This Supreme Court case involved a dispute between the parties over the ownership of a vessel. The plaintiffs, Sprague and others, were the owners of the vessel, while the defendant, Thompson, was the master of the vessel. The plaintiffs had hired Thompson to take the vessel from New York to San Francisco, and Thompson had agreed to do so. However, during the voyage, Thompson had taken possession of the vessel and refused to return it to the plaintiffs. The Supreme Court held that the plaintiffs were entitled to the possession of the vessel. The Court found that Thompson had no legal right to take possession of the vessel, and that the plaintiffs were entitled to the possession of the vessel as they were the rightful owners. The Court also held that Thompson was liable for damages for his wrongful possession of the vessel. The Court ordered Thompson to return the vessel to the plaintiffs and to pay them damages for his wrongful possession.

In Spraigue & Others v. Thompson, the Supreme Court was asked to decide whether a state court had jurisdiction over a case involving non-residents of that state. The majority opinion held that the lower court did have jurisdiction and affirmed its decision. However, Justice Field dissented from this ruling on the basis that it violated due process rights under the Fourteenth Amendment by depriving non-residents of their right to be sued in their home states or territories where they were subject to personal service of process. He argued that if such an action could be taken against them without notice or opportunity for defense, then any person who happened to own property in another state would become liable for debts incurred there even though he may not have been aware of those obligations at all. Furthermore, Justice Field noted how allowing such actions would create confusion and uncertainty as different states might interpret laws differently which could lead to conflicting judgments being rendered against one party depending on which forum they chose or were forced into litigating in.