)

 East Range: 5 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 90 661 Order A Copy
View Entry 1887 James Nolly& Eleanor Nolly v. Robert F. Laurien Giles Marriage, Breach of Promise

The defendant promised to marry Eleanor (Hawlett) who was single at the time. The defendant seduced Eleanor and refused to marry her. Eleanor is sued the defendant for breach of promise and seduction. Exhibits include correspondence between Eleanor and Robert.

 Middle Range: 34 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 717 77 Order A Copy
View Entry 1890 Julia M. Johnson v. A. J. Johnson Decatur Marriage, Breach of Promise West Range: 83 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 325 127 Order A Copy
View Entry 1890 Lillie W. Mincey v. Andrew J. Kirk Knox Marriage, Breach of Promise

The plaintiff sued the defendant for $10,000 in damages for breach of their contract/promise to marry.

 East Range: 19 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1818 98 Order A Copy
View Entry 1910 Mrs. Clara Roths v. W. N. Roths Dyer Marriage, Breach of Promise

Ex B: letter from brother Robert Roths; Ex C: second letter from brother; Ex D: statement from Christian Brothers College President; Ex A: letter from Robert to Shannon Transcript, warrant and statements in WT Box 1299

 West Range: 80 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 1252 98 Order A Copy
View Entry 1857 Mahulda Warwick v. Nicholas Cooper Union Marriage, Breach of Promise

Mahulda says Nicholas promised to marry her, and they had a child together, but he failed to keep his promise & married another (Polly Keller), leading Mahulda to file this suit for damages. Nicholas claims he was a minor (age 17) when he made the promise

 East Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1159 36 Order A Copy
View Entry 1905 Mrs. Sallie Johnson v. John Iss Davidson Marriage, Breach of Promise

Opinion only. Judge dismissed the suit because plaintiff as still a married woman according to law when she engaged herself to Iss.

 Middle Range: 35 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 827 2 Order A Copy
View Entry 1893 Nellie Reed by next friend Dink Reed v. Horace Fugett Cannon Marriage, Breach of Promise

Dink Reed was the father of Nellie Reed. Plaintiff brings suit seeking damages for seduction and breach of promise of marriage. Plaintiff states that she was seduced by the defendant's promise to marry her but complains that since she became pregnant he has refused, causing damage to her reputation. Pla. is 16 years old and the def. is 36. During the trial the def. questioned the character of the plaintiff's family and accused several members of having "bastard," children.

 Middle Range: 36 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 956 45 Order A Copy
View Entry 1927 Paul Oscar Defur, by next friend, Oscar Wells Defur v. Calvin Wells Defur Shelby Marriage of Minor

seeking to annul marriage between Paul Oscar Defur and Calvin Wells Defur; at time of marriage Paul Oscar was 16 and Calvin Wells was also 16; kept marriage secret from parents

 West Range: 77 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1913 215 Order A Copy
View Entry 1876 State v. Alex Caldwell Lauderdale Marriage, Unlawful

Additional parties: Cindra Stone Green, Jim Daniels, Isham Coleman, Ben Mullins, Tom Wilson.

 West Range: 84 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 86 0 Order A Copy
View Entry 1873 State v. J. P. Bell & W. A. Bell col. Davidson Marriage, Unlawful

cohabitation of a white man and an African American woman; legally married in Mississippi; marriage validity across state lines

 Middle Range: 32 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 339 19 Order A Copy
View Entry 1886 State v. James Roberson and Nancy Roberson Hamilton Marriage, Unlawful

Charged with an illegal marriage. It was noted that James Roberson was a "negro" and Nancy Roberson was white.

 East Range: 19 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1888 48 Order A Copy
View Entry State v. Isaac Ward Marriage, Unlawful

Opinion.

 East Range: 8 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 815 4 Order A Copy
View Entry 1944 Victor H. Statzer v. D. Loraine Statzer Sullivan Marriage, Breach of Promise East Range: 6 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 271 121 Order A Copy
View Entry 1932 Wm. H. Slaughter, Jr., etc. v. Mary Louise Cullum Shelby Marriage, Unlawful

Slaughter Jr., sued by next friend Wm. H. Slaughter Sr. who brought the suit to have a Hernando, MS marriage between Slaughter Jr. and Cullum to be ruled invalid for many reasons: Slaughter Jr. is a minor of 17 and Cullum 19 years old - neither secured parental approval before wedding, the marriage has not been consummated, Slaughter Jr. has no plans to live with dfnt., and Slaughter Jr. (a high school student) has no means to support a family.

 West Range: 77 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 2117 57 Order A Copy