This Supreme Court case involved a dispute between the Central Railroad Company of New Jersey and the executors of a deceased man, Mills. The Central Railroad Company of New Jersey had issued bonds to Mills, which were secured by a mortgage on certain property. After Mills' death, the executors of his estate sought to redeem the bonds, but the railroad company refused to accept the payment. The executors then brought a suit against the railroad company in the Circuit Court of the United States for the District of New Jersey. The Circuit Court ruled in favor of the executors, and the railroad company appealed to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the Circuit Court, ruling that the executors had the right to redeem the bonds. The Court held that the railroad company was obligated to accept the payment, as the bonds were secured by a mortgage on the property. The Court also held that the executors had the right to redeem the bonds, as they were the legal representatives of the deceased. The Court concluded that the railroad company was obligated to accept the payment from the executors, and that the executors had the right to redeem the bonds.

In The Central Railroad Company of New Jersey v. Mills & Another, Executors, the Supreme Court was asked to decide whether a railroad company could be held liable for damages caused by its negligence in failing to provide safe passage for passengers on one of its trains. The majority opinion found that the railroad company was not liable because it had taken reasonable steps to ensure safety and there were no special circumstances which would have made them aware of any danger posed by their train's operation. However, Justice Field dissented from this decision and argued that the railroad should be held responsible since they had failed to exercise due care when operating their train and thus created an unreasonable risk of harm or injury for those using it as a means of transportation. He further noted that if such companies are allowed to escape liability without being required to take proper precautions then public safety will suffer greatly as a result.