CLE: Fortune Hunters and Their Prey: Murdered Wives and Inheritance in Midcentury America

The New York City Bar Presents CLE:

In 1949, James Plunkett shot and killed his wife, Esther Bird Plunkett, after an argument about a stray dog. He then shot himself, survived, and called the police. Despite a history of domestic violence and evidence suggesting he feared disinheritance by his wealthy wife, Plunkett was convicted only of manslaughter. Because he was not convicted of murder, both the trial court and the state’s Supreme Court ruled that he could inherit her fortune. The decision, and the case law it relied on, revealed how legal systems at that time prioritized the preservation of marital structures—particularly a husband’s right to his wife’s property and control over her—even in cases involving lethal violence.

This panel will examine the legal and social implications of the Plunkett case and the development of “slayer statutes” before and after the case.   The conversation will also highlight how the legal framework around marriage, property rights, and gendered power dynamics has evolved and what they reveal about the intersection of violence, inheritance, and social mobility.

Tuesday, February 17, 2026 | 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Format: In Person
Where: New York City Bar
42 West 44th Street
New York, NY 10036

Program Fee:
Free for Members | $20 Non-Members

For more information see “Fortune Hunters and Their Prey: Murdered Wives and Inheritance in Midcentury America,” NYC Bar.