This case was brought before the US Supreme Court by Mary Lucinda Bosley, Henry Bosley, Mary Jane Davis, Sally Ann Davis, James Bosley and Meldrid Bosley (infants) through their guardian and next friend John Bosley as well as his son John. The defendants were Margaret E. Wyatt who was executrix of Elizabeth. This case revolved around a dispute over land that had been owned by Elizabeth in Virginia which she bequeathed to her heirs upon her death. The plaintiffs argued that they should have inherited this land due to being related to Elizabeth while the defendant argued otherwise claiming it belonged solely to them under the terms of her will. Ultimately after much deliberation on both sides the court ruled in favor of the plaintiff’s claim stating that they did indeed have rightful ownership over said property according to Virginia law at time time thus granting them title deed for same accordingly

In the dissenting opinion of this case, Justice Grier argued that the court should not have heard it in the first place. He believed that since there was no dispute between parties over any facts or law, and instead only a disagreement on how to interpret them, then it should be left up to a jury trial. Furthermore, he felt that even if they did decide to hear it themselves as an appellate court, they still had no jurisdiction because none of the parties were from different states and thus could not invoke diversity jurisdiction. Ultimately he concluded by saying that while his colleagues may disagree with him on these points, their decision would set a dangerous precedent for future cases where courts might take upon themselves matters which are better suited for juries or other tribunals.