Policeman David H. Wiley

David H. Wiley

Policeman David Wiley was shot and killed as he and his partner investigated a suspicious vehicle parked in front of a business on Market Street near Third Street.

After observing two men exit the building, place bundles in the car, and then return to the building, the officers approached the vehicle. A man sitting inside shot and killed Policeman Wiley, and then sped away.

Four men, 19, 19, 20, and 22, were arrested nine days later and charged with Policeman Wiley's murder. All four were convicted of murder. Three were sentenced to life in prison. The 19-year-old killer was sentenced to death, but he was granted a new trial and sentenced to life. In June of 1942, he was pardoned by Governor Arthur H. James. From 1944 until his death, he had been charged with stabbing a woman, returned to prison for violating his parole, served another sentence for murder, worked as an enforcer and extortionist for a Philadelphia Mafia family, released from custody after citizens were fearful of testifying against him, convicted of burglary, and paroled again after saving the life of a guard who was stabbed during a riot at the Eastern Penitentiary. On December 25, 1975, he was shot and killed by a man he was arguing with in a Philadelphia bar.

The group of burglars was suspected in the murder of Policeman William Henderson one month earlier, but were never charged due to a lack of evidence.

Policeman Wiley was a U.S Navy World War I veteran and had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for six years. He was survived by his parents and six siblings.