Tennessee Supreme Court Cases

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View Entry Year Case Name County Cause/Crime Case Description Division Location # Pages Order
View Entry 1933 N. T. Roupe, Mrs. E. B. Wexler Roupe v. State Washington Adultery, Open and Notorious

Thad Roupe abandoned his wife, Mrs. Bonnie Roupe and her children Howard Wayne, aged 1, and Floyd Roupe, aged 8, after he began a sexual relationship with a Mrs. Wexler, Bonnie's first cousin. Roupe attempted to keep both women in the same home and bed, but Mrs. Roupe objected. He filed divorce papers in Arkansas (on charges of "general indignities: nagging") without notifying Mrs. Roupe & left the state. Newly married Roupes appealing the guilty verdict of adultery.

 East Range: 10 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 1492 154 Order A Copy
View Entry 1849 State v. James Peak, et al. Overton Adultery, Open and Notorious

Other defendants: Susanah Greenwood.

 Middle Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 229 18 Order A Copy
View Entry 1874 State v. James M. Slagle Putnam Adultery, Open and Notorious

Slagle & Nancy Slagle was accused of "unlawfully, publicly, openly and notoriously, live and dwell, cohabitate together in lewd acts of fornication and adultery as they were unmarried to and with each other to corruption of their own and the morals of the community where they lived, to the evil example of others and against the State…"

 Middle Range: 20 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 18a 26 Order A Copy
View Entry 1841 State v. Peter Finley Wayne Adultery, Open and Notorious

Finley was a "free man of colour" and married. Woman was Ruth Powell, a "spinster" (race not listed).

 Middle Range: 33 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 380 7 Order A Copy
View Entry 1949 State v. Clifford Barnes et al. Hawkins Adultery, Open and Notorious

Verdict: Guilty, affirmed on appeal to Supreme Court with recommendation to the Governor. Additional Defendant: Bonnie Davis

 East Range: 6 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 353 22 Order A Copy
View Entry 1879 State v. Eliza Osburn Jackson Adultery, Open and Notorious

Eliza Osburn alias is Eliza Jackson. Additional parties: William Keith.

 Middle Range: 20 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 43 0 Order A Copy
View Entry 1844 State v. Edward Averdeen& Francis A. Free Hamilton Adultery, Open and Notorious

Edward and Francis are accused of publicly and notoriously did cohabit and have illicit sexual intercourse.

 East Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1165 6 Order A Copy
View Entry 1878 State v. Bettie Wiggins Washington Adultery, Open and Notorious

Defendant was accused, along with Abe Richardson, of unlawfully, openly, lewdly, notoriously and publicly cohabitating together as man and wife although they were not legally married.

 East Range: 20 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1639 16 Order A Copy
View Entry 1903 W. A. Collier, et al. v. W. N. Leffel, et al. Shelby Motion to Stop Opening of a Road

Additional plaintiff: Alice T. Collier, wife of W. A. Collier. Additional defendants: Emma J. Leffel, wife of W. N. Leffel; E. T. Willis and Wife Analo Willis; and D. E. Hanley. Plaintiffs claim the defendants are attempting to open a road through their lands but without their permission. They claim road access was known to the defendants when the land was purchased and the road has been illegally constructed.

 West Range: 81 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 864 401 Order A Copy
View Entry 1843 Winnefrid Richmond v. Braddock Richmond Davidson Adultery, Open and Notorious

Defendant having an affair with a slave named Polly.

 Middle Range: 21 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 176 0 Order A Copy