Pannone v. McLaughlin

We consider here the effect upon jointly held real and personal property of the unlawful slaying of a wife by a husband who, within the hour, committed suicide. Also involved is a question of interpretation of a common disaster clause in the husband’s will.

In a declaratory judgment proceeding brought by the personal representative of the husband’s estate, the trial court (Getty, J.) held that under Maryland law neither a murderer nor those claiming under him may acquire any of the estate of the victim; and that the individually held property of the husband passed to the heirs of the wife…