Tennessee Supreme Court Cases

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View Entry Year Case Name County Cause/Crime Case Description Division Location # Pages Order
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."
Appealed.

 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 …"
Co-defendant: William Simpson.

 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