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Fred F. Mueller

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Fred F. Mueller

Birth
Manitowoc, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, USA
Death
5 Jul 1932 (aged 31)
Manitowoc, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, USA
Burial
Mishicot, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, USA GPS-Latitude: 44.2416162, Longitude: -87.6435439
Plot
3-6-26-4
Memorial ID
View Source
Wounded Manitowoc Police Officer Dies
Manitowoc, Wis. —(Special)—

"His thigh shattered when he was shot with his own gun in the hand of one of two strangers who attacked him early Sunday, June 12, Policeman Fred Mueller, 30, died as a result of the injuries at Holy Family hospital at 4 p. m., Tuesday.

"He was the first Manitowoc policeman ever to be fatally injured in the line of duty.

"Mr. Mueller had submitted to two operations on his leg, and yesterday a third operation was performed. A silver plate was inserted in the shattered thigh bone.

"A few hours afterward he died, physicians stating it was due to weakened heart action resulting from a loss of blood at the time he was shot, together with the strain on his system caused by the three operations.

Suspicious Car --
"Working as a plain clothesman, Mr. Mueller had observed a strange automobile parked on York street near a gasoline filling station early on June 12.

"Two men were apparently asleep in the car as he passed. About an hour afterward, he returned and the car was still there. When he saw the automobile, a Ford touring car, the second time, he noted that it bore a Wisconsin license plate turned upside down.

"This increased a suspicion he had earlier formed that something was wrong, and he decided to investigate. Walking closer to the car, he saw a Kansas license plate on the floor behind the front seat.

Questions Strangers --
"Arousing the pair from their apparent slumbers, he began to question them. One of the men got out of the automobile for the pretended purpose of 'stretching'.

"He walked around the car and behind the officer, Mr. Mueller afterward stated, slugging him on the head with a blunt instrument. The policeman fell to the pavement, and in his dazed condition, he reached for his revolver. He was overpowered by the pair, however, the second getting out of the car after Mr. Mueller had been knocked down, he said. One of the men wrenched the revolver from Mr. Mueller's hand, and shot him in the thigh.

"Leaving the wounded policeman on the pavement, the men jumped in their automobile and sped away. The officer's moaning and cries for help attracted attention of people in the neighborhood, and he was removed to Holy Family hospital.

Killers At Large --
"A description of the strangers was obtained, and was sent to police and sheriff's departments throughout the state. A suspect was taken into custody in Milwaukee, but was later released. Up to this time, no trace of the gunmen has been found.

"The officer said the men were about twenty-six and twenty-seven years old, respectively, and they were both dark complexioned. He declared he believed they planned to rob the filling station.

"Mr. Mueller was born in Manitowoc, the oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Otto Mueller. He was married Oct. 28, 1931, to Miss Gertrude Franz, who with his parents, four brothers and five sisters, survive. He became a member of the Manitowoc police department on July 2, 1928. Before that he was employed in the Manitowoc shipyards.

"Funeral services will be held at St. Paul's Catholic church in Manitowoc Friday morning."
Sheboygan Press - 6 July 1932

*********
"Mrs. Fred Mueller, widow of the Manitowoc police officer, who died July 5 of revolver wounds inflicted by unknown assailants on June 12, is entitled to $6,000 under the workmen's compensation act, correspondence from the state industrial commission reveals. -- Sheboygan Press - 4 Aug 1932

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Forever thankful to Find-A-Grave contributor Aavedt who shared the above resources.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SOURCE: http://www.manitowoc.org/index.aspx?NID=352

We Salute Our Fallen Officers -- Officer Fred Mueller

"Officer Fred Mueller was hired by the Manitowoc Police Department on July 3, 1928.

"On June 11, 1932, around 2:30 a.m., Officer Mueller observed a suspicious vehicle parked near N 10th and York St. Mueller identified two brothers: Fred and Wendlin Walters. An altercation took place and Officer Mueller was shot in the left leg by Wendlin Walters. Mueller died on July 5, 1932 from an infection caused by the bullet. Three operations were unsuccessful in saving his life.

"The Walters brothers fled to the State of Kansas, and it took over two years to make their arrest. In April of 1934, they were convicted in Mueller's death."

Wounded Manitowoc Police Officer Dies
Manitowoc, Wis. —(Special)—

"His thigh shattered when he was shot with his own gun in the hand of one of two strangers who attacked him early Sunday, June 12, Policeman Fred Mueller, 30, died as a result of the injuries at Holy Family hospital at 4 p. m., Tuesday.

"He was the first Manitowoc policeman ever to be fatally injured in the line of duty.

"Mr. Mueller had submitted to two operations on his leg, and yesterday a third operation was performed. A silver plate was inserted in the shattered thigh bone.

"A few hours afterward he died, physicians stating it was due to weakened heart action resulting from a loss of blood at the time he was shot, together with the strain on his system caused by the three operations.

Suspicious Car --
"Working as a plain clothesman, Mr. Mueller had observed a strange automobile parked on York street near a gasoline filling station early on June 12.

"Two men were apparently asleep in the car as he passed. About an hour afterward, he returned and the car was still there. When he saw the automobile, a Ford touring car, the second time, he noted that it bore a Wisconsin license plate turned upside down.

"This increased a suspicion he had earlier formed that something was wrong, and he decided to investigate. Walking closer to the car, he saw a Kansas license plate on the floor behind the front seat.

Questions Strangers --
"Arousing the pair from their apparent slumbers, he began to question them. One of the men got out of the automobile for the pretended purpose of 'stretching'.

"He walked around the car and behind the officer, Mr. Mueller afterward stated, slugging him on the head with a blunt instrument. The policeman fell to the pavement, and in his dazed condition, he reached for his revolver. He was overpowered by the pair, however, the second getting out of the car after Mr. Mueller had been knocked down, he said. One of the men wrenched the revolver from Mr. Mueller's hand, and shot him in the thigh.

"Leaving the wounded policeman on the pavement, the men jumped in their automobile and sped away. The officer's moaning and cries for help attracted attention of people in the neighborhood, and he was removed to Holy Family hospital.

Killers At Large --
"A description of the strangers was obtained, and was sent to police and sheriff's departments throughout the state. A suspect was taken into custody in Milwaukee, but was later released. Up to this time, no trace of the gunmen has been found.

"The officer said the men were about twenty-six and twenty-seven years old, respectively, and they were both dark complexioned. He declared he believed they planned to rob the filling station.

"Mr. Mueller was born in Manitowoc, the oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Otto Mueller. He was married Oct. 28, 1931, to Miss Gertrude Franz, who with his parents, four brothers and five sisters, survive. He became a member of the Manitowoc police department on July 2, 1928. Before that he was employed in the Manitowoc shipyards.

"Funeral services will be held at St. Paul's Catholic church in Manitowoc Friday morning."
Sheboygan Press - 6 July 1932

*********
"Mrs. Fred Mueller, widow of the Manitowoc police officer, who died July 5 of revolver wounds inflicted by unknown assailants on June 12, is entitled to $6,000 under the workmen's compensation act, correspondence from the state industrial commission reveals. -- Sheboygan Press - 4 Aug 1932

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Forever thankful to Find-A-Grave contributor Aavedt who shared the above resources.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SOURCE: http://www.manitowoc.org/index.aspx?NID=352

We Salute Our Fallen Officers -- Officer Fred Mueller

"Officer Fred Mueller was hired by the Manitowoc Police Department on July 3, 1928.

"On June 11, 1932, around 2:30 a.m., Officer Mueller observed a suspicious vehicle parked near N 10th and York St. Mueller identified two brothers: Fred and Wendlin Walters. An altercation took place and Officer Mueller was shot in the left leg by Wendlin Walters. Mueller died on July 5, 1932 from an infection caused by the bullet. Three operations were unsuccessful in saving his life.

"The Walters brothers fled to the State of Kansas, and it took over two years to make their arrest. In April of 1934, they were convicted in Mueller's death."



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