The propounders offered for probate the will of John Carrie, deceased. The will bequeathed Carrie's entire estate to his executors, Louis Dugas and Henry Cumming. The caveators objected to the probate of the will on various grounds, including that it was in violation of the laws of the state with regard to bequests to slaves and free persons of colour in that it attempted to set up a secret trust for the benefit of the testator's slaves and for one Mary Bouyer. The caveators also alleged that Bouyer had exercised an undue influence over Carrie in the writing of the will, and proposed to prove by general reputation that Carrie and Bouyer lived together in a state of concubinage; there seemed to be confusion as to whether Bouyer was a slave or a free woman of colour. This proposal was disallowed by the lower court; it found that the will could achieve probate and the caveators appealed. The Supreme Court found that there was no evidence at all that the will was intended to establish any secret trusts, and upheld the lower court's verdict.
