Obituary of Bernard (Bernie) Shelton Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives Copyright 2000 Cindy McCachern Wednesday, 28 July 1948, Robinson Daily News Shelton Clan Begins Gathering for Funeral Peoria, Ill., July 28--The Shelton clan began gathering today to give Bernard (Bernie) Shelton, 50, notorious gangster, the same type of lavish funeral they accorded his brother Carl last year. Bernard was killed Monday when an unknown sniper fired a single bullet at him from ambush. His death was similar to that of Carl who was machine gunned to death nine months ago. Carl's killers were never apprehended. Coroner Chauncey Woods was scheduled to hold the inquest into Bernard's death this afternoon. Indications today were that Bernard would be buried in the style accorded deceased gangsters during the 1920's when the gang dominated by he and Carl terrorized southern Illinois. His body was placed in a heavy bronze casket yesterday and taken from a Peoria Funeral Home to the farm near here. The farm, known as Golden Rule Acres, is an 80-acre tract dominated by a two-story white colonial home. Funeral services will be held here tomorrow. Carl's funeral was witnessed by 1,000 persons who sent truckloads of flowers. It appeared today that Bernard's funeral would rival that of his brother. Thursday, 29 July 1948 Shelton Buried With Pomp "Bernie" Shelton Former Illinois Ganster Funeral Rites Held Today Peoria, Ill., July 29--Bernard "Bernie" Shelton goes to his grave today with relatives and former henchmen according him the pomp and circumstance they consider befitting the man who once was virtually a co-ruler over a large section of Southern Illinois. Shelton's mother, 88-year-old Mrs. Agnes Shelton, arrived here last night from the family's hometown, Fairfield, Illinois, to witness the funeral of the second of her sons to die "with his boots on." Bernie was killed Monday by a sniper who ambushed him in almost the same way that his older brother, Carl, was killed nine months ago. In the roaring twenties the two brothers had led a gang that terrorized Southern Illinois and carried on a virtual war with a rival bootlegger, Charley Birger. The Sheltons finally won out over their enemy and for years they acted as law unto themselves over several counties of the state. Everything was set today to give Bernard the same royal send-off handed his brother last year. His three surviving brothers, Earl, 57, Roy, 47, and Dalton, 41, were on hand at Boland's Funeral Home, dressed in their Sunday best, along with their sisters, Mrs. Lulu Pennington of Fairfield and Mrs. Hazel McDonald of Jacksonville, Fla. Bernie's body, encased in a massive bronze coffin, was brought to the mortuary from the farm, known as Golden Rule Acres, where it had lain in state. The Rev. E. L. Fernandez, pastor of Arcadia Presbyterian church here, was to read the sermon at the services at 1:30 p.m. A lengthy entourage of cars, bearing mourners, flowers and sightseers, was expected to accompany the hearse to Park View cemetery. Police, meanwhile, still were attempting to learn who killed Shelton and why. They admitted frankly that they had no leads, just as police in Southern Illinois never gained any worthwhile clues as to Carl's slayers. At an inquest yesterday, witnesses told how Bernie was shot as he stood in front of his saloon near town by a marksman who fired one shot from a nearby hillside. The only member of the Shelton family to testify was Earl, who described his brother as a farmer and said he had last seen him three months ago. He offered no clues to the slaying. The jury returned a verdict of death at the hands of unknown persons. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb Archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Cindy McCachern