Charles F. Mayer, the surviving permanent trustee of John Gooding, appealed to the United States Supreme Court against William Pinkney White, Administrator de bonis non of John Gooding and Robert M. Gibbes and Charles Oliver, surviving executors of Robert Oliver. The case revolved around a dispute between two parties over an estate in South Carolina that had been left by a deceased person named Robert Oliver. The appellant argued that he was entitled to certain assets from this estate as per his contract with the deceased while the respondents contended that they were rightful owners due to their relationship with him before his death. After considering both sides’ arguments carefully, it was determined by the court that since there was no evidence presented which could prove either party's claim beyond reasonable doubt; therefore neither side could be granted ownership rights over these assets until further proof is provided or another agreement is reached between them outside of court proceedings.

In the dissenting opinion of Charles F. Mayer, Surviving Permanent Trustee of John Gooding v. William Pinkney White, Administrator De Bonis Non of John Gooding and Robert M. Gibbes and Charles Oliver, Surviving Executors of Robert Oliver, the court argued that a trust was created by an individual for his own benefit in order to secure payment from another party on certain conditions which were not fulfilled by said other party; thus the trust should be enforced as it is valid under South Carolina law. The majority opinion held that since there was no consideration given for this agreement between parties (the original settlor had already died), then it could not be enforced as a contract or trust because it lacked mutuality - both parties must have something to gain from such an arrangement in order for it to be legally binding. However, Justice Grier dissented with this ruling stating that although there may have been no consideration given at the time when the agreement was made between two living persons (as one had passed away before any payments were due) , still if all other elements are present such as intention and capacity then these agreements can still stand even without consideration being exchanged at its inception .