Bio: Wehrley, Alfred (Life Sentence - 1916)

Contact: Stan

Surnames: Wehrley, Park, Reid, Meyer, Gumena, Blaine, Jewell, Rabschau

----Source: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 13 Jan 1916

Give a Life Sentence

The trial of Alfred Wehrley, for the murder of his father, which occurred in Wausau, on the morning of August 19th, 1915, came to a sudden close last Thursday forenoon, when, acting upon the advice of his attorney, he changed his plea of "not guilty" to that of "guilty." Judge B. B. Park of Stevens Point, who was sitting for Judge A. H. Reid, sentenced the young man to serve the remainder of his life in the state prison at Waupun.

----Source: Le Grand Reporter (Le Grand, Iowa) August 27, 1915

Alfred Wehrley, son of Peter Wehrley, a real estate dealer of Wausau, Wis., has solved the mystery of the shooting to death of his father by confessing to the deed, it is alleged.

----Source: Stevens Point Daily Journal, Thursday, December 8,1921,Stevens Point, Wisconsin

WAUSAU MAN ASKS PARDON OF BLAINE

Man Sentenced to State Prison by Judge Park Would Regain Freedom.

The application of Alfred Wehrley of Wansau, now serving a twenty-five year term in the state prison at Waupan for the murder of his father, for a pardon, is among Use requests scheduled to be heard at Madison by Governor Blaine.

Wehrley became estranged from his father. Peter Wehrley, while the family lived in Wausau in August, 1914. and was not living at home. On the evening oi August 19 he went to the family home in the absence of his parents, secreted himself under the bed in their sleeping chamber and waited until they had retired for the night. Peter Wehrley was evidently wakened by some noise in the room and rose to a sitting position when he was shot through she head and instantly killed.

Alfred Wehrley was arrested the next day and stoutly protested his innocence. Judge Byron B. Park of this city was called to Wausau to try the case and the work of impaneling a jury was commenced on January 5. 1915. The following morning before a jury had been secured, the plea of not guilty was withdrawn and a plea of guilty was made to a charge of murder in the first degree. Judge Park sentenced Wehrley to the state prison at Waupun for the remainder of his life. Later this sentence was commuted to twenty-five years' imprisonment by Ex-Governor Philipp. Wehrley now asks that he be freed.

It is reported from Waupun that Wehrley has been a model prisoner.

----Source: Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune February 10, 1922

WAUSAU MURDERER IS GRANTED CONDITIONAL PARDON BY GOVERNOR

Madison, Wis.—Conditional pardon was granted Alfred Wehrley, Wausau, serving a life sentence for murder in the first degree, by Gov. J. J. Blaine today. Wehrley, the governor said, was only a boy when he killed his father who was cruel to him, and during his five years in the state prison he has been a model prisoner.  

Ralph Jewell, Walworth county, sentenced to 23 years for burglary, was granted a conditional pardon. He had been a. soldier and when he returned from the war, Gov. Blaine said, he was unable to obtain work, committing the offenses to obtain money.

The governor also granted a condition release to Otto Meyer, Milwaukee policeman convicted of burglary, and commuted the sentence of James Gumena, Milwaukee, from 18 to 14 years. Gumena was convicted of murder in the second degree. He will be eligible for parole July 19, 1922.  

In the case of the Wehrley pardon, Governor Blaine said that the boy in killing his father was actuated by cruel treatment, the father having driven him from his home when but 13 years of age and refused him aid. The boy hid under his parents bed and when they retired for the night, shot his father while sleeping.

Obit: Wehrley, Alfred (1898 - 1960)

----Source: Sheboygan Press, The Wednesday, December 14, 1960, Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Killed In Crash

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

The 1960 Wisconsin highway traffic toll has moved up to 848, compared with 787 on this date a year ago.

Alfred Wehrley. 62. died Tuesday night in a Milwaukee hospital about three hours after he was struck by an automobile when he was crossing a Milwaukee street. Mr. Wehrley is the father-in-law of Mrs. Robert Wehrley, the former Carol Maier of Sheboygan.

Wisconsin Death Index

Alfred W Wehrley
Event Type: Death
Event Date: 13 Dec 1960
Event Place: Milw, , Wisconsin
Residence Place: Wisconsin
Gender: Male
Age: 62
Certificate Number: 036187

1905 Wisconsin State Census, Fenwood, Marathon, Wisconsin, pg. 253, family 23, line 1

Peter Wehrley, white married male
Parent 1 Birthplace: Germany
Parent 2 Birthplace: Germany

Household Members
Head Peter Wehrley M 56y Germany
Wife Emilge Wehrley F 32y Minnesota
Son Oscar N Wehrley M 9y Indiana
Son Alfred H Wehrley M 7y Illinois

1910 Federal Census, Wausau Ward 5, Marathon, Wisconsin, pg. 12, family 256

Amelia Werle, white, married female
Father's Birthplace: Germany
Mother's Birthplace: Germany

Household Members
Head: Peter Werle M 40y Germany
Spouse: Amelia Werle F 37y Minnesota
Son Oscar Werle M 14y Indiana
Son Alfred Werle M 12y Illinois
George Rabschau M 37y Wisconsin

Obit: Wehrley, Oscar (1896 - 1968)

Social Security Death Index

Oscar Wehrley
Birth Date: 4 January 1896
Social Security Number: 395-38-1573
State: Wisconsin
Last Place of Residence: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Previous Residence Postal Code: 53226
Event Date: April 1968
Age: 72

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