Commonwealth ex rel. Fletcher v. Cavell

Opinion by

Mr. Chief Justice Jones,

By this petition for a writ of habeas corpus, which is here under our original jurisdiction, the relator, James *136Morris Fletcher, seeks release from his present restraint in the Western State Penitentiary where he is serving a life sentence for his conviction of murder in the first degree.

The principal contention, which the petitioner now advances, was urged upon the court below in support of his motion for a new trial following his conviction. After the new trial motion had been denied and sentence of life imprisonment, as fixed by the jury’s verdict, had…