In the case of Samuel Sample, Israel W. Pickins, and Burwell Scott v Shadrach Barnes, the appellants argued that they had been wrongfully deprived of their property by Barnes. The dispute centered around a contract between the parties in which it was agreed that if Sample paid $2,000 to Barnes for certain lands then he would be given title to them. However, when Sample made payment as agreed upon he did not receive title from Barnes and thus sued him for breach of contract. The Supreme Court ultimately held in favor of the appellants ruling that they were entitled to recover damages from Barnes due to his failure to fulfill his contractual obligations under the agreement with Sample.

In the case of Samuel Sample, Israel W. Pickins, and Burwell Scott v. Shadrack Barnes, the appellants argued that they were entitled to a writ of mandamus from the Circuit Court for Washington County in Maryland due to their claim that Barnes had unlawfully withheld certain funds belonging to them as executors of an estate. The Supreme Court disagreed with this argument and held that it was not within its power or jurisdiction to issue such a writ since it did not have original jurisdiction over cases involving state courts. Furthermore, the court found no evidence indicating any abuse or neglect on behalf of Barnes which would warrant issuing such a writ under federal law. As such, the court concluded that there was no legal basis for granting relief in favor of Sample et al., and thus denied their petition for mandamus against Barnes.