The preferred citation for this collection is "From the collections of the St. Louis Mercantile Library at the University of Missouri - St. Louis."
About 80 percent of the St Louis Ballads Collection pertains to the short life of Lee Shelton, whose nickname was "Stack Lee," comparing his height to that of the smokestack of the steamboat Robert E Lee. In the oral tradition, Stack Lee transformed into Stagger Lee, Stack O' Lee, even Stoge Lee or Stag O' Lee. Occasionally official prison records refer to Shelton by one of the nicknames.
Lee was a well-known African-American pimp in late 19th-century St Louis. On Christmas Day, 1895, while drinking with friends in Curtis' Saloon, he quarreled with business rival William (Billy) Lyons. Eyewitnesses testified that the disagreement was about a bowler hat. It ended with Lee shooting Lyons, who died during the night at the hospital where he had been taken.
Lyons left behind a wife and three young children. The children were adopted into separate homes to avoid going to an orphanage.
The collection traces all the legal steps required to arrest and convict Lee, many of which are fragile original records. Lee was convicted of murder and sent to prison. He did not do well in prison, constantly rebelling against the rules. But in 1909 friends petitioned for clemency. He was released, but apparently was by now ill. In 1911, he robbed a man called Aikns of $60 and went back to prison. There he was diagnosed with the final stages of TB and died in 1912.
In 1919, Reedy's Mirror printed a long version of "The Ballad of Stagger Lee;" the collection includes an original copy of the issue. An Atlantic Records version of Wilson Pickett singing a later version is also included in the collection.
Regarding the ballad "Frankie and Johnnie," two items appear to be connected with it.
Two prints of onetime St Louis theaters do not appear to have any link to any song. Other items for which links need to be established are records of Charles Stark's court cases, a list of jury clerk's fees, and two sets of photos of unidentified persons.
The collection is arranged chronologically by date.
St. Louis Mercantile Library Special Collections
Thomas Jefferson Library Building
One University Boulevard
St. Louis, Missouri, 63121
(314) 516-7247
This collection is open for research. Due to the rare and fragile nature of this resource, use of the collection’s materials must be reviewed by library staff. Please contact the Library at 314-516-7247 for more information.
Due to the rare and fragile nature of this resource, use of the collection’s materials must be reviewed by library staff. Please contact the Library at 314-516-7247 for more information.
Copyright Information: The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.
Fee Services: Fees associated with staff research time, cost recovery in reproductions processing time and materials, and licensing may apply.
1 Newspaper picture of Standard Theater (reproduction) 1886-03-23
Old Xerox of newspaper clipping. Also 2 photocopies.
2 Charles Stark Circuit Court; Court Cases He Handled 1887-04 Fragile. Original document is in six pieces. Photocopy available to researcher.
J. Milton Turner v Charles Starkes. List of Sheriff's fees. One good photocopy. Dated "April Term 1887"
3 Jury Clerk's Fees 1893-04-11 Fragile original document. Ink, handwritten. Year date has crumbled away, so 1893 is uncertain. Could be 1895 or 1903.
Clerk's Fees and Sheriff's Fees record.
4 Frankie Baker Death Certificate 1894-12-19
judging by the date, might be the incorrect Frankie Baker
5 Billy Lyons Death Certificate 1895-12-25
Certified copy of death certificate issued during the 20th century by the City of St Louis Bureau of Vital Statistics. Certificate No. 9322 for death of "Male Negro William Lyons" on Dec 25, 1895
6 Coroner's Inquest for body of William Lyons 1895-12-27 Photocopies of original typescript and handwritten documents that are so old they are fragile in themselves.
Old Xerox of the handwritten attending doctor's account of postmortem of "Lee Stoge" [sic?] who died of hemorrhage at 4 am Dec. 26, 1895. Document dated Dec 27, 1895. WJ Wait, MD, was coroner.
Testimony taken about the fight over a hat at Curtis' Saloon from: Thomas Edward Scott Frank Boyd Officer John Flanigan Officer Falvey George G Mc'Faro L Stevenson Dr. Otto Sutter
Testimonies are old Xeroxes of original typed court transcriptions
7 Complaint Against Lee Shelton for Murder 1895-12-28
Old photocopy of criminal complaint dated Dec 28, 1895, for killing William Lyons
8 Warrant for Arrest of Lee Shelton 1895-12-28 Is original document! Still in good shape, but probably needs a photocopy made for use by researchers. Handle with great care
Original document dated Dec 28, 1895. "Alias Stack Lee." Charge is Murder 1st Degree
9 Arraignment of Lee Shelton 1896-04-01 Original fragile document in pieces. Photocopy available for researchers
Original fragile document. Dated Jan 4, 1896. Before Judge David Murphy. Bail set at $4,000
10 Lee Shelton Bail 1896-01-04 old, fragile photocopy
Photocopy of original cover of the Lee Shelton's indictment, setting bail at $4,000
11 Lee Shelton Defense Lawyers' Instructions 1896 Fragile handwritten original notes from Shelton's lawyers. Badly needs to be scanned before researchers work with it
Undated, but context puts it into 1896, which was the year of his trial. Original document labeled "State v Stack Lee"
12 Indictments of Lee Shelton 1897-05-13 Consists of original typescript carbon copy, which is crumbling, and one old photocopy, still in reasonable shape, for use by researchers
Original fragile document, dated May 13, 1897. Original carbon copy signed and annotated indictment of "State of Missouri Against Lee Shelton alias Stack Lee." Also one photocopy
13 Description of Convict (Lee Shelton) 1897-10-07
Fragile very old photocopy of original document, also newer photocopy. Dated Oct 7, 1897. Description of Convict form from Missouri State Penitentiary. Shelton whipped three times for persistent craps shooting and theft of a ham. In 1905, confined to solitary.
14 Charles Stark Circuit Court: Pauline Starkes vs Oliver Starkes 1897-11-15 Fragile original carbon copy of typescript. Also a clear photocopy available for use by researchers
Carbon copy (fragile!) of complaint dated Nov 15, 1897. Also clear photocopy. Unclear why this complaint is included in this collection
15 Death Certificate No. 2018, for Nat Shelton
Original typescript of death certificate for one Nat Shelton, died March 20, 1907, of cirrhosis of the liver. Also a photocopy for use by researchers. Why is this document in the collection? Possible father of Lee Shelton? This person born 1840, so it's possible.
16 Offer of Employment for Lee Shelton 1909-06-17
Old photocopy, but still in good shape. Letter from William H Fields dated June 17, 1909, offering Lee Shelton employment and noting that Shelton probably had TB
17 Lee Shelton's Fingerprints 1909-11-24
Two photocopies of Lee Shelton's fingerprints. Old, but in good shape.
18 Petition for Clemency for Lee Shelton 1909
Photocopy of typescript of petition to governor of Missouri, signed by 29 people. No date, but probably some time during 1909.
19 Complaint Against Lee Shelton, 1911 1911-03-15 Original photocopy, now at least 80 years old, is fragile.
Old photocopy, and four newer ones, of complaint from William Aikns (no 'e' in name) against Lee Shelton for robbery of $60 on Jan 26, 1911. Complaint itself dated March 15, 1911.
20 Prison Diagnosis of Lee Shelton 1912-01-20 Old, fragile photocopy looks torn from a loose-leaf notebook. Strongly suggest that it's scanned for use by researchers as soon as possible.
Fragile old photocopy of diagnosis of final stages of pulmonary tuberculosis.
21 Prison Notation of Lee Shelton's Record 1912-03-11
Two photocopies of Shelton's prison summary. Includes his date of death.
22 Stack Lee-Prison Record-Entry-Description 1912-03-11
Original typescript and one photocopy, annotated in red ink. Summarizes Shelton's prison record, commutation of sentence in 1909, return to prison May 7, 1911, and death on March 11, 1912, about 42 years old old.
23 Reedy's Mirror, 'Ballad of Stacker Lee' 1919-01-03 Magazine originally printed on newspulp; after 97 years, is brown and crumbling. Probably should be handled as little as possible.
Reedy's Mirror magazine printed "The Ballad of Stacker Lee" in ful in its issue dated jan 3, 1919. Additional original letter from Mrs. Pat Pratt of the St. Louis Public Library, dated Sept 7, 1973, gives provenance of the newspaper.
24 Metropolitan Life Insurance Co letter re Lee Shelton 1973-09-24
Photocopy of original letter dated Sept 24, 1973, from Fred Kleiman of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company to Russ David, saying the company's records for 1912 have been destroyed.
25 Ellen Harris Article About the Real Frankie's Life 1999-11
Xerox of St Louis magazine November 1999 issue article titled "They Done Her Wrong," by Ellen Harris. Harris researched the life of the real Frankie Baker, who was the basis of the character Frankie in the song, "Frankie and Johnnie."
26 Printout From www.staggerlee.com/pgs 2016-01-07
This printout from a website gives timeline of the murder and song lyrics derived from it. PLEASE NOTE that the dates presented disagree with the original documents.
27 Photo of Billy Lyons' Three Children No date
Original photo and two copies of an undated photo of Billy Lyon's three children: Florence, Buddy and Marie. Also signed model releases and notes on the back of the large envelope that stored the pictures. After Billy's murder, the children were adopted into separate homes, to avoid having them go into an orphanage. No. 1 of 5 undated folders
28 45 RPM record of Wilson Pickett singing 'Stagger Lee' No date
Vinyl record issued by Atlantic Records. No date. Flip side is 'I'm in Love.' No. 2 of 5 undated folders
29 Photo of Unknown Lady--Pauline Starkes? No date
Original undated photo of lady in 19th-century clothing. Three additional photocopies. Envelope it was stored in said, "Starkes Pictures." No date. No. 3 of 5 undated folders
30 Photo of Unknown Man No date
Original mid-20th century photo of an unidentified man, four photocopies. Envelope it had been stored in said "Starkes Pictures." No date. No. 4 of 5 undated folders
31 Print of Pope's Theater No date
Undated old photocopy, also one newer Xerox, of a print of Pope's Theater. No date, no explanation. No. 5 of 5 undated folders
