J. L. Wagner
Agency patch
Jailer

J. L. Wagner

Felonious
End of Watch June 10, 1893
Age 35
Tour of Duty 1 yrs
The Vigil Panel 12 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Jailer J.L. Wagner succumbed to injuries sustained on April 30th, 1893, when he was beaten with a blunt object as he attempted to prevent two inmates from escaping the county jail.

He was taken to a local hospital where he died on June 10th, 1893.

The man who murdered him was sentenced to death but had his sentence commuted to life in prison by the governor in 1895.

J.L., On today, the 130th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of Wood County.

R.I.P. USBP

Anonymous United States Border Patrol June 10th, 2023

In Our Keeping

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BO-US-TX-9F8349CB
Stewardship
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April 2, 2026
Last updated
July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

133 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Jailer Wagner gave the Wood County Sheriff's Office 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Quitman community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Location Quitman, TX
Platform Identity wcso.wood.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 10, 1893
Tour of Duty 1 yrs
Age 35
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Assault
Weapon Blunt object
Offender Sentenced to life

Jailer J. L. Wagner is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Wood County Sheriff's Office, 5 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 83.3% of this agency's fallen.

Wood County Sheriff's Office
5
of 6 officers
83.3% Felonious
TX — Statewide
1,463
of 2,421 officers
60.4% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. J. L. Wagner's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How J. L. Wagner Compares

Age at End of Watch
35
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
1
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to life

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. J. L. Wagner is highlighted in Jun.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. J. L. Wagner was killed by blunt object.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518