People v. Elders

The State appeals from an order of the Circuit Court of Williamson County granting defendant Marion Elders’ motion to suppress two firearms seized by county sheriff’s deputies. The issue on appeal is whether the trial court’s findings of fact and conclusions of law were manifestly erroneous.

The relevant facts may be briefly stated. On the evening of February 11, 1977, Maudine Elders, wife of the defendant, went to the Williamson County Sheriff’s office where she spoke with Deputy Sheriff Dan McCluskey. She informed McCluskey that the defendant had arrived home that evening drunk, struck her…