Evening star., 1926-11-21
PEACE IN ILLINOIS
GANG WAR SEEN
People Support New Sheriff,
Who Promises to End
1. :, Bootleg Feud.
6y Consolidated Press.


HERRIN, H.. November 20
"Bloody" Williamson County. Jared
by long series of violent outbreaks
which have eliminated in the present
gang warfare with its fanfare of
armored cars, airplane bombing and
machine gun att. cks. now is hoping
for an early termination OF its
troubles
That hope is placed in Oren Cole
man, the newly elected sheriff--a uni
'versity graduate. World War veteran,
farmer, financially Independent and a
bscheior--who takes up his duties
early next month. succeeding George
Galligan. Coleman Is fearless, and
says he is determined to bring peace
to this troubled district.
His word is going to be backed up
by a people aroused by the latest
fighting ring, and ready to give sup
port to anv one willing to preven'
trouble These late bombings and
pitched battles are of different origin
than the klan warfare of a year or
two ago. but the background Is much
the same.
Rum Traffice Blaued.
Huge profits in liquor traffic. which,
centralized in Williamson County,
supply ST Louis and southern iii
nois, are responsible for the present
feud between the Shelton and Birser
gangs. Back of that. though is the
rancor of the Glenn Young days.
when the drys formed the ku KluX
Klan to put down the wide-open road
houses that came In with the inaugu-
ration of Sheriff Galligan four years
ago.
The klan had about died out as an
effective force about the April pri-
mary. On that day however the law
less element Of antiKlansmen made
an open attack on John Smith. the
Klan leader. and shot and killed three
other Klansmen, losing three men
themselves Smith Is alleged to have
killed their deputy sheriff. Ora
Thomas, who had killed Young.
In that attack Of last April were
men associated with Charles Birger
and with the Shelton brothers, Carl.
Ernie and Bernie, all admitted boot
leggers. They had found that the alb
sence of Klan raiding had made bus-
ness profitable, but with increased
profits came quarrels between the
Shelton bro hers and Birger Therein
rests the tale Of the present feud
The Shelton brothers said the
break occurred because Birger tried
to keep all receipts from slot ma
chimes operated in county roadhouses.
Birger said it was caused by the
diamond and then collect $1,000 for
its return.
Gunmen MysteriousIy Slain.
Soon gangsters were found mystic
r1ously sI0in on both sides. Night at
tacks were too tame and one day the
community was thrilled with an at
aoly Aut Ia
made by Shelton gangsters from an
armored truck. Immediately Birger
had an armored car built. The new
Monitor and Slerrimac never met,
however
The battle then turned into some
thing of word fight. Birser
charged that the Sheltons We're guilty
Of a SCI 900 mail robbery at Collins
Vile and postal authorities caused
their arrest. Carl and Bernie Shelton
are held under $120 900 bond.
Four hours after the Sheltons were
arrested an airplane flew over the
Birser hut, a commodious log cabin,
and dropped three bombs but none
exploded. A previous bomb. thrown
from an automobile. had exploded
with virtually no damage. Then an
attempt was made to bomb the home
OF Joe Adams. West City mayor, and
said TO be supporter of the Shelton
gang.
Leaders in this latest feud. like the
others who have been involved in
Williamson Countv's troubles. are
plea aSant. Guiet-Spoken me-. affable in
conversation. The Sheltons come
from a family of respected. iaw.abid.
Ing citizens, While Rirger. a Russian
Jew has lived in the district for a
number Of years.