Mattie Woods v. Randal Bivins

Plaintiff brought suit against defendant for libel, for writing and publishing a series of scandalous letters to her referring to a possible tryst. Plaintiff claimed said letters caused immense social harm to her, and sought $10,000 damages. Civil court found for plaintiff and assessed damages at $2,000. Plaintiff was a 24 yr. old school teacher living in Noah TN in 1886; she had met defendant at his store in the same community.