Title: Donald Paine Collection of State of Tennessee v. Fulton

Date/Date Range :   1850-2003 (bulk 1903-2003)

Extent: 1.5 linear feet

Abstract:

This collection contains lectures, handouts, notes, photocopies of court documents, maps, newspaper clippings, and photographs collected by Donald Paine that document State of Tennessee v. Fulton, a case related to the murder of former UT student Sam Parker on July 5, 1906.

Call number: MS-2732

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

Aquisition Information:

Donald Paine donated this collection to the 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], Donald Paine Collection of State of Tennessee v. Fulton, MS-2732. The Special Collections Library of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Collection consists of two series:

1. Series I: Lecture Materials, 2002-2003
2. Series II: State of Tennessee v. Fulton, 1850-2003

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.

This collection contains lectures, handouts, notes, photocopies of court documents, maps, newspaper clippings, and photographs documenting the case of State of Tennessee v. Fulton. Series I: Lecture Materials, 2002-2003, contains material related to a lecture entitled "Sex, Murder, and U.T. Football" that Donald Paine wrote and presented to several legal organizations in East Tennessee. It provides an overview of the case mounted against James Fulton for murdering Sam Parker and the subsequent case against J.E. Bell for murdering James Fulton. Series II: State of Tennessee v. Fulton, 1850-2003, consists primarily of photocopies of original court documents and newspaper clippings documenting the case. Of particular note are the two binders, which contain a complete transcript of the case. Other items include research regarding Sam Parker's life, including material related to his time at the University of Tennessee, notes, photographs, and reference books. This series also includes several items documenting the later case of State of Tennessee v. J.E. Bell.

Interested researchers may also wish to consult MS-0830: The Sam Y. Parker Collection, 1796-1929.

• Paine, Donald.
• Parker, Samuel Epps Young, 1880-1906.
• Fulton, James E.
• Bell, J.E.
• Trials (Murder) -- Tennessee.