Commonwealth ex rel. Riddle v. Maroney

Opinion by

Mr. Chief Justice Bell,

This is an appeal from the dismissal of a petition for a writ of habeas corpus seeking appellant’s release from prison on the grounds (1) that the day after he was arrested he made a confession to the police when he was not represented by counsel and (2) that a plea of guilty was entered at his preliminary hearing before an alderman.

Robert Warren Mays, a 66 year old recluse, was the victim of a brutal beating on July 22,. 1959. He died two days later in the hospital.

■ On March 14, 1960, Jerald E. Riddle, Jr., the appellant, was taken into custody for…