Tennessee Supreme Court Cases
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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
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| View Entry | Year | Case Name | County | Cause/Crime | Case Description | Division | Location | # Pages | Order |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Entry | 1879 | B. F. Roberts v. Harvey Christman | Williamson | Obstructing a Public Road/ Road/ Ri | Middle | Range: 20 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 37 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1922 | Ben Allen Eslick v. State | Giles | Obstructing a Public Road/Road/Right of Way |
The plaintiff is appealing his conviction of obstructing a public road. He was charged with this as a result of leaving a wagon across the Pulaski and Brick Church Turnpike. |
Middle | Range: 33 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 400 | 64 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1880 | B. F. Roberts v. Harry Chrisman | Williamson | Obstructing a Public Road/Road/Right of Way | Middle | Range: 34 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 662 | 53 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1897 | City of Selmer v. P. H. Thrasher | McNairy | Obstructing a Public Road/Road/Right of Way |
The defendant is charged with unlawful fencing up and obstructing a certain city street |
West | Range: 82 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 479 | 27 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1889 | Chesapeake& Nashville Railway v. Anna Patterson& Husband | Sumner | Obstruction of Property |
The Patterson's sued the railroad company for $1000 damages and for right of way. The railroad co. was building its tracks from Gallatin to Scottsville, KY, which went right through plaintiffs' farm, causing direct and incidental damages, including being cut off from wells, mills, etc. Court ruled in favor of plaintiffs for $500. Defendant appealed. Note: Anna also named Annie in case. |
Middle | Range: 35 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 838 | 118 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1879 | Duncan Knox v. State | Knox | Obstructing a Public Road/Road/Right of Way |
For building a fence across a public road six miles outside Knoxville & running east from a trestle of the Knoxville & Ohio Railroad on the Knoxville-Jacksboro Road. |
East | Range: 19 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 1685 | 41 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1877 | Ezekiel Cleveland v. State | Bradley | Obstructing a Public Road/Road/Right of Way |
Ezekiel Cleveland was charged with obstructing a public road. He built his personal fence across the road in question. |
East | Range: 20 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1600 | 25 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1878 | George Ford v. State | Anderson | Obstructing a Public Road/Road/Right of Way |
The plaintiff in error was accused of obstructing travel by building a fence across a public road. Exhibit materials include a hand-drawn plat map depicting the properties of the plaintiff, George Taylor, and P. and L. Hatmaker. Said lands lie near the Clinch River. |
East | Range: 20 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1645 | 20 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1890 | Hugh McGehee v. Iron Mountain Railroad Co. of Memphis | Shelby | Obstruction of Property |
Plaintiff claims that the railroad has infringed on his personal property, blocking his right of way, and interfering with his use of a public street. Plat map included after page 24. |
West | Range: 82 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 568 | 162 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1867 | Holland Osburn [Osborn/Osborne] v. State | Knox | Obstructing a Public Road/Road/Right of Way |
Holland Osburn [Osborn/Osborne] is charged with obstructing a public road. See also State v. Holland Osborn, et al., Knox County, 1867 [ET 1222] & State v. Holland Osborne, Knox County, 1868 [ET 1189]. |
East | Range: 9 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 1219 | 18 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1881 | John Lewallen v. State | Knox | Obstructing a Public Road/Road/Right of Way |
"The indictment charge the defendant with obstructing a public road laid out and established by the county court." |
East | Range: 5 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 98 | 6 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1892 | J. E. Ray, In Error v. the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Knoxville | Knox | Obstruction of Justice |
Cause: "guilty of obstructing officers Brown & Sliger while making arrest of Elias Johnson on (Henley?) Street in said City (Knoxville) October 11, 1891." |
East | Range: 19 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 1744 | 16 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1868 | James Campbell v. State | Knox | Obstructing a Public Road/Road/Right of Way |
Campbell is accused of building a fence over a public road. Campbell claims that he previously owned the land that the fence was built on but no longer does. |
East | Range: 9 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1191 | 12 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1872 | J. H. Hall v. State | Polk | Obstructing a Public Road/Road/Right of Way |
Final judgment only. Hall sued state for obstruction to the public road. Court ruled against Hall and fined him $10. |
East | Range: 9 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1212 | 2 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1878 | Jason Jones (col.) v. State | Maury | Obstructing a Public Road/ Road/ Ri | Middle | Range: 20 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 29 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1926 | J. D. King v. State | Washington | Obstructing a Public Road/Road/Right of Way |
Final Decision/Order only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 68 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1854 | John Bales Sr. v. Rachel Dariox | Jefferson | Obstructing a Public Road/Road/Right of Way |
Dariox erected large, high fence in & across (& obstructing) road alleged to be 2nd or 3rd class public road, used by wagon carts/other vehicles, men on horseback & foot. Testimony re: use of the road, including that there was considerable settlement along Bays Mountain on both sides & they used road. Road also used by those going to Methodist & Quaker Meetinghouses. Daniel Spears said Dariox wanted to shut the road after death of her husband (who built road in first place as way to get to his mill). |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1164 | 21 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1877 | Louisville & Nashville Railroad Company & Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway Company, in error. v. State | Davidson | Obstructing a Public Road/ Road/ Ri |
In 1875, the Court awarded in favor of the State by reason of the railroads having built a trestle connecting their roads from the depots of each of them in the city and doing this crossing several public highways. The actual charge was nuisance and obstructing a highway. Exhibits include small hand drawn map. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 30 | 223 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1917 | Morgan County v. Martha Goans | Morgan | Obstructing a Public Road/Road/Right of Way |
Opinion only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 74 | 3 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1861 | Nathaniel Bowman v. State | Hawkins | Obstructing a Public Road/Road/Right of Way |
For removing some rails & changing a switch on the Rogersville & Jefferson Railroad. |
East | Range: 9 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1193 | 14 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1926 | R. L. Gardner v. C. H. Quinn et al. | Hamilton | Obstructing a Public Road/Road/Right of Way |
Opinion only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 94 | 5 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1892 | Robert Kittrell v. State | Rhea | Obstructing a Public Road/Road/Right of Way |
The plaintiff was charged with building a fence across a public road. |
East | Range: 19 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 1729 | 41 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1894 | R. L. Fly, Road Commissioner v. W. H. Burkett | Williamson | Obstructing a Public Road/Road/Right of Way |
Plaintiff as Road Commissioner sued the defendant for obstructing a public road. Defendant argued that the plaintiff did not have the power to bring suit and the original case was dismissed. The nature of the obstruction is unclear. |
Middle | Range: 36 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1031 | 26 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1853 | State v. George R. Dillard | Jackson | Obstructing a Public Road/Road/Right of Way |
Dillard erected a fence that obstructed a public road |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 241 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1875 | State v. Alexander Farrar | Coffee | Obstructing a Public Road/Road/Right of Way |
The road obstructed led from Floyds to the McMinnville and Shelbyville Road. The obstruction consisted of logs and timbers laid across the road. Defendant claimed it was a private not a public road. The defendant used the road for hauling out timber and corn from that portion of his land up the hollow, and claimed he was the owner of the land upon which the road was built. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 25a | 71 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1881 | State v. J. K. P. Trotter | Houston | Obstructing a Public Road/ Road/ Ri | Middle | Range: 20 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 60 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1880 | State v. Joseph R. Dillin et al. | Rutherford | Obstructing a Public Road/ Road/ Ri |
Additional Defendant: Jack Ridley (listed as "colored"). |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 70 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. James L. Hatchett | Franklin | Obstructing a Public Road/ Road/ Ri | Middle | Range: 21 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 158 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1881 | State v. David Barton | Montgomery | Obstructing a Public Road/ Road/ Ri | Middle | Range: 21 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 173 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1880 | S. L. Wilson v. State | Knox | Obstructing a Public Road/Road/Right of Way |
Case incomplete; opinion only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 101 | 2 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1892 | State v. Wallace Moss | Weakley | Obstructing a Public Road/Road/Right of Way | West | Range: 83 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 344 | 20 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1926 | State v. J. D. King | Washington | Obstructing a Public Road/Road/Right of Way | East | Range: 6 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 403 | 34 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1889 | State v. E. Fitzgibbons | Shelby | Obstructing a Public Road/Road/Right of Way |
The defendant is charged with obstructing a road in Shelby Co. by allowing a fence to block the road. |
West | Range: 82 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 469 | 43 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1898 | State v. W. B. Stovall | Obion | Obstructing a Public Road/Road/Right of Way | West | Range: 82 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 721 | 86 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1899 | State v. I. Mandel | Henry | Obstructing a Public Road/Road/Right of Way | West | Range: 81 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 823 | 15 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1836 | State v. William McHenry | Claiborne | Obstructing a Public Road/Road/Right of Way |
Construction of a fish dam interfering with navigation of Powells River. |
East | Range: 9 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1100 | 11 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1854 | State v. William McDaniel | Hamilton | Obstructing a Public Road/Road/Right of Way |
Defendant cut a mill race across the Chattanooga-Cleveland road. |
East | Range: 9 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1101 | 24 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1921 | State v. B. H. Crittenden | Weakley | Obstructing a Public Road/Road/Right of Way |
Other defendant: Shelby Crittendon. Crittendon is charged with obstructing a private way leading from the Bible Union and Martin Public road to the home of Walter Chappell by placing posts in said way and stretching wire across the same road -preventing travel by the said Walter Chappell who had a perfect legal right to the uninterrupted and undisturbed use of private road. |
West | Range: 78 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1703 | 70 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1876 | State v. Martha Thomas | Moore | Obstructing a Public Road/ Road/ Ri |
Others mentioned: John M. Hall's, Wiley Bunn, Martha Thomas, Samuel Woodard. Thomas was accused of obstructing a public road with timber, rock, rails and other materials so that people could not pass. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 18a | 16 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1874 | State v. William Sigler | Shelby | Obstructing a Public Road/ Road/ Ri |
William Sigler cut down trees and put them into a stream to block navigation into the community of Big Creek. The surname Sigler is also spelled Seigler. Indicted for obstructing a navigable stream. |
West | Range: 84 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 39 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1920 | State v. John S. Bennett | Moore | Obstructing a Public Road/ Road/ Ri | Middle | Range: 21 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 127 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1880 | State v. Louis Trout et al. | Haywood | Obstructing a Public Road/Road/Right of Way |
Additional Defendants: Abe Newhouse & George Vaughan. Defendants indicted for placing a truck car on railroad tracks. Train belonging to the Louisville & Nashville R. R. seriously damaged when it struck the car. Possibly an act of retaliation for insults suffered by Charley Trout of VA while traveling on the train. |
West | Range: 84 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 161 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1849 | State v. Charles Anderson | Jackson | Obstructing a Public Road/Road/Right of Way | Middle | Range: 33 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 382 | 8 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1885 | State v. Chesapeake, Ohio,& Southwestern Railroad Company | Dyer | Obstructing a Public Road/Road/Right of Way | West | Range: 83 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 279 | 12 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1884 | State v. A. Fields | Obion | Obstructing a Public Road/Road/Right of Way | West | Range: 83 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 284 | 14 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1853 | State v. Red River Turnpike Company | Sumner | Obstructing a Public Road/Road/Right of Way | Middle | Range: 33 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 421 | 15 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. James Cooper | Claiborne | Obstructing a Public Road/Road/Right of Way |
Title page only |
East | Range: 18 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 1994 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1889 | State v. Sam F. Status | Weakley | Obstructing a Public Road/Road/Right of Way | West | Range: 83 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 325 | 63 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1887 | State v. Thomas Daulton, W. H. Hatley, & Bill Shearley | Benton | Obstructing a Public Road/Road/Right of Way | West | Range: 83 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 430 | 10 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1883 | State v. N. S. Ward and E. A. Ward, alias Brown Ward | Lincoln | Obstructing a Public Road/Road/Right of Way |
The State charged the Wards with obstructing a public highway leading from Ridge Road to Tucker's Creek Road by putting rails across the road. Exhibit is a small hand-drawn map of the area of road that was obstructed and the surrounding properties. |
Middle | Range: 37 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1145 | 65 | Order A Copy |