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Len's Family Tree

• Just the ones referenced, the family is much bigger
• The origins of the Shelton Gang, who ran the south side of Central City from the 19th century through the 1970s

graph LR
A[Sheltons] --> B[Nadine b. 1885 - d. 1938];
B --> F(Edith b. 1903 - d. 1988);
F --> G>Mary b. 1925 - d. 1977];
G --> H((Nadine b. 1951 - d. 2016));
H --> I[/Leonard b. 1972/];
I --> J{First b. 2017};
A[Sheltons] --> C[Carl b. 1888 - d. 1939];
C --> K(Joseph b. 1920 - d. 1977);
K --> L>Carl b. 1947 - d. 1977];
L --> M((Selina b. 1971));
K --> N>Duncan b. 1948];
N --> O((Sylvie b. 1993));
A[Sheltons] --> D[Earl b. 1890 - d. 1943];
A[Sheltons] --> E[Red b. 1898 - d. 1987];

• Sheltons
  • Nadine (b. 1885 - d. 1938)
    • Edith: singer, record store owner, bootlegger (b. 1903 - d. 1988)
      • Mary (b. 1925 - d. 1977)
        • Nadine (b. 1951 - d. 2016)
          • Leonard (b. 1972)
            • First (b. 2017)
  • Carl (b. 1888 - d. 1939)
    • Joseph (b. 1920 - d. 1977)
      • Carl (b. 1947 - d. 1977)
        • Selina (b. 1971)
      • Duncan (b. 1948)
        • Sylvie (b. 1993)
  • Earl (b. 1890 - d. 1943)
  • Red (b. 1898 - d. 1987)

Prohibition

• 1920 - 1933

Shelton Gang Warfare

• Top lieutenant - racketeer in East St. Louis
• Lucrative construction contracts and property deals in exchange for campaign contributions
• County agency: St. Louis Economic Development partnership
• City alderman was convicted of voter fraud, obstruction of justice, and income tax evasion
• Security Consultant for Pipefitters Local 562
• Chairman of city council
• I-55 car bombing on the highway
• car bomb shook buildings all around the intersection of Kings Highway and Nottingham
• Parking lot car bombs sounded like an earthquake
• They controlled gambling and liquor distribution
• They had homemade armored trucks (how?)
• Performed an aerial bombing raid on the headquarters of their enemies
  • including 50 gunmen in a coordinated attack