Commonwealth v. Wheeler

Opinion by

Mr. Justice Jones,

Appellant and a codefendant were charged with murder in 1937; each pled not guilty at their arraignment and separate counsel were appointed. Subsequently both withdrew their pleas of not guilty and entered guilty pleas to murder generally. A court en banc was convened to determine tbe degree of guilt and tbe penalty to be imposed. Each was found guilty of murder in the first degree and life sentences were imposed. That judgment of sentence was never attacked until appellant filed a petition under tbe provisions of tbe Post Conviction Hearing Act, Act of January 25,…