Commonwealth v. Burns

Opinion by

Mr. Justice O’Brien,

The appellant, Thomas E. Burns, was convicted of murder in the first degree and sentenced to life imprisonment. The appellant and Marie Coleman had been living in a meretricious relationship for several years prior to January 10,1959, when she was last seen alive. Burns and Marie Coleman were the sole occupants of a house in Philadelphia, using the second floor and third floor as their living quarters. Both were employed and Burns was married, but separated from his wife and children. Marie Coleman had many relatives in the Philadelphia area, including sisters,…