1877 Criminal Court Minutes
Compiled in August 1993 and submitted by Jacquelyn Cox Otts
Note: The Criminal Court Minutes, 1877-84 are included in the same book as the County Court
Minutes 1838-50. The information entered in the book is limited. Below is information on some
of the cases recorded.
JULY 2, 1877
Honorable T. J. Smitherman, Presiding
The State vs Steve Shettlesworth - p. 217
State represented by R. McIlraine, Esquire. Defendant found guilty of assault and battery with
a weapon and sentenced to 4 months hard labor for the county and additional at $0.40 per day until
all the costs are paid.
The State vs Jim James - p. 217
J. L. Peters, Esquire, appointed by the court to prosecute for the State. Defendant found guilty
and assessed a fine of $1.00 and court costs. R. McIlvain acted as security for Jim James.
AUGUST 6, 1877
Honorable T. J. Smitherman, Presiding
Monday morning August 6th 1877. The Court met in its usual form at 10 oclock A M and it being
made known to the Court that it is the day for holding the August Election in Bibb County Alabama
it is ordered by the Court that all causes be continued untill tomorrow morning August 7th 1877
at __ o clock.
The State vs Steve Shettlesworth - p. 219
J. N. Suttle, prosecutor for the State. J. L. Peters, attorney for defendant. Judgment rendered
at the last term was set aside. Case to be heard before a jury on August 7, 1877.
The State vs Taylor Collier - p. 219
J. L. Peters, attorney for defendant, asked for trial by jury. Case to be heard before a jury
on August 7, 1877.
The State vs Taylor Collier - p. 220
J. N. Suttle, prosecutor for the State. Defendant entered a plea of guilty. Fined $5.00 and costs.
M. T. McSpadden and D. B. Snead acted as sureties for Taylor Collier.
AUGUST 7, 1877
Summoned for jury duty: J. N. C. Brown, W. W. C. Cleveland, A. J. Kersh, O. J. Frost, D. L.
Cruise, J. C. Lee, D. B. Snead, R. J. Rotenberry, D. W. C. Cleveland, M. J. A. Keith, John Reeves,
James Arnold. A. J. Kersh was excused.- p. 220-221
The State vs Crockett Wood - p. 221
J. N. Suttle, prosecutor for the State. Defendant entered a plea of guilty. Fined $1.00 and costs.
The State vs Steve Shettlesworth - p. 221-222
J. N. Suttle, prosecutor for the State. Defendant entered a plea of not guilty. Jury: W. W. C.
Cleveland and 11 others. Defendant found guilty. Sentenced to 3 months hard labor for the county
and additional at $0.20 a day until the court costs were paid.
The State vs Oliver Parker - p. 222
J. N. Suttle, prosecutor for the State. Defendant entered a plea of not guilty. Defendant found
guilty and fined $10 and court costs. J. D. Cooper acted as surety for Oliver Parker.
The State vs Andrew Garner - p. 222
J. N. Suttle, prosecutor for the State. Defendant entered a plea of guilty. Finded $1.00 and court
costs. Sureties: S. W. Davidson, Jake Garner, Levi Davidson, Andrew Davidson.
The State vs Green Davidson, Jr. - p. 223
J. N. Suttle, prosecutor for the State. Defendant entered a plea of guilty. Finded $1.00 and court
costs. Sureties were S. W. Davidson, Levi Davison, Jake Garner, Andrew Davidson, Antoney Garner.
The State vs Robert Tolar - p. 223
J. N. Suttle, prosecutor for the State. Defendant entered a plea of guilty. Finded $0.01 and court
costs. Sureties: S. W. Davidson, Andrew Cleveland.
The State vs Zilpha Kornegay - p. 224
Prosecutor S. P. Kornegay failed to appear and prosecute this cause. Case dismissed and S. P.
Kornegay to pay court costs.
SEPTEMBER 3, 1877
Honorable T. J. Smitherman, Presiding
The State vs Solomon Suttle - p. 225
J. N. Suttle, prosecutor for the State. Solomon Suttle entered a plea of not guilty to the charge
of adultery. After hearing the evidence, the court found him not guilty.
The State vs William Fowler - p. 225
J. N. Suttle, prosecutor for the State. Defendant entered a plea of not guilty. Defendant was found
guilty by the court and fined $1.00 and court costs. Surety: John L. Lightsey.
OCTOBER 1, 1877
Honorable T. J. Smitherman, Presiding
Oliver Parker vs William Parker - p. 227
Defendant entered a plea of not guilty. After hearing evidence, the court found the defendant not
guilty and ruled that he should recover his costs from the plaintiff.
NOVEMBER 5, 1877
Honorable Thomas J. Smitherman, Presiding
The State vs Jim Cates - Obtaining Money Under False Pretenses - p. 229
J. L. Peters, prosecutor for the State. Defendant entered a plea of not guilty. After hearing
evidence, the court found defendant not guilty.
The State vs M. D. McDonnell/McDonald - Assault and Battery With a Weapon - p. 229-230
S. D. Logan, prosecutor for the State. Defendant entered a plea of not guilty. Jury to be summoned.
Defendant's attorney then stated that the defendant's name was not M. D. McDonald as charged in
the affidavit.
The State vs Jeff Sutton - Petit Larceny - p. 230
S. D. Logan, Esquire, acted as prosecutor for the State. Defendant entered a plea of not guilty.
Court ruled that the State had failed to prove that the property alleged to have been stolen was
of any value and the defendant was released.
DECEMBER 3, 1877
Honorable Thomas J. Smitherman, Presiding.
The State vs Jim Cates - Larceny - p. 231
S. D. Logan, Esquire, was appointed by the court to prosecute on behalf of the State. J. L.
Peters, Esquire, attorney for defendant. Defendant entered a plea of not guilty. Found guilty
and sentenced to hard labor for the county for 30 days and additional days until court costs
paid.
The State vs Walker D. Wilson - Assault and Battery - p. 231
Prosecutor E. Meyer failed to appear. Case was dismissed and Meyer to pay court costs.
