In re the Estate of Field

Edgar F. Hazleton, S.

The executors of the late Marshall Field have petitioned for instructions as to whether two claims made against the estate, based upon alleged oral charitable subscriptions given to the claimants by the decedent during his lifetime, are enforcible against the estate.

Although the executors formally have rejected these claims, they have not taken the position that they are unenforeible. Because of the substantial amounts involved and the fact that neither the executors nor the claimants could produce any written commitment signed by the decedent personally in support of his…