The Jewish and Redneck Mobsters that Beat the KKK: Charlie Birger Gang and the Shelton Brothers

In the era of prohibition, Charlie Birger built a bootlegging and gambling empire in southern Illinois, otherwise known as little Cairo. He charmed women, passed out money to children and poor families, bought off all the police and politicians...and killed anyone who got in his way. But he wasn't the only building an army in 1920's Indiana. The second iteration of the Ku Klux Klan was on the rise and starting up with their own version of vigilante justice, attacking bootleggers, immigrants, and anyone who didn't fit into their version of America. The Birger Gang wasn't having it. War was coming.

Underworld is a podcast about organized crime around the world, by reporters Danny Gold and Sean Williams. From Balkan warlords to Brooklyn wiseguys, we’ll expose the barely-visible networks that affect everyone’s lives. Bringing our experience hunting some of the world’s most dangerous people, we’ll show how gangs fought to the top of their food chains - and how some got cut down to size.

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[tylarprice]

My Grandpa Ted Price was in the "infamous" Charlie Birger Gang picture in front of Shady Rest. He is at the far right holding a rifle in a newsboy cap. My Grandpa was 13 yrs old then & was rabbit hunting with his buddy when Charlie asked him if he wanted to be in the picture & my Grandpa said, "Well, sure!" PBS did a documentary years ago & my Grandpa was interviewed.

[nflannell]

I have lived in Southern Illinois my entire life. The Birger and Shelton gangs are almost like heros to a lot of people here. They really are our Hatfields and McCoy's. There is even a museum dedicated to Charlie Birger located in Benton at the old Franklin County jail, where the actual gallows are on display. The homemade tanks, air plane bombing (the first aerial bombing to ever take place on American soil), etc are all 100% true. If anyone is interested in learning more about all of it, I highly recommend the book Bloody Williamson, written in 1952 by Paul M Angle.
As for making it a movie...personally I would love to see it happen if it was done accurately. Its an amazing story and a big part of our history here in "Little Egypt".

[herbdelarge]

Thank you for the quality consistent content!

[jerryw]

I grew up in Southern Illinois during the 40's and 50's so I remember when all this was going on. I have been to a lot of the bootleg joints that existed back then. I saw a car in Fairfield full of bullet holes done by a machine gun. My uncle was a sheriff in Fairfield when a lot of this was going on. I have read the Bloody Williamson book too. Sometimes it was hard to convict someone for a killing because members of the jury were scared of reprisal and some were even friends with them. I knew a Shelton brother living in Wayne County that was not involved with his brothers in the Shelton gang.

[kaminsod]

This is a goddamn Tarantino movie waiting to be made.

[lindseyb]

Benton Illinois. The home of John malkovich and Doug Collins. It is also a Town George Harrison spent a few weeks at .back in 63 i don't know why a mini series hasn't been produced about the he book Bloody Williamson. It covers decades about the violence in Williamson county.

[Renovegas]

When I was 18 I spent 2 days in that window right behind Charlie. Grandma said he was a good man ...

[shawngalloway]

My grandmother was a shelton.. cousin to the shelton brothers. The stories she would tell.

[joshsailer]

This is an amazing one I’ve never even heard of this mobster and I’ve researched a lot about monsters so thank you guys very much for the info that content is great keep up the great work

[benjaminshelton]

My great grandparents were a different breed. We never interacted with that side of the family. A key factor you left out was how long the assassinations were carried out. The last Shelton related to the gang was gunned down in a grocery store in 1976. The other was killed a few years earlier by a high powered rifle as he was driving his plowing his field. Old habits died hard

[johnmchugh]

The excellent documentary you were trying to remember may be called ''Harlan county'' from 1976. Thanks for covering as this a lot of viewers may not be aware of the many bloody battles fought by workers for their rights in America. Sad that these events do not get the coverage they deserve. Cheers !

[nelsonmcatee]

I had family that were Sheltons 5 generations back and my grandpa met Charlie Birger at Shady Rest.

[alexsmith]

The Sheltons are still around and probably still making moonshine.. haven’t seen that side of the family in a long time.

[bricemauney]

My grandpas uncle was the one that snitched. He was dying of lung cancer and wanted to die with a clear consciousness.

[SubPablum]

Illinois public television made a doco about Charlie Birger with a soundtrack by local band Woodbox Gang. The soundtrack, I've Killed Men, is on YT.

[michaelhall]

Matewan is the movie you referenced. A really great John Sayles film.

[Minpingirl]

Excellent...I grew up and lived in Marion Illinois..til I was 55

[bmfilmnut]

There was reportedly 5, 000 people in the crowd, not 500. (My father was there.) Also, Birger did not shake hands with people in the crowd but he did shake hands with officials on the gallows. Facts count.

[jamesgiesler]

Being from Marion IL. You guys really need to ask... Some of theses families you talk of are still around. Witnesses. This corruption is alive aND well. Still. It hasn't gone away. Let me know. I'll share.

[VinsDwelling]

I'm not gonna into too much detail about the shelton brothers, but i'm actually related to them. SO much to the point that one of them look exactly like my grandma. (I even look like one of them too). The weird part about it is that my great grandma's father (on my mothers side) known al capone. What are the chances of that? Also just letting everyone know that i'm not a mob boss lol.