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
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 | 1893 | Arthur Gillispie V. State | Monroe | Arson |
Arson of a barn. According to testimony in the case, Gillispie was "reported to be 12 or 13 years old" at the time of the incident. |
East | Range: 18 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 1984 | 66 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1940 | Aaron Birchfield v. State | Monroe | Liquor Violation | East | Range: 5 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 130 | 40 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1947 | Arthur Haskins v. State | Monroe | Murder | East | Range: 5 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 132 | 216 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1928 | Bronce Raby v. State | Monroe | Other |
Plaintiff is appealing the charge of "V. B. D. L." Case is incomplete; opinion only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 84 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1846 | Bank of Tennessee v. Robert Wear, et al. | Monroe | Debt |
Bank (Athens branch) and Spencer Jarnigan sued William Ainsworth, Thomas Caldwell, Alex Hood, and Robert Wear, admr. of E. H. Wear, for debt. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1127 | 6 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1926 | Corey Bivens v. State | Monroe | Murder |
Order only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 70 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1947 | Charles Dunn v. State | Monroe | Larceny | East | Range: 5 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 130 | 59 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1874 | Charles Brannon v. State | Monroe | Assault and Battery |
Listed on cover sheet as "mayhem." For assaulting & putting out eye of William Henderson. |
East | Range: 20 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1622 | 30 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1906 | Drew Upton & Will Upton v. State | Monroe | Unknown |
Final Decree only. Defendants sentenced to hanging. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 85 | 2 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1933 | Eugene Lennon& T. N. Moore v. State | Monroe | Larceny |
Complainants were convicted of house breaking and larceny for stealing 50,000 cigarettes (Chesterfields, Camels, Wings, and Lucky Strikes) from the wholesale firm of O. K. Jones & Company. The following day, they offered to sell the smokes to Lewis Phillips who owned a store in Chattanooga. Phillips notified the police and helped them recover the stolen cigarettes. Moore was a burglar-alarm salesman who had tried to make a sale to Jones. Frank Smith also arrested. |
East | Range: 10 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1463 | 161 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1933 | Frank Smith v. State | Monroe | Breaking and Entering |
Plaintiff in error, originally tried with Eugene Lenons (Lermon) and T. N. Moore, is accused of breaking into a storehouse containing groceries and assorted goods belonging to O. K. Jones and Company and stealing 3 cases of cigarettes. |
East | Range: 10 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 1526 | 112 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1940 | George Frye alias George Murr v. State | Monroe | Murder | East | Range: 5 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 130 | 56 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1942 | George Nelson v. State | Monroe | Assault | East | Range: 5 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 134 | 10 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1928 | Glenn Taylor v. State | Monroe | Manslaughter |
Plaintiff is appealing the charge of "Voluntary Manslaughter." Case is incomplete; opinion only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 84 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1944 | Homer Stewart v. State | Monroe | Manslaughter |
"Voluntary Manslaughter." Knifing Victim: R. B. Harris |
East | Range: 5 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 149 | 95 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1877 | John C. Payne v. State | Monroe | Robbery | East | Range: 5 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 28 | 12 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1947 | James Allen v. State | Monroe | Murder | East | Range: 5 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 130 | 170 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1944 | Jude R. Johnson v. State | Monroe | Liquor Violation | East | Range: 5 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 130 | 82 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1877 | John P. Green v. State | Monroe | Illegitimate Child/Bastardy |
John P. Green was charged with being the father of an illegitimate child in Monroe County. The mother was listed as Mary Jane Wilson. |
East | Range: 19 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 1663 | 47 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1872 | James Hunt v. State | Monroe | Murder |
William Hunt also listed as a defendant in the bill. The defendants used certain pistols or guns to kill one Caswell Hicks. Additional documents located in ET 1239. |
East | Range: 9 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 1245 | 97 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1880 | Jasper Milsaps v. State | Monroe | Murder |
Milton Williams testified that he and the plaintiff in error were walking with John Keener (who was riding his horse) near Citico Creek when the plaintiff shot and killed Kenner without warning. Motive for the murder is unclear. Much of the testimony focused on whether or not plaintiff was intoxicated at the time of the murder. |
East | Range: 19 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 1667 | 62 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1942 | Luther McDougal & Mary Wilson v. State | Monroe | Murder | East | Range: 5 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 132 | 247 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1938 | L. D. Maxwell& Norman Locher v. State | Monroe | Breaking and Entering | East | Range: 9 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1112 | 125 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1894 | Lige Sewell v. State | Monroe | Manslaughter |
Incomplete case file. File contains a short brief only. Lige Sewell was sentenced to five years for voluntary manslaughter of Charles Plemons, aged 16. Sewell said Plemons threatened him with an axe while they were hauling lumber, & that Sewell shot him in self defense. However, the jury found that Sewell had shot Plemons in the back, alter posing the axe near the body. Murder took place 15 May 1893. Case transcript in ET, Box 2008. State v. Lige Sewell. |
East | Range: 5 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 6 | 95 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1928 | Obie Collins v. State | Monroe | Liquor Violation |
Plaintiff is appealing the charge that he manufactured liquor illegally. Case file is incomplete; opinion only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 80 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1926 | Porter Hawkins v. State | Monroe | Murder |
Order only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 70 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1944 | Robert Miller v. State | Monroe | Murder | East | Range: 5 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 134 | 216 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1946 | Rose McMahan v. State | Monroe | Murder |
"Murder in the First Degree." Axe Victim: Labe Millsaps. |
East | Range: 5 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 147 | 86 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1926 | State v. Claude Evans | Monroe | Manslaughter |
Order only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 70 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1829 | State v. Harrison Ragsdale | Monroe | Murder |
Victim: John L. Hopkins. Also mentions in the indictment are James Rollins, Absalom Strutter, Moses Roberts, and Hiram Murrey. Typed transcript included. |
East | Range: 7 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 692 | 32 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1834 | State v. Robert N. Henderson, et al. | Monroe | Other |
Additional Defendant: John Jackson. Victim: Jacob J. M. Peck. Cause of Action: Riot, breaking and entering with force and arms. |
East | Range: 7 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 696 | 34 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1914 | State v. Charles Martin | Monroe | Manslaughter |
Incomplete file. |
East | Range: 7 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 740 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1880 | State v. Henry Moss | Monroe | Larceny |
Incomplete case file. Original case unknown. Copy of the sentence only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 99 | 6 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1846 | State v. John Hall | Monroe | Assault |
John, William, and James Hall beat and inflicted great damage on Leonard Mosier in 1843. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1127 | 6 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1865 | State v. Francis Mitchell | Monroe | Robbery |
This Sept. 1865 term of court held in the Masonic Hall at Madisonville, the Monroe County Court House having been ' burned or destroyed'. Defendant charged with assaulting J.A. Gad and stealing bacon, a bay horse, goods worth $140. Though defendant pled not guilty, Circuit court found him guilty and handed down a sentence of 5 years hard labor at the TN State Penitentiary. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1141 | 37 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1869 | State v. William Click et al. | Monroe | Murder |
additional defendants: Charles Denton, John Denton and Pink Gentry; each owe $5000 to state |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1130 | 12 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1843 | State v. Wade Swan | Monroe | Murder |
Swan accused of using stick of wood to strike & beat Lemuel J. Moore in the forehead, breaking the bone over his left eye. Moore died at 9 am next morning. That day, Swan & Moore, along with penitentiary convict Joel Blackwell, had been assisting witness William Dye & his brother Newton in rolling logs. At some point they were intoxicated. At 8 pm, Swan left but came back a few minutes later with hand spike & struck Moore 2-3 times in the forehead. Swan said Moore had treated him badly re: a $20 note. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1144 | 12 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1851 | State v. John Esmon | Monroe | Assault with Intent to Maim |
For biting off the ear of Samuel Erwin. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1155 | 17 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1882 | State v. Joseph Queen | Monroe | Larceny |
Incomplete case file. Sentencing only. Escaped from Hatton February 7th 1883. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1155 | 4 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1869 | State v. H. G. Nelson | Monroe | Robbery |
Additional defendants: J.R. Sloan, John Roy, Randolph Carter, Edwin Hall, Isaac Lindsay. Nelson is appealing an earlier decision, stating that he was sick and unable to attend his trial. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1182 | 38 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1867 | State v. Alexander Winder | Monroe | Carrying an Illegal Weapon |
"…unlawfully did carry under his clothes, or concealed about his person a certain large and dangerous Knife commonly called an Arkansas toothpick…" |
East | Range: 9 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 1222 | 17 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1931 | State v. Bill Ward | Monroe | Murder |
Harve Hanley had party at his home in Sweetwater, TN, to benefit sick son & as farewell party for Jim Randolph (on furlough from army). Ralph Nichols, 18, Harve's nephew (who was living w/him), invited Poley Wallace & their friend Bill (Willie) Ward, 19. At party, fight broke out, & Ward killed Nichols (who was brandishing car jack) w/knife. Whiskey was involved. Ward convicted of 2nd degree murder, sentenced to 12 yrs in penitentiary. Witnesses: Harve's daughter Lillie Bell, others. |
East | Range: 10 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1440 | 92 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1931 | State v. Doug Britton | Monroe | Murder |
Britton charged with shooting Perrin Harris and killing him. Jury found Britton guilty of second degree murder and sentenced him to a maximum 15 years in penitentiary. Britton moved for new trial, was overruled, and then appealed. |
East | Range: 10 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1367 | 121 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1893 | State v. James Rinehart | Monroe | Horse Stealing |
Rinehart was on trial for horse stealing. The horse was a stallion that was valued at $350.00. |
Middle | Range: 36 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 951 | 55 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1928 | State v. Boyd Harris | Monroe | Murder |
Plaintiff is appealing the charge of Murder in the 2nd Degree. Case file is incomplete; opinion only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 80 | 1 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1853 | State v. William Nunn | Monroe | Perjury | East | Range: 7 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 638 | 15 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1879 | State v. Daniel Huskell | Monroe | Larceny |
Opinion only, case summary not included. |
East | Range: 7 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 749 | 2 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1874 | State v. Robert Bowers | Monroe | Larceny |
Judgment only. |
East | Range: 7 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 742 | 5 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1860 | State v. Calvin Webb, , & Jasper Webb | Monroe | Debt |
Incomplete case file. The State claims that Calvin Webb, Larkin Webb, and Jasper Webb owe them $500.00 for a bond. |
East | Range: 8 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 788 | 12 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1868 | State v. Phineas Thurston | Monroe | Assault, Felonious |
Victim: Wiley Watson. A question of double jeopardy was addressed. |
East | Range: 8 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 814 | 67 | Order A Copy |