John S. Williams, Administrator of James Williams, Deceased (Appellant) brought a case against Robert M. Gibbes and Charles Oliver, Executors of Robert Oliver, Deceased (Respondents). The Appellant argued that the Respondents had wrongfully withheld money from him due to his predecessor's estate. The Supreme Court held that the Appellant was not entitled to recover any money as he failed to prove his right in court. Furthermore, the Court found that there were no grounds for an appeal since it did not involve a federal question or arise under federal law; thus affirming the decision of lower courts which denied recovery by Appellant on this matter.

In the dissenting opinion of John S. Williams, Administrator of James Williams, Deceased v. Robert M. Gibbes and Charles Oliver, Executors of Robert Oliver, Deceased case, Justice McLean argued that the decision should be reversed because it was not supported by law or equity. He believed that a contract between two parties could only be enforced if there were sufficient facts to prove its existence and validity in court; however in this case he felt there was no evidence presented to support such an agreement between James Williams and Robert Oliver prior to his death. Furthermore he argued that even if such an agreement did exist it would have been void due to lack of consideration as neither party had received anything from the other for their promise made under said contract; thus making any attempt at enforcement impossible without further proof being provided by either side regarding what each had given up in exchange for their respective promises made within said alleged contract.