09/24/2026
Author Taylor Personeau shares information on 1930s era criminals in Southern Illinois
[September 23, 2026] Author Taylor Personeau spoke about 1930s era criminal groups in Southern Illinois at the September 2026 Logan County Genealogical and Historical Society meeting.
Before becoming an author, Personeau dreamed of writing books for years. He was a political writer for the St. Louis Post Dispatch then president of the Illinois Coal Association. His first books were biographies of former governor Dan Walker (1993) and former Governor Richard Ogilvie (1997).
Personeau has now written eleven books, most of which featured either governors or gangsters.
His third book is about the Shelton gang, who he heard many stories about growing up in Belleville, Illinois. In 2002, Personeau’s book Brothers Notorious: The Sheltons, Southern Illinois’ Legendary Gangsters came out. He said it is his most popular book, with sales of almost 22,000.
Starting in the 1920s with prohibition and ending in the mid-1960s, there was quite a bit of lawlessness and violence in Southern Illinois.
The Shelton boys grew up in a poor farm family in Wayne County just outside of Fairfield. Personeau said they were bullies who learned early on how to shoot guns and drive fast cars—two ingredients for gangsters. The brothers opened a tavern in East St. Louis. When prohibition began, they turned the front room into a confectionary and sold alcohol in the back room.
Soon, the boys became bootleggers and got booze for other taverns. They had a monopoly on bootlegging in Southern Illinois. Personeau said taverns bought protection from the Sheltons. The boys paid off political officials to ignore what they were doing.
The leader of the Shelton gang was Carl Shelton, a handsome ladies’ man who did not like violence. His brother Big Earl, did not go to school beyond the eighth grade, but was a good businessman. Bernie Shelton was the muscle who liked to shoot first and talk later.
During this time, Personeau said there was a rebirth in Southern Illinois of the Ku Klux Klan, who wanted to see prohibition enforced. There was soon a war between the bootleggers, the gangsters and the K*K. The Shelton gang took control of some towns. Other towns were guarded by the K*K, who had its own army and commander, and people had to get clearance from them to go into town.
At one point, a rival gangster named Charlie Burger challenged the Shelton brothers leading to an all-out war. Over a few months, Personeau said 40 to 50 men were killed. Burger had previously been a captain in Shelton’s group but had a falling out with Carl Shelton over a woman.
Personeau shared a story where the Sheltons commandeered a World War II Jenny and tried to bomb Charlie Burger’s headquarters, promising Elmer Kane and Henry Mundale $1000 and a brand new car to fly the plane.
Personeau’s book shares the story of Kane flying the plane as someone tossed the bombs behind Shady Rest. The first and second bombs were both duds. Burger’s men shot at the plane with ri**es and machine guns. The only casualties were a bulldog and an eagle. Because Kane and Mundale were caught driving what turned out to be a car stolen by Shelton henchmen, they were later arrested.
The Shelton gang set up machine guns in the back of a large truck and would patrol the highways at night, scaring many. Personeau said even cops got out of their way.
Charlie Burger was hung in 1928 for the murder of Joe Adams. He hired two teenage boys to assassinate Adams. Personeau said Burger’s hanging was the last public hanging in Illinois. The gallows can still be found in Benton, Illinois.
Another of Personeau's books about a gangster is Dapper and Deadly: The True Story of Black Charlie Harris. Harris had coal black hair and a swarthy complexion. Personeau said Harris grew up idolizing the Shelton boys. Carl Shelton even taught Harris’ Sunday School class at one point.
While Harris was a driver in Detroit for the Shelton gang during the bootlegging era, he was arrested for having counterfeit money. After being sent to Leavenworth for ten years, Harris never forgave the Shelton boys. When he was released from Leavenworth, Harris became their enemy.
Personeau said between 20 and 25 killings were attributed to Harris. He was a hired assassin in places like Los Angeles and was at the top of the FBI list. If you crossed Harris, you could either leave Southern Illinois or dig your grave.
To find out more about Harris, Personeau was able to eventually track down Harris’ niece Bea Riley in Kansas, who asked him to come alone to meet her. He spent three days interviewing her and she gave Personeau the photo he used for the cover of the book.
Through interviewing Riley and several others, plus getting letters from Leavenworth, Personeau was able to share the story of Harris’ criminal behavior. This book came out in 2010 and has sold around 6,000 copies.
Harris allegedly orchestrated Carl Shelton’s assassination in 1947. Big Earl survived three or four assassination attempts and Bernie was assassinated in 1948.
Personeau said his books about gangsters are his best sellers.
The next LCGHS meeting will be Monday, October 19 with a presentation by someone from the Illinois State Museum.
[Angela Reiners]
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