When one thinks of organized crime, the activities of past criminals in the big cities of New York and Chicago spring to mind first – names of infamous criminals such as Al Capone, Bugsy Segal, Lucky Luciano, John Dillinger and Meyer Lansky, for example. But southern Illinois also had its fair share of crime and infamous criminals. Author Taylor Pensoneau, author of two true-crime books focusing on downstate bad guys, will speak on a period of lawlessness in downstate Illinois from the 1920s into the 1960s. Pensoneau’s two books on the crime era, Brothers Notorious – The Sheltons and Dapper & Deadly, cover the activities of the infamous outfit led by the Shelton brothers, a murderous gang war, bootlegging, illegal gambling and labor racketeering. Free.
True crime tales from Southern Illinois
Saturday, March 22, 1-2 p.m.
Chatham Public Library
600 E. Spruce, Chatham
217-483-2713
This article appears in Spring Guide 2025.
