Penman v. Ayers

The question here is this: can an illegitimate son inherit real and personal property from his deceased half-brother who was a legitimate son of the same mother? The Orphans’ Court for Allegany County held that he could not, the Circuit Court for that County affirmed this decision, and the illegitimate son, Andrew Penman, took this appeal. The appellee, George W. Ayers, is the full, legitimate brother of the decedent.

The case was submitted on an agreed statement of facts which showed that the decedent, William J. Ayers, died, intestate, owning real and personal property valued in all at about…