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 | 1893 | Allen Cousan v. State | Knox | Murder, 1st degree |
Cousin was charged with the murder of his wife one Martha Cousan. The weapon that was used was a pistol. |
East | Range: 19 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 1712 | 101 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1893 | D. B. Monroe v. State | Anderson | Murder |
The defendants was on trail for murder. Monroe was charged with shooting and killing one Frank Smith. 2 folders. |
East | Range: 19 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 1715 | 409 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1893 | George Vestal v. State | Murder, 1st degree |
Vestal was on trial for the murder of London Mack. Vestal was also charged with carrying dangerous weapons. Map located in MT OV 11. |
Middle | Range: 36 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 998 | 55 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1893 | George Alexander v. State | Lincoln | Murder |
Plaintiff in error was accused of killing William Payne with a knife. The murder occurred in Payne's store known as the Narrow Gage Bakery located on the west side of the public square in Fayetteville, Tennessee. Payne and Alexander were arguing inside of the store before the murder. State believes Alexander initiated the attack. Alexander testifies that Payne first attacked him with weights, forcing him to react in self-defense. |
Middle | Range: 36 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 958 | 137 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1893 | Hannibal Lamb v. State | Bledsoe | Murder |
Lamb was charged with the assault and murder of Isaac Meriman. Meriman was killed on December 2, 1891. |
East | Range: 18 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 1984 | 162 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1893 | John C. Ogg v. State | Knox | Murder, 1st degree |
The defendant was charged with murder in the first degree. The weapons used were a pistol, sticks and shives. The victim was G. W. Lane |
East | Range: 19 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 1723 | 60 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1893 | State v. Milton Rutledge | Obion | Murder |
The victim's name in this case was J. F. Kellog. |
West | Range: 82 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 582 | 204 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1893 | State v. Gus Ballard & Ben Wright | Shelby | Murder |
The defendants are charged with the murder of Henry House. House had been in an argument with Ben Wright's mother and sister the day before. House died from a blow to the back of the head. He was hit with a sharp instrument-possibly scissors. |
West | Range: 82 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 551 | 76 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1893 | State v. Reagan Cole | Greene | Murder |
Victim: unknown. Verdict only, no other documents included. |
East | Range: 7 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 749 | 2 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1893 | State v. D. W. Boyer | Cocke | Murder |
Victim: unknown. |
East | Range: 7 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 749 | 38 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1893 | State v. Luke Smith and Hutsell Smith | Campbell | Murder |
State charged the defendants with the murder of William Chancellor, an African American man, who Luke and his son Hutsell shot to death. |
East | Range: 18 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 2043 | 39 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1893 | State v. Hutsell Smith | Campbell | Murder |
Victim: unknown. |
East | Range: 7 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 749 | 2 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1893 | State v. John Armstrong | McMinn | Murder, 1st degree |
State charged Armstrong with the first degree shooting murder of French Sharp. He was convicted and sentenced to death by hanging. |
East | Range: 18 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 2035 | 65 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1893 | State v. D. B. Monroe | Anderson | Murder |
Additional Cause of Action: Rioting. Victim unknown. Opinion only, case summary not included. |
East | Range: 7 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 749 | 3 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1893 | State v. R. A. Sexton | Smith | Murder |
The defendant was accused of shooting and killing Ed. Turner. The incident occurred when the men encountered each other on opposite sides of the Cumberland River and began arguing. Ed. Accused Turner of talking about him and threatened him with a knife. Turner claims he was acting in self-defense. Casefile notes that Turner served time in prison for killing a "negro," girl. Prior to the murder Sexton was brought before Turner's father, a United States Commissioner, for liquor violations. |
Middle | Range: 36 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 958 | 147 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1893 | State v. Lemuel Delk & David Delk Jr. | Pickett | Murder |
The defendants and John A. Taylor are accused of murdering Martin Owens with knives and clubs. At the time of the attack Tom Owens (brother of the deceased) was involved in an argument with the plaintiffs and the deceased was attempting to remove him from the scene. The attack took place near the public square in Jamestown, TN. Casefile notes that due to threats of mob violence additional guards were employed to monitor the defendants in order to prevent rescue or attack. 2 folders. |
Middle | Range: 36 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 953 | 229 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1893 | State v. Tom Cullen | Jackson | Murder | Middle | Range: 33 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 479 | 290 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1893 | State v. John Travis | Carroll | Murder | West | Range: 83 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 383 | 91 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1893 | State v. Ethridge McAlexander | Carroll | Murder |
The defendant was accused of shooting a man named Charles F. Tippit. |
West | Range: 82 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 580 | 122 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1893 | State v. William Hartley | Shelby | Murder |
William Hartley is charged with murder in the first degree. He is charged with the killing of Annie Goodwin. He beat her to death with wood. |
West | Range: 82 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 551 | 86 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1893 | State v. Henry E. Bivens | Shelby | Murder |
Murder victim: George Etheridge. |
West | Range: 82 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 551 | 183 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1893 | State v. Bob Putnam | Shelby | Murder |
The victim's name was Henry Mosby. |
West | Range: 82 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 587 | 51 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1893 | State v. James Hickey | Washington | Murder |
For shooting & killing Nora Crumley. See additional part of case in ET 1738 |
East | Range: 7 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 749 | 89 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1893 | State v. John P. Hall | Bledsoe | Murder |
Victim: unknown. Verdict only, no other documents included. |
East | Range: 7 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 749 | 2 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1893 | State v. Allen Cousans | Knox | Murder |
Opinion only, case summary not included. |
East | Range: 7 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 749 | 2 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1893 | State v. William Calgey | Knox | Murder |
Victim: unknown. Opinion only, case summary not included. Moved to ET2042 with State v. William Calgey, aka. Calico Bill. |
East | Range: 7 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 749 | 2 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1893 | State v. Willis Cole | Greene | Murder |
Victim: unknown. Opinion only, case summary not included. |
East | Range: 7 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 749 | 2 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1893 | State v. George H. Jones | Claiborne | Murder |
Victim unknown. Opinion only, case summary not included. |
East | Range: 7 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 749 | 5 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1893 | State v. Lafayette Richie | Jackson | Murder, 1st degree |
Richie was on trial for the murder of William Stephens. Richie was accused of killing Stephens for a large sum of money. Stephens was killed by two gun shot wounds to the head. 2 folders. |
Middle | Range: 36 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 998 | 142 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1893 | State v. Jae Greenfield (col.) | Maury | Murder |
The defendant was accused of shooting and killing Robert Spindle on Christmas Eve night at the home of Malissa Scales. The victim’s sister, Emily Caine, testified that she overheard a conversation between Scales and George Watkins where Scales admitted to wishing for Spindle to be killed. Before he died, Spindle stated that stated he walked into Scales house and found Greenfield on the bed. The two men exchanged words and Spindle was shot. Exhibit material includes small map. |
Middle | Range: 36 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 963 | 107 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1893 | State v. Thomas Day | Smith | Murder |
Defendant was accused of shooting and killing Robert Apple in a livery stable. Prior to the shooting, Day and Apple argued about Apple playing cards in said stable. Day claims that he was attacked by Apple and only shot him in self-defense. Apple died 72 hours after the shooting. Casefile notes Day is 27 years old, lives with his uncle in Gallatin, Tennessee, and manages the stable where Apple was shot. 2 folders. Additional materials in box MT 1074. |
Middle | Range: 36 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 960 | 167 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1893 | State v. C. R. Daniel | Dickson | Murder, 2nd degree |
Daniel was accused of killing Jas. Thomasson(variously Thomason) during an assault with a pistol. Daniel was hired to be in charge of the road at "Vanlier" [Vanleer?]. Thomason took and used a handcar belonging to the company, claiming Daniel's wife gave the permission. Daniel reported the incident, and Thomason threatened to kill him. On the day of the killing, Thomason used vulgar and obscene language toward dfnt and wife, noting he would "knock the s--t" out of dfnt. After an altercation, dfnt fired. |
Middle | Range: 36 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 957 | 136 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1893 | Thomas H. Smith v. State | Lincoln | Murder |
Plaintiff in error was accused of murdering J. C. Brooks with a gun. The state suggests that the plaintiff murdered Brooks to keep him from marrying Lena Driver. Pla. claims he killed Brooks in self-defense. Previous to the killing the plaintiff had been engaged to Driver, but the relationship ended due to her parent's objections. Casefile includes poetry and several letters written by Driver to the plaintiff. Exhibit material includes a hand drawn map. 3 folders. |
Middle | Range: 36 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 956 | 398 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1893 | Victor C. Gordon in error v. State | Hamilton | Murder, 1st degree |
State charged defendant Victor Gordon, alias, Bud or "Vic" Gorden with the murder of George C. Gibson. Includes extensive transcripts of testimony from the trial. 397 pages out of 595 pages in box ET 1812. |
East | Range: 19 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 1737 | 198 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1893 | William Calgey alias Calico Bill v. State | Blount | Murder |
Cagley killed Daniel Ratliff after they spent time together with some other men in a saloon. This trial was used to further the temperance cause, blaming alcohol for the men's behavior. Jack West, Cagley's step son was also injured. Circuit court jury sentenced him to 15 years in the state penitentiary. |
East | Range: 18 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 2042 | 92 | Order A Copy |