The saga of Vernon C. Miller is a compelling dive into the dark underbelly of America’s Prohibition era, detailing the remarkable transformation of a decorated war hero and elected lawman into one of the most ruthless and infamous figures of the criminal underworld. Born in humble beginnings, Vernon C. Miller’s life spiraled into a vortex of bootlegging, bank robbery, and contract killings, culminating in his involvement in one of the most shocking events of the 1930s, the Kansas City Massacre. This article explores the tumultuous journey of a man who chose a path of violence over justice, leaving a bloody trail across the Midwest.
Early Life and a Sudden Turn from Law Enforcement
Vernon C. Miller’s life began on August 25, 1896, in Kimball, South Dakota. His early years seemed to promise a trajectory of conventional civic duty. In 1914, he relocated to Huron, South Dakota, where he found work as an auto mechanic, a respectable trade for the time. His patriotism shone through when he enlisted in the U.S. Army just two years later, seeing active service on the Mexico border during a period of intense bandit raids. His commitment to duty was further exemplified during World War I, where he served with distinction in France, earning decorations for valor and achieving the rank of sergeant by the war’s conclusion. Upon his return to Huron in 1918, Miller transitioned into law enforcement, joining the local police force.
His career in public service seemed on an upward trajectory when he successfully ran for Beadle County Sheriff, winning the election in November 1920. However, this promising career took an abrupt and inexplicable turn. Sometime after assuming office, Miller apparently decided that a life of upholding the law was not for him, absconding with a significant sum of $4,000 in county funds. This act of betrayal led to his conviction for embezzlement on April 4, 1923, and subsequent incarceration in the South Dakota State Penitentiary. Remarkably, his time behind bars was short-lived; he was paroled in November 1924, re-entering a world on the cusp of profound change due to Prohibition.
Embracing the Underworld: Bootlegging and Gang Ties
With Prohibition in full, lucrative swing, Miller quickly recognized the financial opportunities presented by the illicit alcohol trade. He plunged headfirst into bootlegging, a path that soon landed him a fine in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in October 1925. Undeterred, he continued his profitable criminal enterprise, eventually moving beyond his home state. His journey took him to the bustling cities of St. Paul, Minnesota, and Chicago, Illinois, notorious hubs of organized crime during the era. It was in these urban jungles that Vernon C. Miller began to forge alliances with powerful underworld gangs, immersing himself fully in a life of crime.
His association with a diverse array of unscrupulous characters transformed him into a highly sought-after freelance gunman for various Midwest bootleggers and racketeers. This shift solidified his reputation as a man willing to use violence to achieve his ends. On February 3, 1928, Miller was indicted for the murder of a Minneapolis police officer, a serious charge that hinted at his deepening involvement in violent crime. However, the case was ultimately dropped due to insufficient evidence, allowing him to continue his nefarious activities largely unchecked.
A Trail of Violence: Bank Robberies and Murders
The year 1930 marked a significant escalation in Miller’s criminal career, characterized by extreme violence and daring robberies. After Al Capone’s men murdered a friend, Miller exacted a brutal revenge, tracking down three suspects and gunning them down in June in what became known as the Fox Lake Massacre. This brazen act solidified his reputation as a ruthless killer.
That same year, Miller aligned himself with some of America’s most infamous gangsters, including Harvey Bailey, Thomas Holden, Francis Keating, George “Machine Gun” Kelly, and several others. On July 15, 1930, this formidable crew executed a daylight raid on a bank in Willmar, Minnesota, making off with an astounding $70,000. Less than a month later, on August 13, a dispute over a perceived “double-cross” from the Willmar robbery led Miller to kill Frank “Weinie” Coleman, Mike Rusick, and “Jew” Sammy Stein, dumping their bodies in White Bear Lake. The violence continued; on September 9, 1930, Miller participated with Bailey, Holden, Keating, Kelly, and Lawrence De Vol in robbing a bank in Ottumwa, Iowa, securing another $40,000. The following year, on April 8, 1931, alongside Bailey, Kelly, Frank “Jelly” Nash, and others, he robbed a bank in Sherman, Texas, stealing another $40,000. Reports also suggest his involvement in the killing of two Minneapolis Police Officers in December 1932, further cementing his brutal legacy.
The Infamous Kansas City Massacre
Miller’s notoriety reached its zenith with his involvement in the infamous Kansas City Massacre. He had returned to primarily operating as a hired gunman, and his next major commission was to free his former partner, Frank Nash, from federal custody. On the morning of June 17, 1933, Miller, along with Charles “Pretty Boy” Floyd and Adam Richetti, ambushed federal agents and police officers who were transporting Nash to Leavenworth Federal Prison. As Nash was being escorted from the Union Train Station in Kansas City, Missouri, the outlaws opened fire in a desperate attempt to free their associate.
The ensuing gun battle was chaotic and deadly. In the end, Frank Nash and four lawmen – FBI Agent Raymond J. Caffrey, Kansas City Police Chief of Detectives W.J. Grooms, Kansas City Police Officer Frank Hermanson, and Oklahoma Police Chief Otto Reed – were killed. The brutality and public nature of the event shocked the nation and galvanized federal authorities to intensify their pursuit of the criminals involved, making Miller one of the most wanted men in America.
The Final Chapter: On the Run and a Violent End
Following the Kansas City Massacre, Vernon C. Miller became a prime target for the FBI. Accompanied by his girlfriend, Vivian Mathias, he fled to Chicago, arriving around June 19, 1933. He sought refuge with a member of the notorious Barker-Karpis gang for a few days before reportedly moving on to New York. The FBI, however, was relentless in its pursuit. On October 31, 1933, an investigation confirmed his return to Chicago with Mathias. The next day, Miller narrowly evaded a trap set by the FBI, but Mathias was apprehended. She later pleaded guilty to charges of harboring and concealing a fugitive, highlighting the severity of assisting such a high-profile criminal.
Miller’s freedom was short-lived. On November 29, 1933, less than two months after his narrow escape, his mutilated body was discovered in a ditch on the outskirts of Detroit, Michigan. He had been brutally beaten and strangled, a grim testament to the violent world he inhabited. Information later obtained by the FBI indicated that his death was a retaliatory killing. Miller had reportedly been involved in an altercation in Newark, New Jersey, with a henchman of Longie Zwillman, the powerful head of New Jersey’s underworld mob. During the dispute, Miller shot the henchman, and it was a short time later that another Zwillman associate reportedly avenged his comrade by killing Miller. His violent end brought a fittingly brutal close to the life of a man who lived and died by the gun.
Conclusion
The life of Vernon C. Miller serves as a stark reminder of the dark allure and ultimate price of a life entangled in crime during the tumultuous Prohibition era. From a decorated soldier and respected sheriff to a ruthless bootlegger, bank robber, and cold-blooded killer, Miller’s descent into the underworld was complete and devastating. His involvement in the Kansas City Massacre cemented his place in criminal history, a stark example of the era’s rampant lawlessness. His violent end, at the hands of fellow criminals, underscored the inherent dangers and betrayals that characterized the lives of America’s most wanted. Miller’s story is a compelling chronicle of ambition, greed, and unchecked violence, leaving an indelible mark on the annals of American crime.
