Kenny Wagner
Serial Killer and Bootlegger
CLASSIFICATION: Murder
LOCATION
Mississippi, U.S.
TIME PERIOD
1925-1926
VICTIMS
5 confirmed
William Kenneth "Kinnie" Wagner, a notorious bootlegger, committed a series of violent crimes between 1925 and 1926, resulting in the murders of five individuals, including three law enforcement officers in Mississippi and Tennessee. His criminal activities began with a theft arrest in Lucedale, Mississippi, leading to a violent escape that left a deputy dead. Following a series of shootouts and additional murders, he was ultimately captured and sentenced to life imprisonment at Parchman Farm in Mississippi in 1926. Wagner escaped from custody multiple times throughout his incarceration, but he was recaptured and died in prison on March 9, 1958, at the age of 55. Significant evidence from his trials included eyewitness accounts of his violent encounters and the aftermath of his escape attempts, which contributed to his infamy in the region.
Kenny Wagner is believed to have been involved in various criminal activities beyond bootlegging, including bank and train robbery, which contributed to his notorious reputation. Some speculate that his repeated prison escapes were aided by connections he made during his time in the circus, leveraging his skills and contacts. Additionally, there is a theory that his violent confrontations with law enforcement were not solely motivated by self-preservation but also reflected a deeper hostility towards authority figures.
The Notorious Life of Kenny Wagner
Early Life and Introduction to Crime
William Kenneth Wagner, better known to the world as Kinnie, Kenny, or Kennie Wagner, was born on February 18, 1903, in Scott County, Virginia. His life would become a tapestry of crime and intrigue, woven with daring escapes and bloody confrontations. Standing at an imposing six feet three inches and weighing 260 pounds, Wagner's physical presence was as formidable as his criminal record.
At just fourteen, Wagner left the familiar confines of home, lured by the adventurous life of a circus. There, he honed his skills as a trickshot artist, a talent that would later serve him well. As the Prohibition era dawned, Wagner found his niche in the illicit world of moonshine, making and selling the illegal brew in Mississippi.
The Beginning of Infamy
Wagner's brush with the law began in 1925, with an arrest in Lucedale, Mississippi, for stealing a watch. However, this minor infraction quickly escalated into a deadly confrontation. While awaiting trial, Wagner overpowered his jailer and escaped, stealing a horse to aid his flight. A posse tracked him to a secluded shack in the woods, but Wagner, unfazed, shot his way out, killing a deputy in the process.
Fleeing to the mountains he once called home, Wagner's path led him to the banks of the Holston River near Kingsport, Tennessee. There, a violent shootout with five local lawmen unfolded. Wagner emerged victorious, killing two officers and wounding a third, before escaping first on horseback, then on foot. His flight ended temporarily in Waycross, Virginia, where he surrendered to a storekeeper.
Trials and Escapes
Wagner's trial in Sullivan County concluded with a death sentence, but an appeal granted him a new trial. Wagner, undeterred by the legal system, managed a successful escape from state prison and fled to Mexico. There, he gained notoriety as a bank and train robber. Eventually, he returned to the United States, where his violent tendencies resurfaced. Wagner was involved in two fatal barroom brawls, resulting in the deaths of Will and Sam Carper, though some accounts suggest these were not bar fights but occurred at Sam's home while the brothers were unarmed.
His surrender to Lillie Barber, a female sheriff in Arkansas, added another twist to his tale. Barber, a widow of a slain sheriff, refused to try Wagner, as cold-blooded murder was a capital offense in Arkansas. Some say she fell in love with him.
With multiple states vying for his extradition, Wagner was tried in Mississippi, where his criminal journey began. In 1926, he was sentenced to life imprisonment at Parchman Farm. Despite his incarceration, Wagner's reputation as an escape artist persisted. His first escape attempt was thwarted by an informant. Yet, his status as a model prisoner allowed him unusual privileges—he became an armed trustee and head trainer of the prison’s bloodhounds, tracking escapees alone on horseback.
Escapes and Final Captivity
In 1940, Wagner executed another escape, but authorities recaptured him three years later near his childhood home in Virginia. Upon his return to Parchman Farm, he resumed his role as a model prisoner until 1948 when he simply walked away from the prison.
His most daring escape involved a clever manipulation of the prison's bloodhounds. As a trustee, Wagner had trained the dogs not to track him by punishing them if they followed his scent. This subterfuge allowed him to evade capture for several years as he hid in Wahalak, Mississippi, under the alias "Big Jim." His freedom ended in 1956 when a jealous rival tipped off the authorities about his whereabouts at a female friend's house, landing him on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.
In poor health and weary, Wagner reportedly expressed contentment at returning to Parchman, stating, "I am very happy to be going back." His life came to a quiet end at the Mississippi State Penitentiary on March 9, 1958.
Folklore and Legacy
Wagner’s life story became the stuff of legend, immortalized in folksongs, ballads, and various literary works that painted him as a Southern or Western outlaw—chivalrous to women, generous to the poor, and a free desperado. The narratives from East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia differ significantly from those in Mississippi, illustrating the regional variances in his legend. Even local newspapers, like The Kingsport Times News, offered contrasting accounts of Wagner's escapades.
Sources
For more on Kenny Wagner, explore the following:
- "Article clipped from Sun Herald." Sun Herald. 1925-06-22.
- David M. Oshinsky, "Worse than Slavery: Parchman Farm and the Ordeal of Jim Crow Justice," Free Press, 1997.
- Claude Gentry's "The Guns of Kinnie Wagner."
- Richard Carl Sweterlitsch's "Kinnie Wagner: A Popular Legendary Hero and His 'Constituency.'"
For further information, visit Kenny Wagner's Wikipedia page.
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First Arrest
Kinnie Wagner is arrested in Lucedale for stealing a watch.
Deputy Killed
Wagner escapes custody, killing a deputy in the process.
Shootout with Lawmen
Wagner engages in a shootout with local lawmen, killing two.
Sentenced to Life
Wagner is sentenced to life imprisonment for murder in Mississippi.
First Major Escape
Wagner escapes from Parchman Farm but is recaptured three years later.
Second Major Escape
Wagner escapes again from Parchman Farm, evading capture for years.
Recaptured
Wagner is recaptured after being informed on by a rival.
Death in Prison
Kinnie Wagner dies in prison at the age of 55.
William Kenneth "Kinnie" Wagner, a notorious bootlegger, committed a series of violent crimes between 1925 and 1926, resulting in the murders of five individuals, including three law enforcement officers in Mississippi and Tennessee. His criminal activities began with a theft arrest in Lucedale, Mississippi, leading to a violent escape that left a deputy dead. Following a series of shootouts and additional murders, he was ultimately captured and sentenced to life imprisonment at Parchman Farm in Mississippi in 1926. Wagner escaped from custody multiple times throughout his incarceration, but he was recaptured and died in prison on March 9, 1958, at the age of 55. Significant evidence from his trials included eyewitness accounts of his violent encounters and the aftermath of his escape attempts, which contributed to his infamy in the region.
Kenny Wagner is believed to have been involved in various criminal activities beyond bootlegging, including bank and train robbery, which contributed to his notorious reputation. Some speculate that his repeated prison escapes were aided by connections he made during his time in the circus, leveraging his skills and contacts. Additionally, there is a theory that his violent confrontations with law enforcement were not solely motivated by self-preservation but also reflected a deeper hostility towards authority figures.
The Notorious Life of Kenny Wagner
Early Life and Introduction to Crime
William Kenneth Wagner, better known to the world as Kinnie, Kenny, or Kennie Wagner, was born on February 18, 1903, in Scott County, Virginia. His life would become a tapestry of crime and intrigue, woven with daring escapes and bloody confrontations. Standing at an imposing six feet three inches and weighing 260 pounds, Wagner's physical presence was as formidable as his criminal record.
At just fourteen, Wagner left the familiar confines of home, lured by the adventurous life of a circus. There, he honed his skills as a trickshot artist, a talent that would later serve him well. As the Prohibition era dawned, Wagner found his niche in the illicit world of moonshine, making and selling the illegal brew in Mississippi.
The Beginning of Infamy
Wagner's brush with the law began in 1925, with an arrest in Lucedale, Mississippi, for stealing a watch. However, this minor infraction quickly escalated into a deadly confrontation. While awaiting trial, Wagner overpowered his jailer and escaped, stealing a horse to aid his flight. A posse tracked him to a secluded shack in the woods, but Wagner, unfazed, shot his way out, killing a deputy in the process.
Fleeing to the mountains he once called home, Wagner's path led him to the banks of the Holston River near Kingsport, Tennessee. There, a violent shootout with five local lawmen unfolded. Wagner emerged victorious, killing two officers and wounding a third, before escaping first on horseback, then on foot. His flight ended temporarily in Waycross, Virginia, where he surrendered to a storekeeper.
Trials and Escapes
Wagner's trial in Sullivan County concluded with a death sentence, but an appeal granted him a new trial. Wagner, undeterred by the legal system, managed a successful escape from state prison and fled to Mexico. There, he gained notoriety as a bank and train robber. Eventually, he returned to the United States, where his violent tendencies resurfaced. Wagner was involved in two fatal barroom brawls, resulting in the deaths of Will and Sam Carper, though some accounts suggest these were not bar fights but occurred at Sam's home while the brothers were unarmed.
His surrender to Lillie Barber, a female sheriff in Arkansas, added another twist to his tale. Barber, a widow of a slain sheriff, refused to try Wagner, as cold-blooded murder was a capital offense in Arkansas. Some say she fell in love with him.
With multiple states vying for his extradition, Wagner was tried in Mississippi, where his criminal journey began. In 1926, he was sentenced to life imprisonment at Parchman Farm. Despite his incarceration, Wagner's reputation as an escape artist persisted. His first escape attempt was thwarted by an informant. Yet, his status as a model prisoner allowed him unusual privileges—he became an armed trustee and head trainer of the prison’s bloodhounds, tracking escapees alone on horseback.
Escapes and Final Captivity
In 1940, Wagner executed another escape, but authorities recaptured him three years later near his childhood home in Virginia. Upon his return to Parchman Farm, he resumed his role as a model prisoner until 1948 when he simply walked away from the prison.
His most daring escape involved a clever manipulation of the prison's bloodhounds. As a trustee, Wagner had trained the dogs not to track him by punishing them if they followed his scent. This subterfuge allowed him to evade capture for several years as he hid in Wahalak, Mississippi, under the alias "Big Jim." His freedom ended in 1956 when a jealous rival tipped off the authorities about his whereabouts at a female friend's house, landing him on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.
In poor health and weary, Wagner reportedly expressed contentment at returning to Parchman, stating, "I am very happy to be going back." His life came to a quiet end at the Mississippi State Penitentiary on March 9, 1958.
Folklore and Legacy
Wagner’s life story became the stuff of legend, immortalized in folksongs, ballads, and various literary works that painted him as a Southern or Western outlaw—chivalrous to women, generous to the poor, and a free desperado. The narratives from East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia differ significantly from those in Mississippi, illustrating the regional variances in his legend. Even local newspapers, like The Kingsport Times News, offered contrasting accounts of Wagner's escapades.
Sources
For more on Kenny Wagner, explore the following:
- "Article clipped from Sun Herald." Sun Herald. 1925-06-22.
- David M. Oshinsky, "Worse than Slavery: Parchman Farm and the Ordeal of Jim Crow Justice," Free Press, 1997.
- Claude Gentry's "The Guns of Kinnie Wagner."
- Richard Carl Sweterlitsch's "Kinnie Wagner: A Popular Legendary Hero and His 'Constituency.'"
For further information, visit Kenny Wagner's Wikipedia page.
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
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Join the discussion
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First Arrest
Kinnie Wagner is arrested in Lucedale for stealing a watch.
Deputy Killed
Wagner escapes custody, killing a deputy in the process.
Shootout with Lawmen
Wagner engages in a shootout with local lawmen, killing two.
Sentenced to Life
Wagner is sentenced to life imprisonment for murder in Mississippi.
First Major Escape
Wagner escapes from Parchman Farm but is recaptured three years later.
Second Major Escape
Wagner escapes again from Parchman Farm, evading capture for years.
Recaptured
Wagner is recaptured after being informed on by a rival.
Death in Prison
Kinnie Wagner dies in prison at the age of 55.