This Supreme Court case involves Charles Bispahm, the appellant, and Eli K. Price, executor of Joseph Archer who had passed away. The dispute was over a promissory note that was issued by Archer to Bispahm for $2,000 in 1847 with interest at 6%. After Archer's death in 1850 his estate refused to pay the debt on the grounds that it had been paid off before his passing. However, Bispahm argued that he never received payment and thus sought relief from the court. Ultimately it was decided by the Supreme Court that since there were no witnesses or other evidence presented to prove either party’s claim then neither could be granted relief as they both failed to meet their burden of proof under common law principles.

In Charles Bisham v. Eli K. Price, the Supreme Court was tasked with determining whether a contract between two parties for the sale of goods could be enforced when one party had died before payment was made and his estate refused to honor it. The majority opinion held that since there was no consideration given by either side at the time of signing, the contract could not be enforced against an executor or administrator of a deceased person's estate because they are not personally liable for debts incurred prior to their appointment as such. However, Justice Grier dissented from this decision on grounds that contracts should still be enforceable even if one party has passed away in order to protect innocent third-party creditors who may have relied upon them in good faith and without knowledge of any potential issues regarding enforcement due to death or other circumstances beyond their control. He argued that allowing executors and administrators immunity from liability would create an unjust situation where creditors were left unprotected while debtors were allowed off scot-free simply because they had died before fulfilling their obligations under a validly executed agreement.