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New book chronicles exploits of gangster Black Charlie Harris

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[After publishing his book "Brothers Notorious" on the Wayne County Shelton Gang of bootleggers, friends suggested Taylor Pensoneau then dig into the gangster sometimes credited with the Shelton's downfall.

Earlier this year Pensoneau of New Berlin completed the book "Dapper and Deadly: The True Story of Black Charlie Harris." In his book Pensoneau told the story of a man who could be charming, friendly, but ruthless when crossed.

At age 68 he made the Federal Bureau of Investigations' 10 Most Wanted List as the suspect in the double murder of his crush, Betty Newton, and her boyfriend, Jerry Meritt. The conviction -- Harris' third -- resulted in his incarceration in Vienna. Once his time was served Harris moved to a trailer in Kansas where he died in 1988 at age 91.

Harris -- who became known as Black Charlie in the media and was known to refer to himself as Blackie Harris -- had been involved in an alliance with the Shelton gang in the community of Pond Creek in Wayne County.

"They were in the same rural neighborhood in the eastern part of Wayne County. As a young guy he was doing the bidding of the Sheltons until his conviction in the 1920s for passing counterfeit bills," Pensoneau said.

While serving his prison time in Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary Harris suspected the Shelton brothers had set him up, but returned to the gang after serving his time.

The Shelton brothers Carl and Bernie were later murdered one by one. The other leader, Big Earl Shelton, left for Florida after he was shot and Shelton family houses and barns were being burned. He died there in 1986 at age 96.

Harris was a suspect.

In the 1940s Harris' reputation ballooned. As the Wayne County farmers came to regard the Sheltons as overbearing in their desire for land and money, Harris became a sort of hero.

Harris' reputation as a hero diminished upon the news of sensational murders that were not gang-related in the Pond Creek area.

Harris was convicted of the double murder of Betty Newton and Jerry Meritt.

Harris had a crush on Newton. She sought to distance herself from Harris and he later saw her in the company of Meritt. In the summer of 1964 they were killed and the house they were in was burned..

"Harris was charged with double murder and arson and sent to prison for the third and last time in his life. After the indictment he fled and was a fugitive for 10 months."

Harris, 68, was thought to be the oldest man on the FBI's most wanted list.

After his capture and incarceration, Harris was paroled and lived out his life with his niece in Elkhart, Kansas.

Interest in Harris and the Sheltons remains strong in Wayne County. Pensoneau was astounded to have sold over 1,000 books at a recent book signing Wayne County Historical Society's museum in Fairfield.

"It was probably a once-in-a-lifetime experience, to be honest," Pensoneau said.

Pensoneau's signing schedule is 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Feb. 26 at Taylor's Mini-Mall in Fairfield, 1 p.m. Feb. 27 at Bookworm in Carbondale and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 28 at Flora Public Library.

Pensoneau has sent copies to the Book Emporium in Harrisburg.

The book is available through Pensoneau's website at www.downstatepublications.com or by letter of interest to Downstate Publications, P.O. Box 320, New Berlin, Ill. 62670. Through mail, Pensoneau will send a bill.

-- DeNeal receives e-mail at bdeneal@yourclearwave.com.