Commonwealth Ex Rel. v. Burke, Warden

Opinion by

Mr. Justice Jones,

This matter is here on the relator’s petition, filed in propria persona, for an original writ of habeas corpus. Because of the importance in general of the question involved as to the power of a court over a sentence after the expiration of the term at which it was imposed, we ordered oral argument on the petition and, to that end, appointed for the relator competent counsel who made oral argument and filed printed brief. The district attorney of Philadelphia County, wherein the relator’s conviction was had, appeared and argued for the Commonwealth both orally and…