Tennessee Supreme Court Cases
Order Cases Online
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
Use quotes for an exact search. ex. "J. W."
| View Entry | Year | Case Name | County | Cause/Crime | Case Description | Division | Location | # Pages | Order |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Entry | 1870 | Andy Williams v. State | Hamilton | Murder |
Related documents may be located in ET 814. Andy Williams, also known as Andrew Williams or Henry Williams is accused of murdering Adolph Dutch, by beating him with a stick or club. Adolph Dutch was a jail guard who took his prisoner, Andy Williams, to look for a watch he had stolen and hidden near Birds Mill, 6 miles from Chattanooga. On their journey Williams hit Dutch from behind, killing him. |
East | Range: 9 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 1218 | 89 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1940 | Bill Durham v. State | Hamilton | Murder |
Durham is accused of shooting Leroy Barnes. Durham was previously in jail on a liquor charge. |
East | Range: 6 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 326 | 85 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1892 | Beauregard De Foor v. State | Hamilton | Murder |
De Foor was tried for murdering Joe Williams in 1888. Transcript contains colorful testimony. Witness said that she and Williams were furnishing music for a lawn party given at a private home. Near midnight, defendant remarked that there was his cousin dancing with "Big Sis," a reference to Joe's wife. This offended Mrs. Williams, so she sought and received an apology; Joe asked likewise. Shortly, a gunfight and chase ensued, ending in Joe's death. Hand-drawn map shows key locations on street & alley. |
East | Range: 19 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1824 | 68 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1933 | Bill Hayle v. State | Hamilton | Murder |
Bill Hayle is accused of killing eighteen year old Charlie Stewart, shooting him with a single barrel shotgun. Hayle testified that Stewart was a young bootlegger with a temper who employed foul language. The night of the shooting he was verbally ass- faulting Hayle and his wife, while brandishing a knife. Witnesses testified that Hayle suffers mental illness caused by pelagra. |
East | Range: 10 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 1505 | 220 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1892 | Beauregard De Foor v. State | Hamilton | Murder |
De Foor was tried for murdering Joe Williams in 1888. Transcript contains colorful testimony. Witness said that she and Williams were furnishing music for a lawn party given at a private home. Near midnight, defendant remarked that there was his cousin dancing with "Big Sis," a reference to Joe's wife. This offended Mrs. Williams, so she sought and received an apology; Joe asked likewise. Shortly, a gunfight and chase ensued, ending in Joe's death. Hand-drawn map shows key locations on street & alley. |
East | Range: 19 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1824 | 68 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1932 | Chester Horn v. State | Hamilton | Murder |
Victim: Chester Pendergrass. More of case can be found in box ET 1395. |
East | Range: 5 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 173 | 182 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1944 | Charles Gorman v. State | Hamilton | Murder |
2 folders. Exhibits include correspondence. |
East | Range: 6 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 312 | 240 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1931 | Charles Kennedy & Clarence Bridges v. State | Hamilton | Murder |
Plaintiffs appeal murder conviction in the death of Ed Hogue. Few details. |
East | Range: 10 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1372 | 15 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1940 | Charles Hawkins v. State | Hamilton | Murder |
2 folders. |
East | Range: 6 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 314 | 235 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1946 | C. D. Ford Jr. v. State | Hamilton | Murder |
3 folders. |
East | Range: 6 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 324 | 446 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1939 | Dave Johnson v. State | Hamilton | Murder |
Newspaper article: "Judge says negro juries needed to slash murder rate." Death by electrocution. |
East | Range: 6 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 312 | 162 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1945 | D. C. Key v. State | Hamilton | Murder |
Key is accused of assaulting with intent to kill Jane May Hutchenson with a knife and murdering Tuck Joiner on August 15, 1944. Joiner and Key were friends before the murder. Key claims Joiner was choking him and that is why he stabbed him with his knife. |
East | Range: 6 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 328 | 207 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1927 | Eugene Drake v. State | Hamilton | Murder |
Final Decree only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 74 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1928 | Eugene Mack v. State | Hamilton | Murder |
Plaintiff is appealing the charge of Murder in the First Degree. Case is incomplete; opinion only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 86 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1946 | Eddie Jones v. State | Hamilton | Murder |
Death by electrocution. |
East | Range: 6 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 316 | 228 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1935 | Earnest Davis v. State | Hamilton | Murder |
Victim: Azel Webb |
East | Range: 8 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 901 | 10 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1867 | Elias Wells v. State | Hamilton | Murder |
Plaintiff and John Wells were convicted of killing Thomas W. Denney [?] by shooting him to death. The Wellses used pistols. Eyewitness testimony provides details. |
East | Range: 9 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 1222 | 51 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1906 | Floyd Westfield v. State | Hamilton | Murder |
Final Decree only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 89 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1928 | Floyd Abbot v. State | Hamilton | Murder |
Plaintiff is appealing the charge of Murder in the Second Degree. Case is incomplete; opinion only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 84 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1894 | George Mapp in error v. State | Hamilton | Murder |
The State charged Mapp, alias Mich Morgan, and Buddie Wooten with the shooting assault and murder of Marion L. Ross, a saloon keeper. See related case, Buddy Wooten in error v. State, in same box, ET 2060. |
East | Range: 18 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 2060 | 152 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1947 | Hezikiah Odom v. State | Hamilton | Murder | East | Range: 6 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 320 | 114 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1928 | Irene Talley v. State | Hamilton | Murder |
Plaintiff is appealing the charge of Murder in the Second Degree. Case is incomplete; opinion only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 86 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1928 | Jackson Nelson v. State | Hamilton | Murder |
Plaintiff is appealing the charge of Murder in the Second Degree. Case is incomplete; opinion only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 84 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1944 | J. S. Brown v. State | Hamilton | Murder |
Most likely related to exhibit of soiled clothes located in ET OV 7. |
East | Range: 6 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 316 | 216 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1944 | Joe A. Williams v. State | Hamilton | Murder |
Williams is accused of shooting Herman Christopher in June 1942. Williams and Christopher had been in a fight the night before he was killed. |
East | Range: 6 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 328 | 73 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1936 | Jack Harrison v. State | Hamilton | Murder |
Jack Harrison is charged with the murder of Earl Travis |
East | Range: 8 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 915 | 12 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1937 | Jack Ridge v. State | Hamilton | Murder |
Victim: Lewis Hines. |
East | Range: 9 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1107 | 144 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1928 | John Giles v. State | Hamilton | Murder |
Plaintiff is appealing the charge of Murder in the 2nd Degree. Case file is incomplete; opinion only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 80 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1928 | James Bolton v. State | Hamilton | Murder |
Plaintiff is appealing the charge of Murder in the First Degree with mitigating circumstances. Case is incomplete; opinion only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 84 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1945 | James Wallace Cobb v. State | Hamilton | Murder |
Cobb was charged with unlawfully carrying a pistol and the murder of Frank K. Evatt. Cobb and Evatt had a disagreement over a hand of cards. |
East | Range: 6 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 328 | 158 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1935 | John Livingston v. State | Hamilton | Murder |
Livingston was charger with murdering Terry Callahau |
East | Range: 8 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 1021 | 13 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1931 | John & Emma Jordon v. State | Hamilton | Murder |
Incomplete document: Motion for a new trial only. Unnamed victim. Motion filed partially because of the Attorney General's inflammatory closing arguments about sentence leniency. |
East | Range: 10 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1327 | 19 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1946 | Murphy Wade v. State | Hamilton | Murder | East | Range: 6 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 318 | 48 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1944 | Murrell Davis v. State | Hamilton | Murder | East | Range: 6 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 312 | 202 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1928 | Robert Curry v. State | Hamilton | Murder |
Plaintiff is appealing the charge of Murder in the 2nd Degree. Case file is incomplete; opinion only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 80 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1929 | R. A. McKissick v. State | Hamilton | Murder |
Plaintiff is appealing the charge of Murder in the 2nd Degree. Case file is incomplete; opinion only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 76 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1928 | Roxie Wilson v. State | Hamilton | Murder |
Plaintiff is appealing the charge of Murder in the Second Degree with mitigating circumstances. Case is incomplete; opinion only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 84 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1943 | Robert Hall v. State | Hamilton | Murder |
Sentence: Death by electrocution. 2 folders. |
East | Range: 6 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 316 | 276 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1874 | State v. Shade Westmoreland | Hamilton | Murder |
John Edwards "Shade" Wetsmoreland alias "Shade Woods" was accused of murdering William Emberling. High profile case covered as far away as Chicago. Also a part of Hamilton County folklore. |
East | Range: 20 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1612 | 78 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1890 | State v. Jesse Frierson (col.) | Hamilton | Murder |
Frierson was in Irvine's Hall in Knoxville eating lunch during a Christmas celebration. He was a relation of one of the Irvine's. Officer David Musgrove entered the room, giving Frierson an arrest warrant for larceny. Frierson denied the charge, trying to escape. The officer drew his weapon, Frierson shot him first. Brief mentions that justice must be served, & that racist attitudes toward the event must be avoided. |
East | Range: 5 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 17a | 7 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1921 | State v. Ed Roth, alias, Dick Roth | Hamilton | Murder |
Ed Roth, alias, Dick Roth murdered Wiley Thomas |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 166 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1948 | State v. Patrick Johnson | Hamilton | Murder |
Charge reduced from Murder to Voluntary Manslaughter. Verdict: Guilty, Reversed on appeal to Supreme Court. |
East | Range: 6 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 337 | 130 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1944 | State v. Willie Hicks et al. | Hamilton | Murder |
Defendant S. Hicks convicted of Assault and Battery. Defendant W. Hicks (African American) allegedly stabbed white victim after confrontation over seating on public bus. Verdict: Guilty, affirmed on appeal to Supreme Court. Additional Defendant: Sallie Hicks. |
East | Range: 6 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 349 | 389 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1945 | State v. Charles D. Ford, Jr. | Hamilton | Murder |
Reply to Petition to Rehear only; no case summary or other briefs/motions attached. |
East | Range: 6 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 359 | 8 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1946 | State v. Henry Watley | Hamilton | Murder |
Verdict: Guilty, affirmed on appeal to Supreme Court. |
East | Range: 6 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 381 | 108 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1938 | State v. Thomas Williams | Hamilton | Murder | East | Range: 7 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 725 | 11 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1931 | State v. Wiley Hyatt | Hamilton | Murder | East | Range: 8 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 795 | 142 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1935 | State v. Norman Jelks | Hamilton | Murder |
Murder of Dan Smothers |
East | Range: 8 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 881 | 37 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1891 | State v. Jesse Fierson alias Jesse McPhearson | Hamilton | Murder |
The state claimed that a police officer had a warrant to arrest the defendant for stealing clothes. When the officer attempted to arrest the defendant the defendant shot and killed the officer. |
East | Range: 19 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1767 | 191 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1936 | State v. Roy Lee Springs | Hamilton | Murder |
The defendant was accused of killing his wife; but he insisted it was in self defense. |
East | Range: 8 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 948 | 13 | Order A Copy |