Tennessee Supreme Court Cases

Use quotes for an exact search. ex. "J. W."

View Entry Year Case Name County Cause/Crime Case Description Division Location # Pages Order
View Entry 1934 State v. Claudie Fitzgerald Carroll Murder, 1st degree

Fitzgerald was accused of the felonious and willful first degree shooting murder of Dorsey McMillan on Sept. 24, 1933. Fitzgerald appealed his initial conviction of 2nd Degree Murder. McMillan is variously spelled McMillian, McMilland, etc. Fitzgerald and McMillan got into a fight during a craps game, Fitzgerald came back with a shot gun and killed McMillan.

 West Range: 76 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 2162 201 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 1898 State v. Tom Scates & Spencer Bridges Carroll Murder

Cover and first page are missing. The victim, Warren Parsons, a Marshall, was shot in the chest on Friday night (Christmas Eve) 1897 and died the following Monday morning.

 West Range: 82 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 668 61 Order A Copy
View Entry 1899 State v. Wallace McCracken Carroll Murder

McCracken originally found guilty of first degree murder in the shooting death of Ben S. Young, a whiskey dealer, on 22 Oct. 1892. Young lived about 3 weeks, died 19 Nov. 1892. McCracken argued that he fired in self defense. McCracken & Young had been arguing over rent. McCracken said rent payment was responsibility of Millard Crowe, who rented the shop from Young. (McCracken worked in the shop & had a room there.) Shop located above Young's saloon. Note: Mrs. Nannie Collier widow of Young.

 West Range: 82 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 692 114 Order A Copy
View Entry 1921 State v. R. E. Ware Carroll Murder

3 folders. Ware is charged with the murder of Ben Birdwell. "The homicide is shown to have been an unlawful one, committed by the defendant while under the influence of liquor, and as the direct result of hatred and animosity engendered by actions and conduct of the deceased during the afternoon growing out of a crap game." Ware and Birdwell were arguing over who won $200 in a crap game. Ware shot and killed Birdwell in an attempt to take the money.

 West Range: 78 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1652 673 Order A Copy
View Entry 1920 State v. Lige Crews Carroll Murder

Murder in the first degree. Lige Crews was indicted for unlawfully, willfully,maliciously, deliberately shooting and killing Lewis Sowers.

 West Range: 78 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1696 15 Order A Copy
View Entry 1927 State v. Leslie Rich & Forest Rich Carroll Murder

victim: Will McKinney; homicide by "gang" fight between 7 men who were in a car and were going to a barbecue; L. Rich hit McKinney in the head with a pan. F. Rich aiding and abetting

 West Range: 77 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1925 181 Order A Copy
View Entry 1923 State v. Mannie Cash & Charlie Carter Carroll Murder, 1st degree

Charged with 1st degree murder. Victim was John Arnold. Mannie Cash is accused of hiring Charlie Carter for the purpose of murdering Arnold. Housed in 2 folders.

 West Range: 78 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1761 563 Order A Copy
View Entry 1883 State v. John A. Johnson& S. W. Johnson et al Carroll Murder

Additional Defendants: James A. Johnson, and J. E. Steel Victim: Jude Owen

 West Range: 83 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 234 202 Order A Copy
View Entry 1874 State v. Duncan Carroll Murder

Additional parties: Ed Smith. See additional part of case in WT 77.

 West Range: 84 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 40 108 Order A Copy
View Entry 1884 State v. Charley Phillips Carroll Murder

Phillips is charged with attacking Frank Prince with a knife and killing him.-

 West Range: 83 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 265 68 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 1890 State v. James Looney Carroll Murder West Range: 83 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 334 115 Order A Copy
View Entry 1890 State v. James Looney Carroll Murder

Victim: Will Cannon

 West Range: 82 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 552 232 Order A Copy
View Entry 1904 State v. Bob King & M. L. "Dude" Chambers Carroll Murder

According to witness testimony, Bob King fired the shots that killed Jim Allen. The defendants are tried separately. Many pages are 50% or more illegible because of large areas of mold. Exhibits include two hand drawn maps of murder scene.

 West Range: 82 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 716 164 Order A Copy
View Entry 1900 State v. Tom McCracken Carroll Murder

Defendant indicted for 1st degree murder in the death of Edward Dunn on 6 Feb. 1899. Found guilty of 2nd degree murder & sentenced to 15 years in the penitentiary.

 West Range: 81 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 823 102 Order A Copy
View Entry 1907 State v. Archie Oglesby Carroll Murder

Oglesby was charged with second degree murder in the death of his first cousin Albert Tharpe, on 30 Jan. 1906. Defendant, victim & witnesses all African American school children: Oglesby 13, Tharpe, 11. Witnesses: Isola Smith & Beatris Tharpe, both 9 Dersie Sneed, 12 & others. Fight began when Oglesby insulted Tharpe's sister; Ogleby struck Tharpe with a stick. Defendant argued that he acted in self defense as Tharpe also had a stick & was about to strike him.

 West Range: 81 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 939 38 Order A Copy
View Entry 1908 State v. Sam Woods Carroll Murder

Victim: Ernest Ellis

 West Range: 80 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1161 83 Order A Copy
View Entry 1935 State v. Charlie Reynolds Carroll Murder

Reynolds was accused of killing Eddie D. James in the first degree. James and Reynolds had been bickering throughout the morning of the shooting. After some simple assault on both parties, Reynolds and James both ended up with shotguns, and James was shot and killed.

 West Range: 76 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 2208 148 Order A Copy
View Entry 1913 State v. Jesse Moseley Carroll Murder

The victim's name was Robert Hurt. The defendant's last name is sometimes spelled "Mosely."

 West Range: 80 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 1303 94 Order A Copy
View Entry 1914 State v. Donnie Tubbs & Bill Chandler Carroll Murder

Murder of Elbert Parish. J. A. Darnal testified that Elbert Parish was shot at his house and that Donnie Tubbs said that he shot him. Darnal stated that he was on his front porch when Parish was shot and did not actually see the murder.

 West Range: 79 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1406 351 Order A Copy
View Entry 1917 State v. T. Foster Carroll Murder

There was an argument at a picnic in McLemoresville. Juel Bell was "afflicted on his right side." He had his hand in his pocket, around a closed knife. T. Foster shot Bell in the back and killed him. The dispute is self-defense, def. state Bell had knife The Memorandum for the State states that the witnesses for the victim were impartial, while Bunk Foster is not reliable. Bunk Foster was acquitted, T. Foster was convicted. Addt'l def.: Bunk Foster. Victim's name is Juel Bell also listed as Jewell Bell.

 West Range: 79 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1457 73 Order A Copy
View Entry 1923 State v. Bud Greer (col.) alias W. E. Greer (col.) Carroll Murder

Charged with first degree murder for shooting to death Israel Browning in July 1921. He was later convicted of involuntary manslaughter and pardoned by Gov. Alfred Taylor on Jan. 13, 1923 before the case was appealed. Exhibit includes a Pardon for Bud Greer signed by Gov. Taylor. Pardon states that he is a "man of exceptionally good character, industrious and well thought of." Transcript not included. Only includes Supreme Court briefs, no original case file.

 West Range: 78 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1713 23 Order A Copy
View Entry 1919 State v. Dave Wilder Carroll Murder, 1st degree

Victim was Bettie Green. Murder occurred in July of 1913. Housed in 2 folders.

 West Range: 78 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1784 319 Order A Copy
View Entry 1925 State v. Lessli Rich & Forest Rich Carroll Murder, 2nd degree

Lessli is also spelled Leslie and Lesslie. Cousins, Leslie and Forest, were accused of the second degree murder of Will McKinney. After a verbal altercation, Leslie and Forest attacked McKinney, one of them striking him on the temple with a wooden board. Housed in 2 folders.

 West Range: 78 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 1852 265 Order A Copy