Tennessee Research Search

Ex: case selections from The Southeastern Reporter; Charles Cassotti being illegally restrained of his liberty by defendant; committed to workhouse for 30 days

Incomplete case file. Bill of Exceptions only. Plaintiff's is sued the defendants to get her children back. Her sons James Allen, age 15 is bound to William Owsley, William Aluis, age 11 is bound to Isaac Pike, and George Washington, age 13 is bound to John Sharp.

Cause of Action: petition for habeas corpus, defendant is an alleged fugitive from justice found in TN who allegedly committed the crime of larceny in GA.

Add. Plaintiffs: Clarence Porter, Merch Walden. Add. Defendants: Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary, Thomas P. Gore.

Aliases for Zela E. Wills include Zela E. Rinehart and Zela E. Spellings.

Plaintiffs claim that they are being held illegally, that they have been charged with no crime. The names of the plaintiffs are different throughout the case record, where they are referred to as J. E. Faltsy (Faltys, Faultsy) and George M. Gilliam. They are managers of a traveling vaudeville show and insist they were arrested under false pretenses and should be released immediately.

Defendant was fined $50 on a charge of carrying a concealed weapon, from which judgment he sought an appeal. Defendant failed to pay the fine.

Plaintiff was convicted of carrying a pistol and fined $50 and court costs. Unable to pay the fine, the Plaintiff was sentenced to the County Workhouse to pay off the debt. The Plaintiff then received a pardon from Tennessee Governor Robert L. Taylor; however, the state contends that the pardon only remitted the $50 fine and not the court costs. Therefore the state continued to hold the Plaintiff in custody.

Writ of habeas corpus alleging that Holland is illegally restrained.

Martha Talbot, free woman of color, was bound in Jefferson County as indentured servant to Willison Talbot, after which he sent her to his widowed daughter Mary Lea in Grainger County, who treated her poorly. Before age 21, Martha married negro man, slave of Jeremiah Jarnagan, by whom she had children Nelson, John, Jane, Lititia, Ann, Martha & infant, also used by Lea as slaves. Jane & Lititia bound to Lea without Martha's consent. White helped Martha get the girls back, all of which led to this lawsuit.

E.G. Murrell is Superintendent of the county workhouse. Oliver Helms was sentenced to 90 days in the workhouse for public drunkenness. He states that he was sentenced by a city judge who does not have the right to send him to the county workhouse.

Incomplete case file. Langston is charging that he was illegally restrained of his liberty at the police department of the City of Chattanooga. Police claim that he was a fugitive from justice from Georgia.

The plaintiff and his now deceased wife had a child that is being illegally detained by the defendant. Plaintiff represented to the court that he is the child's natural guardian and the child should be delivered to him.

Plaintiff alleges he was arrested in Georgia by a Tennessee deputy on a Georgia warrant, transported across state lines into Tennessee, and thus held illegally.

Original charge: escaped quarantine after being confined there by the Chattanooga-Hamilton Co. Health Dept. due to a venereal disease. Exhibits include medical regulations book.

Exhibits: warrants, certificates, bonds, typed statements, copy of official ballot,

Plaintiff Lester sued as next friend of Claude Campbell.

Additional Defendant: A. N. Munsey, Sheriff.

Additional Defendant: L. B. Hutchinson, Sheriff, Union County; Joseph W. Wolfenbarger, Attorney General.

The plaintiff claimed he was illegally held in the Silverdale Workhouse from a false assault and battery charge (the supposed victim was Dollie Martin). The defendant was superintendent of the workhouse.

William Jackson was arrested by R.W. Rogers for reckless driving, was placed in jail and told to sign on a line-not knowing nor intending to plead guilty to the offense. Jackson charged that he was not guilty and sought habeas corpus-to be released from illegal imprisonment, prevented from being transported to a workhouse to serve out the fines and costs, and allowed to make bond.