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].
Use quotes for an exact search. ex. "J. W."
View Entry | Year | Case Name | County | Cause/Crime | Case Description | Division | Location | # Pages | Order |
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View Entry | 1891 | George Franklin v. State | Sumner | Attempted Murder |
Franklin is accused of attempting to murder G. Ellis with a stick. Ellis met Franklin on the side of the road while walking near Hendersonville. Franklin allegedly walked past Ellis then hit him from behind. Ellis suffered various traumatic injuries. After the incident, Franklin was found in a sick and unresponsive state. Upon recovery, he claimed it was actually Ellis who assaulted him. |
Middle | Range: 35 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 878 | 58 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1891 | Henry Howell v. State | Crockett | Murder | West | Range: 83 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 327 | 117 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1891 | J. W. Hannum v. State | Knox | Murder |
State argued that Hannum killed H. O. Wilson in his home in Blount Co. on May 21, 1890 using a pistol. The State's theory was that Hannum's love interest Nan West, with whom he had a child and lived with for 4 to 5 years, was found with H. O. Wilson. Hannum repeatedly threatened Wilson's life and then committed murder. Exhibit: map of Maryville, TN and J. T. Hanna Anchor Woolen Mill and 1890 almanac. See ET 1799 for additional part of case. |
East | Range: 19 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1798 | 1068 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1891 | John Chumley v. State | Carter | Murder |
Chumley was convicted of murder in the 1888 shooting death of Willie Bowers. The prosecutor, David S. Bowers, was Willie's brother. He testified that he last saw his brother "in a dying condition from a gun shot wound in the privates." |
East | Range: 19 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1765 | 116 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1891 | James Ross v. State | Davidson | Murder |
Pla. in error is accused of murdering Henry White by shooting him with a gun. Said murder tool place at Hope Church which is described as a, "colored church." According to testimony, White, who may have been intoxicated, was acting erratically while also in possession of a knife. |
Middle | Range: 35 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 878 | 85 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1891 | Nathan Tarver & Woodville Tarver v. State | Dyer | Murder |
Victim: Clarence Godale |
West | Range: 82 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 456 | 118 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1891 | Ross Fulton v. State | Knox | Murder, 1st degree |
Co-defendant: Charles Fulton. "on the 5th day of November 1890, in the county of Knox and State aforesaid, unlawfully, willfully, deliberately, premeditatedly, feloniously, and of their malice aforethought an assault did make upon the body of Henry Robinson with certain deadly weapons, to wit - pistols, knives, and rocks…" "the said Henry Robinson certain mortal wounds from the affect of which he the said Henry Robinson in a few days thereafter died." |
East | Range: 19 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1766 | 109 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1891 | Reuben Morelock v. State | Hawkins | Murder, 1st degree |
Incident of 15 Aug. 1887, "in the State and County aforesaid unlawfully, willfully, maliciously, deliberately, premeditatedly, feloniously, and of their malice aforethought did make an assault and battery upon W. T. Dyer with a pistol, and him the said Dyer then and there being found in the peace and dignity of the state, …. did kill and murder in the first degree by shooting him the said Dyer …" |
East | Range: 19 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1765 | 116 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1891 | Sam Ellis v. State | Roane | Murder |
Ellis was convicted of killing Mollie Scott alias Mollie Reed. Ellis found that a few members of the jury had decided he was guilty before the trial, and petitioned for a new trial. Mollie Scott was found dead with a knife in her hand in a pine thicket. |
East | Range: 5 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 18a | 18 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1891 | State v. William Widdis | Carroll | Murder | West | Range: 83 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 315 | 224 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1891 | State v. William Warren | Decatur | Murder | West | Range: 83 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 315 | 76 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1891 | State v. William Gillham | Lake | Murder | West | Range: 83 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 339 | 70 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1891 | State v. Lewis Thompson | Obion | Murder | West | Range: 83 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 347 | 125 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1891 | State v. George Avant | Montgomery | Murder |
Victim: Kate Avant, wife of George, died by poisoning with strychnine. |
Middle | Range: 33 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 487 | 64 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1891 | State v. Andrew Jackson | Shelby | Murder |
Victim: R. T. Myrick |
West | Range: 82 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 572 | 324 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1891 | State v. Houston Kelley, et al. | Hawkins | Murder |
Additional defendants: Henry Smith, alias Henry Hounshell, William Christian (Frank Johnson and Lewis Applegate also charged in circuit court). The State charged the defendants with the premeditated murder of Daniel Carmichael who was stabbed with knives and other sharp instruments and shot multiple times in the head and body. Circuit court sentenced Kelley to death by hanging and the other defendants to life in prison. Transcript cover indicates that Kelley was hung in Rogersville in September 1891. |
East | Range: 19 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1790 | 150 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1891 | State v. John Smith | Hamblen | Murder |
The State claimed that the defendant caused several wounds to the head of Will Gray that killed him. The defendant claimed that Gray with a knife in his hand told him that he was going to kill him. The defendant claimed that he hit Gray in self defense. |
East | Range: 19 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1782 | 55 | 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 | 1891 | State v. Richard & Claiborn Burk | Hancock | Murder, 2nd degree |
Additional Deft.: Homer Mullins. Mullins found not guilty. Other defts. found guilty of 2nd degree murder in the 1 August 1891 shooting death of Ambrose Lewis, alias Seal. |
East | Range: 19 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1758 | 92 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1891 | State v. Andy Lanier | Gibson | Murder | West | Range: 83 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 337 | 115 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1891 | State v. Robert Porter (col.) | Maury | Murder |
Porter was accused of murdering George Walker with a pistol. Walker's body was found on John Cecil’s farm where both he and the defendant lived and worked. According to the defendant, he and the much larger Walker had gotten into a fight earlier in the day. The defendant claimed it was Walker who initiated the second argument and threatened Porter. Additional documents located in MT 893. |
Middle | Range: 34 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 593 | 60 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1891 | State v. William N. Hobbs | Hancock | Murder, 2nd degree |
File incomplete. Contains 15 Scire Facias dated 18 Sept. 1891. Hobbs charged with second-degree murder. He could not be found & was believed to be staying in VA to "avoid process". See also: ET, Box 1083 & ET, Box 1753 (State V. Hiram Church). Church appears to have been another deft. in the case. |
East | Range: 78 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1738 | 113 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1891 | Thomas Doyle v. State | Campbell | Murder |
Doyle was charged with the murder of "Charley Anderson Bartley, colored." |
East | Range: 19 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1771 | 99 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1891 | William H. Tyler v. State | Hancock | Murder |
In original case, plaintiff was charged with murder of John C. Campbell. |
East | Range: 19 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1792 | 75 | Order A Copy |