Famed Outlaw of the 1920s. He was well known throughout Tennessee, Mississippi, Virginia and Arkansas. Detailed descriptions of his marksmanship still abound in the region. It was said he could toss five walnuts in the air, draw his .38 caliber pistols and shoot all of them in the air. Wagner never aimed his firearms...he shot instinctively. By the time he had reached the age of 24, he had killed at least 5 men and had himself been shot 7 times in incidents involving gunfights. His first wound was self inflicted accidently. The State of Tennessee had sentenced Wagner to die in the electric chair (1925) but he escaped the Sullivan Co., Tennessee, jail before that sentence could be carried out. He was eventually sent to prison for life (Parchman, Mississippi) where he died as result of a heart attack at age 55. Hoover's "G" Men captured Wagner in 1943, but Hoover refused to aid in his capture after he escaped again from Parchman in 1948. Famed recording artist Vernon Dalhart recorded three ballads about the exploits of Kinnie Wagner. These records were made and sold nationally from 1926 to 1930.
Famed Outlaw of the 1920s. He was well known throughout Tennessee, Mississippi, Virginia and Arkansas. Detailed descriptions of his marksmanship still abound in the region. It was said he could toss five walnuts in the air, draw his .38 caliber pistols and shoot all of them in the air. Wagner never aimed his firearms...he shot instinctively. By the time he had reached the age of 24, he had killed at least 5 men and had himself been shot 7 times in incidents involving gunfights. His first wound was self inflicted accidently. The State of Tennessee had sentenced Wagner to die in the electric chair (1925) but he escaped the Sullivan Co., Tennessee, jail before that sentence could be carried out. He was eventually sent to prison for life (Parchman, Mississippi) where he died as result of a heart attack at age 55. Hoover's "G" Men captured Wagner in 1943, but Hoover refused to aid in his capture after he escaped again from Parchman in 1948. Famed recording artist Vernon Dalhart recorded three ballads about the exploits of Kinnie Wagner. These records were made and sold nationally from 1926 to 1930.
Bio by: D. Tate
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