Patrick County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Biographies.....Shelton, Ernest March 6, 1896 - November 15, 1932
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ron Martin cindyandron@bellsouth.net September 2, 2023, 1:37 pm

Author: Ron Martin

  Ernest William Shelton was born on March 6, 1896, the first child born to 
Thomas Alexander Shelton and Mary Elizabeth “Bettie” Snead who lived in the 
Smith River area of Patrick County, Virginia. 

  Like many young men during this era, he grew up working on the farm.   By all 
accounts, Shelton was a nice-looking and sharp dressed man.  He had a speech 
impediment as he was prone to stuttering.  He was also an excellent shot with 
his .38 Smith & Wesson revolver.

  Sometime after 1920, he married Nellie Mae Burnett, the daughter of Thomas 
Green Burnett and Emma Virginia Stone Burnett who resided in the same general 
vicinity as Ernest.  

  As Shelton matured and grew up, like many young men in this area, he became 
engaged in the manufacturing of illegal whiskey which was prevalent in this 
area.  By all accounts, he was quite active in this area and eventually it led 
to many issues in the upcoming years.

  On December 5, 1925, the couple welcomed their first-born Thomas Jackson 
Shelton into their home.  

  In the winter of 1927, a series of events began to play out as suspicions 
arose which ultimately led Shelton’s brother-in-law Turner Clayton “Jack” Hall 
to travel to Stuart to secure a warrant for the arrest of Dave Cox.  All this 
suspicion and bad blood was even more surprising because the Cox, Hall, and 
Shelton families were good friends and were all related to each other either by 
blood or marriage.  Upon securing the warrant, it was supposedly understood by 
all parties that Hall would give the warrant to a Patrick County Sheriff’s 
Deputy, which did not happen.  This proved to be a fatal mistake as Jack 
gathered up Shelton to travel to the home of John Chaney where Dave Cox was 
located.   They also picked up Frank Chaney and Ora Turner sometime during this 
travel.

  The four arrived at the Chaney house on Sunday, February 6 which is located 
near where the Fayerdale Convention Center now sits, and a shootout ensued.   
After the smoke had cleared, three men ultimately were killed and several 
residents of the home were injured by gunfire.
   
  Shelton and two accomplices were arrested for the murder on February 7.   Ten 
days after his arrest, Ernest and Nellie welcomed a set of twins to the family 
as Ernestine and Eugine were born on February 17.  Just over a year later in 
March 1928, a sensational trial took place in Patrick County Circuit Court, 
Shelton and Turner were acquitted of the charges and it was decided by the 
prosecutor to drop all further charges against the pair as well as against 
Chaney.

  Eight months later, another set of twins were born when Clifford and William 
Bill were born on November 24, 1928.

  Unfortunately, the life of Ernest William Shelton tragically ended on November 
15, 1932.   Dump Adkins was killed by his grandfather Sparrel Adkins and he 
would not allow his body to remain at his residence.  The body was moved to the 
home of Ike Prater in the Union Church community.    Shelton was asked to help 
with the overnight vigil over the body of Adkins along with Ora Turner at 
Prater’s house.  Shelton was standing at a window around midnight when he was 
killed by Henry Holley who had made threats against Shelton.   Ultimately Holley 
was shot and killed as well by someone in the house.

  Shelton was laid to rest in the Thomas Shelton Cemetery which is located off 
Union Church Road on what is land that is owned by the United States Army Corps 
of Engineers.


Additional Comments:
Photograph of Shelton courtesy of the book "The Fayerdale Tragedy" by Elmer 
Haynes.

Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/patrick/photos/bios/shelton24nbs.jpg

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/patrick/bios/shelton24nbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/vafiles/

File size: 4.2 Kb