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Finding Aid for the Sam Y. Parker Collection, 1796-1929


MS-0830

University of Tennessee Special Collections Library, Knoxville, TN


Encoded by: Elizabeth Dunham, August 10, 2007.

Summary Information
Title: Sam Y. Parker Collection

Date/Date Range :   1796-1929

Extent: 1.5 linear feet

Abstract:
This collection houses materials documenting the murder of University of Tennessee graduate Sam Y. Parker by Judge Fulton of Helenwood, Tennessee in 1906.

Call number: MS-0830

Repository: University of Tennessee Special Collections Library, Knoxville, TN

Access and Use
Aquisition Information:
This collection is property of the University of Tennessee Special Collections Library.
Access Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Copyright:
The copyright interests in this collection remain with the creator. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library.
Preferred Citation:
[Identification of Item], Sam Y. Parker Collection, MS-0830. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Special Collections Library.

Arrangement

Collection consists of one box divided into seven series:

  1. Series I: Correspondence
  2. Series II: Civil War Diary
  3. Series III: Newman and Parker Genealogy
  4. Series IV: Newspaper Clippings
  5. Series V: Photographs
  6. Series VI: Books
  7. Series VII: Miscellaneous

Biography / History

Samuel Epps Young Parker was born on May 12, 1880. He attended the University of Tennessee from 1903 to 1905, during which time he played on both football and baseball teams and was apparently quite well known. On July 5, 1906, lawyer James E. Fulton shot Parker as he was stepping off a train in Helenwood, Tennessee. Parker died the following morning, and Fulton was charged with his murder. At his trial, Fulton insisted that his wife, Laura Neil Fulton, had been conducting an extramarital affair with Parker. As a result, when Fulton saw Parker at the train station, he was so enraged that he shot Parker without being conscious of his actions. Fulton's first trial ended with a hung jury, but he was found guilty at his second trial and sentenced to 10 years in prison. Governor Malcolm R. Patterson pardoned him after only 10 months, and Fulton returned to his legal work.

In June of 1917, the editor of the Scott County Times, J.E. Bell, printed an editorial that Fulton felt reflected poorly on him. Fulton apparently stalked Bell for several weeks thereafter, which prompted Bell to procure a firearm to defend himself. Somewhat predictably, when Fulton appeared in Bell's office on July 1, 1917, Bell shot and killed him. Bell was convicted of involuntary manslaughter but subsequently pardoned by Governor Thomas Rye.


Collection Scope and Content Note

This collection houses materials documenting the murder of University of Tennessee graduate Sam Y. Parker by Judge James E. Fulton of Helenwood, Tennessee in 1906. The collection's newspaper clippings and correspondence between the trial lawyers document the entire saga in detail. Other material includes research into the history of the Newman and Parker families, a Civil War diary, photographs, a family Bible, mementos, and personal items.

Interested researchers may also wish to consult UTK-MS-2732: Donald Paine Collection of State of Tennessee v. Fulton, 1850-2003 (bulk 1903-2003).

Subject Terms

  • Parker, Samuel Epps Young, 1880-1906.
  • Fulton, James E.
  • Tennessee -- History.
  • Trials (Murder) -- Tennessee.
Contents List
   

Series I: Correspondence, 1900-1906
Folder   1     Item   1    
To Burdette Parker from J. C. Parker, 1900 February 2
Folder   1     Item   2    
To Burdette Parker from J. C. Parker, 1900 February 21
Folder   1     Item   3    
To a Parker sister from Corpl. Sam E. Parker, 1900 August 2
Folder   1     Item   4    
To a parker sister from Corpl. Sam E. Parker, 1900 November 4
Folder   1     Item   5    
To sister Belle from Corpl. Sam E. Parker, 1900 November 18
Folder   1     Item   6    
To sister Ida from Corpl. Sam E Parker, 1901 January 28
Folder   1     Item   7    
To Mrs. Belle Newman from J. C. Parker, 1905. October 18
Folder   1     Item   8    
To Byron from J. C. Parker, 1906 January 20
Folder   1     Item   9    
To W.H. Buttram and H. Clay James from Chas. D. McGuffey, 1906 July 26
Folder   1     Item   10    
To W.H. Buttram and H. Clay James from Jerome Templeton, 1906 July 26
Folder   1     Item   11    
To W.H. Buttram and H. Clay James from Lewis Shepard, 1906 July 26
Folder   1     Item   12    
To W H. Buttram and H. Clay James from Henry R. Gibson, 1906 July 27
Folder   1     Item   13    
To W.H. Buttram and H. Clay James from Sam E. Young, 1906 July 27
Folder   1     Item   14    
To W.H. Buttram and H. Clay James from E. H. Powers, 1906 August 2
   

Series II: Civil War Diary, 1864 February 5-1865 May 2
Folder   2     Item   1    
Grand Dad Parker's Civil War Diary (Possibly Joel Parker), 1864 February 5-1865 May 2
   

Series III: Newman and Parker Genealogy, circa 1700-1924
Folder   3     Item   1    
Newman Family, 1805-1924
Folder   3     Item   2    
Parker Family, circa 1700-1924
   

Series IV: Newspaper Clippings, 1900-1906
   

Sub-Series A: Dated Newspapers, 1900-1906
Folder   4     Item   1    
Unidentified paper, Burdette Parker died before his brother arrived , 1900 August 7
Folder   4     Item   2    
Unidentified paper, Tribute to Sam Parker, 1906 July
Folder   4     Item   3    
Unidentified paper, Last Tribute , 1906 July 20
   

Sub-Series B: Undated Newspapers
Folder   4     Item   1    
Helenwood, April 16, unidentified paper, Powder Blast Wrecks Town; Seven Injured

Folder   4     Item   2    
Harriman, July 6, unidentified paper, Gossip May Have Led To Terrible Tragedy

Folder   4     Item   3    
Helenwood, July 6, unidentified paper, Sam Parker Dies of Wounds Inflicted by Judge Fulton (3 copies)
Folder   4     Item   4    
Knoxville, July 8, unidentified paper, The Slayer of Sam Parker Pleads Insanity

Folder   4     Item   5    
July 8, unidentified paper, Tribute to the Late S. Y. Parker, of Helenwood, TN

Folder   4     Item   6    
Huntsville, July 9, unidentified paper, Fulton In Jail: Bond Is Denied (3 copies)
Folder   4     Item   7    
Harriman, July 11, unidentified paper, Parker's Father's Grief

Folder   4     Item   8    
Helenwood, July 26, unidentified paper, Judge Parker's Funeral

Folder   4     Item   9    
October 30, unidentified paper, A Prayer To Justice

Folder   4     Item   10    
Two copies of clip on Sam Parker's character.
Folder   4     Item   11    
Parker Won The Best Player Medal for UT Football

Folder   4     Item   12    
Funeral of Sam Parker

Folder   4     Item   13    
Sam Parker Shot

Folder   4     Item   14    
Fulton Reported As Mentally Unbalanced

   

Series V: Photographs, 1870-1914
Box   5     Folder   1    
Framed photo of Tennessee State Convention of 1870, James C. Parker delegate from Scott County, 1870
Box   5     Folder   2    
Baker-Himmel School Football Team, Sam Parker manager, 1902
Box   5     Folder   3    
Baseball Team, Sam Parker designated in the picture, 1903
Box   5     Folder   4    
UT Football Team, Sam Parker was a player (All players named on the back), 1904
Box   5     Folder   5    
Sam Parker, 1906
Box   5     Folder   6    
Postcard photo of the UT Volunteers, 1914
Box   5     Folder   7    
Photo of Tennessee baseball team, undated
Box   5     Folder   8    
Unidentified photo, possibly Sam's father, J. C. Parker, undated
Box   5     Folder   9    
Photo of Tennessee Medical College, Jefferson Canwood Newman designated, 1892
   

Series VI: Books, 1796-1865
Box   6     Folder   1    
Bible of John Parker (with family records), 1796
Box   6     Folder   2    
Gospel of St. John translated out of the original Greek and with the former translations diligently compared and revised, New York, American Bible Society, 1865
   

Series VII: Miscellaneous, 1873-1929
Folder   7     Item   1    
Piece of the Spanish Flag captured during Spanish-American War from Wade Shields (in envelope)
Folder   7     Item   2    
1900 Republican National Convention employees ticket
Folder   7     Item   3    
Document stating--Admitted to the Bar, May 26, 1873, D. K Young Judge
Folder   7     Item   4    
Slip stating--Grandfather Joel Parker & Brother Burdette Parker both died before Sam Parker returned from Philippines
Folder   7     Item   5    
Page from Chapter Correspondence, page 273, of Kappa Tau--Tennessee, mentions Sam Y. Parker
Folder   7     Item   6    
Page from The Phi Gamma Delta, page 206, mentions Sam Y. Parker
Folder   7     Item   7    
Two copies of "Bonny Kate Sevier" by Ida E. Brooks
Folder   7     Item   8    
Biographical sketch of Judge J. C. Parker by Huntsville Bar
Folder   7     Item   9    
Resolutions Passed By The Huntsville Bar
Folder   7     Item   10    
Business card of J. C. Parker
Folder   7     Item   11    
List of men in 30th Kentucky Regiment Infantry
Folder   7     Item   12    
Typed copy of poem by Mattie Johns Utting, Dodgeville, Wisconsin, August 1929
Folder   7     Item   13    
In Memorium of Joel Parker who departed this life on June 26, 1900 near Rugby, Tennessee
Folder   7     Item   14    
Biographical sketch of J. C. Parker