Events
Southern Illinois Coal Company opens strip mine in Williamson Co.Mine OpensUnited Mine Workers of America strikeCompany Dismisses union minersStrikebreakers and guards imported from ChicagoHerrin Massacre - 19 killed5 men go on trial for murder of strikebreakerMen charged in massacre found not guilty - all other indictments waived by State's Atty DutyKlan makes first appearances at churches2000 klansmen initiate 200 new members in a field near MarionKlansmen visit Herrin Methodist church, hand contribution to pastorAnother Initiation near CartervilleKlan stages "law-and-order" demonstration, initiates moreS. Glenn Young arrives in WilliamsonKlan and Young raid scores of actual and alleged bootleggersAnother RaidThird RaidCaesar Cagle killed in Herrin.Most of the troops are withdrawn4th raidBiggest raid of them all - train required to take those arrested to Benton for arraignment.Klansmen shoot up herrin hospitalYoung takes control, militia returnsYoung yields power to countyTrial for bootleggers begins in Danville. Ora Thomas sentenced to long jail term.Grand jury indicts 99 in murder of Cagle and hospital attackKlan stages a parade in protestYoung takes over reorganizing Klan in ESLYoung and wife attacked in car driving from Marion to ESLJack Skelcher stopped by Klan police and killedYoung and Klansmen disrupt court hearing for Sheltons and Charlie BriggsKlan in ESL dismisses YoungFederal Judge rules Young must stand trial on corruptionHerrin city judge rules Young's 39k bond forfeitedKlan stages huge demonstration at county fairgroundsRiot at John Smith's garage in Herrin - six killed, militia returnsYoung expelled from KlanOra Thomas appointed deputy sheriffThomas, Young, and two of Young's henchmen die in gunfight in HerrinSheriff Galligan agrees to leave countyGalligan returnsHarold S. Williams, evangelist, begins revivalsState's Atty strikes all cases originating in Klan WarKlan newspaper ceases publicationWilliams revival endsElection day riot in Herrin. End of Klan in Williamson Co.Fights and killings in Herrin point to a war between gangsHarry Walker & Everett Smith kill each other in a roadhouse brawlWild Bill Holland, Mack Pulliam, and Pulliam's wife shot as they leave a roadhouse. Holland diesGangsters attack an ambulance carrying Pulliam and beat the man unconsciousSheltons fire on Art Newman and wife from armored truckBirger gangsters shoot up unoccupied Shelton roadhouseBirger and gang demand Adams surrender Shelton's truck, threaten to kill himHigh Pockets McQuay and Casey Jones found dead, separatelyBirger roadhouse near Johnston City is shot up burned downJohn Milroy killed near Colp in roadhouse. Mayor of town later killed and chief of police later shot.homemade bomb tossed at Shady Rest, missesMachine gunners fire into home of Adams. Bombs drop from plane onto Shady RestBomb damages Joe Adams homeTwo young men murder Joe Adams at his front doorShady Rest bombed and burned to the ground - 4 bodies foundLory Price, state patrollman and friend of Birger's and wife are missing.Sheltons go on trial for mail robbery at federal court in QuincySheltons are found guilty based on testimony by Birger and NewmanSheltons sentenced to 25 years. Body of Lory Price is found near Dubois.Harry Thomasson and two other Birger gangsters convicted of robbery, sentenced to ten years.Birger arrested for murder of Joe AdamsHarry Thomasson convesses to murder of Adams with brother Elmo at Birger's behest.Birger gangsters Rado Milich, Clarence Rone, and Ural Gowan indicted for murder of Casey JonesArt Newman arrested in Long Beach for murder of Joe AdamsSheltons granted new trial after Harry Dungey, birger gangster, admits he perjured himselfArt Newman appears in court at Nashvill IL, admits his role in murder of Lory Price and wife, along with Birger, Ritter, Blue, Simpson, and SimmonsMrs. Price is discovered in an abandoned mine where Newman stated it would be.Millich and Gowan go on trial for murder of Casey Jones. Clarence Rone turns state's witness and isn't prosecuted.Gowen sentenced to 25 years, Millich to deathBirger, Newman, and Hyland go on trial in Benton for murder of AdamsThree defendants found guilty. Death for Birger, life for Newman and Hyland.Birger receives stay of executionRado Millich hanged at the jailyard at MarionSupreme Court denies Birger's appeal for new trial. Execution set for April 13, 1928Jury finds Birger sane, execution set for April 19Birger hanged in the jailyard at Benton.Birger kills Cecil Knighton at Halfway in self defenseWhitey Doering is killed and Birger wounded in a shootout at HalfwayBirger's trial and jail term begins in DanvilleBeatrice leaves Charlie for Pennsylvania, leaving Minnie and Charline at her parentsBirger is allowed to return to Harrisburg for a week to untangle property mattersBirger returns to DanvilleReleased from jail, Birger returns to Harrisburg.Birger sentenced 6 months in the county jail, remains free on bail.Birger enters jail at HarrisburgBirger released from jail. Shady Rest becomes reality.Birger and Sheltons form partnership in slot machinesCharlie marries BeatriceCharline Birger is born
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