Commonwealth ex rel. Mawson v. Burke
Commonwealth ex rel. Mawson v. Burke
Opinion of the Court
True bills were found against relator — one charging robbery while armed with an offensive Aveapon, and the other charging burglary. The bills of indictment are Nos. 867 and 869, September Sessions, 1940, in the Court of Oyer and Terminer of Philadelphia County.
Relator having pleaded not guilty appeared for trial before a jury on September 26, 1940, with his counsel. The Commonwealth’s evidence established the commis
In his petition for writ of habeas corpus relator avers that the maximum term of imprisonment that could be imposed on bill No. 867 was ten years. There is no merit in this contention as section 705 of the Act of June 24, 1939, P. L. 872, 18 PS §4705, provides that the maximum sentence for the crime of robbery while armed with an offensive weapon is twenty years with a fine of $10,000.
Answers were filed to relator’s petition which was refused by Judge Fenerty after hearing in open court; and relator was remanded to the Eastern State Penitentiary.
Relator’s averment that he was to be sentenced for robbery under §704 of the Act, 18 PS §4704, on bill No. 867, as no weapon was used in the commission of the crime, is refuted by the indictment to which he entered the plea of nolo contendere and by the testimony taken at his trial prior to the entry of such plea. His victim testified that he hit her over the head with a piece of iron, that he assaulted her in other respects, and that he took from her the sum of $25. He then committed another assault when he found that she had no more money.
Order is affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.