Join author Troy Taylor for another night of our “An Evening with…” series of events! This eerie evening will include a catered dinner, served in the Mineral Springs private ballroom. After dinner, Troy Taylor, Troy will be presenting “An Evening with the Gangs of Southern Illinois,” a night of gambling, bootleg liquor, guns, ghosts, Charlie Birger, the Shelton Brothers, and more!

During the 1920s, the attention of the entire nation was often on Illinois – shocked by the bloodshed and carnage that was taking place on the streets of Chicago, where Al Capone and his cronies fought for control of liquor in the city. But the truth was, what was happening in Chicago couldn’t compare with the violence in Southern Illinois.

It was there that a gangster named Charlie Birger had selling bootleg liquor, running gambling houses and speakeasies, had shot a number and killed a number of men, and had been fighting an all-out, guns in the streets, bullets flying everywhere war with another gang -- Shelton brothers – for years. His fate would be sealed on the gallows while most of the Sheltons died from bullets after the fiercest fighting came to an end.

Amidst all the bloodshed – the gangs of Southern Illinois became legends, leaving behind stories of murder, mayhem, and ghosts! If you have a fascination with the bloody history of Illinois, this is a night you don’t want to miss!