1883 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.
JANUARY 1, 1883
The State vs Emma Brown alias Emma Ward - Assault and Battery - p. 351
"In this cause the prosecution appearing to be malicious and frivolous the defendant is
discharged."
The State vs Emma Brown, Friday Cleveland, Henry Cleveland, Harrison Smelley,
Jacob Smelley - Proceedings for Assault and Battery - p. 351
"Defendant being notified and offering no sufficient excuse for her default, the judgment is
made final against her and her sureties . . ."
FEBRUARY 23, 1883
The State vs Pinkney Ward and Mary Ann Cleveland - Poisoning With Intent to Murder - p.
352
Defendants bound over in a bond of $100 for their appearance at the next term of the Circuit
Court
APRIL 2, 1883
The State vs Carolina Russell - Grand Larceny - p. 353
Cause is dismissed because an indictment was preferred at the last term of the Circuit Court.
The State vs Lafayette Neeley - Carrying Concealed Weapons - p. 353
Defendant to pay a fine of $50 and costs. Fine and costs were paid and defendant was
discharged.
The State vs Lafayette Neeley - Assault and Battery With Weapon - p. 353
Defendant found guilty and was fined $5.00 and costs which were paid.
The State vs Green Suttle - Assault With a Weapon - p. 353
This case dismissed and defendant held to answer a new affidavit.
The State vs Green Suttle - Assault With a Weapon - p. 353-354
Defendant found guilty and fined $10.00 and costs. Sureties: J. C. Suttle and L. W. Conwill.
MAY 7, 1883
Honorable Jno S. Gardner, Presiding
The State vs Oliver Parker - Assault and Battery With a Weapon - p. 355
Thos J. Smitherman, prosecutor for the State. Defendant entered a plea of guilty and was fined
$5.00 and costs. Surety: J. D. Cooper.
The State vs Oliver Parker - Abusive, Insulting, or Obscene Language - p. 355
Case dismissed.
JUNE 4, 1883
The State vs Alexander Davidson - Violating an Act Entitled An Act to Better Secure
Payment of Fines and Costs in Criminal Cases in the Courts of this State - p. 356
T. J. Smitherman, prosecutor for the State. Defendant entered a plea of not guilty. He was found guilty by the Court and fined $137.10, $5.00 to be paid to the County $132.10 to be paid to R. D. Hill, the party who was injured. Fine and costs were not paid. Alexander Davidson was sentenced to perform hard labor for the County for a term of 10 days to pay the amount of said fine going to the County, 38 days to pay said R. D. Hill the sum of $127.10 at the rate of $0.33_ per day, and additional term of 66 1/3 days at the rate of $0.33_ per day until the costs were paid.
The State vs Robert Simpson - Carrying Concealed Weapons - p. 356
Case dismissed by the Court.
The State vs Turner Cleveland - Assault and Battery With a Weapon - p. 356-357
T. J. Smitherman, prosecutor for the State. Defendant appealed for a trial by jury and bond was
set at $200.
The State vs Reubin Rutledge - p. 357
Thos J. Smitherman, prosecutor for the State. Eliza Rutledge, a witness in this case, failed
to appear. Case continued.
JULY 2, 1883
The State vs Reubin Rutledge - Assault and Battery With a Weapon - 358
S. J. Darby, prosecutor for the State. Defendant demanded a trial by jury. The Court fixed his
bond at $100.
The State vs Eliza Rutledge - p. 358
Case dismissed by agreement and defendant to pay costs. Surety: J. P. Harris.
The State vs Charley Cash - Assault and Battery - p. 358
S. J. Darby, prosecutor for the State. Defendant demanded a trial by jury. The Court fixed
his bond at $100.
The State vs Texan Davidson, Mary Hill, Laurah Harris - p. 358
Case continued.
AUGUST 6, 1883
The State vs Charles Yunker - Grand Larceny - p. 359
Case continued.
The State vs Rufus Harris,Texan Davidson, Mary Hill, Laura Harris - Disturbing
Religious Worship - p. 359
Case dismissed.
The State vs Texan Davidson, Mary Hill, Laura Harris - Disturbing Religious Worship - p.
359
Case dismissed.
AUGUST 15 1883
The State vs Chas Yunker - Grand Larceny - p. 360
Case dismissed.
SEPTEMBER 3, 1883
The State vs Chas Hill, Crawford Champion - Grand Larceny - p. 360
Case dismissed.
OCTOBER 27, 1883
The State vs Milton Cottingham - Malicious Mischief - p. 361
Case dismissed.
The State vs Milton Cottingham - Unlawfully or Wantonly Injuring 3 Cows - p. 361
Thos. J. Smitherman, prosecutor for the State. Defendant entered a plea of not guilty. He was
found guilty and ordered to pay a fine of $24.00 and costs, one-half of the fine to be paid to
A. B. McIntosh, the owner of the cows. Sureties: James Cottingham, George Cottingham.
DECEMBER 3, 1883
The State vs Eli Wicks - p. 362
Defendant demanded a trial by jury. His bond was set at $100.
