The Story of Stagger Lee

The Story of Stagger Lee originates from a shooting that occurred on Christmas night, 1895, near the Third ward, also known as "Chestnut Valley" or the "Bloody Third district." The central character was a main named Lee Shelton, variously referred to in legend as Stagger Lee, Stagolee, Stack-A-Lee, and Stack O'Lee.

On Dec. 28, 1895, the Globe-Democrat described him as a cab driver, identifying him as "Lee Sheldon" — also known as "Stag." Newspaper reports and death certificates refer to him as "Stag," "Stack" or "Stock" lee.

Shelton, it's said, owned a nightclub called the Modern Horseshoe Club. "Lee Sheldon belonged to an exotic group of pimps in St. Louis called 'Macks'," writes Cecil Brown.¹ These men, Brown writes, were "not just 'urban strollers'; they presented themselves as objects to be observed."

Click here to download a pdf booklet of this story.

Editor's note: In combination with this feature, Riverfront Times and Timothy Lane are producing a small number of bound and signed copies of the Stagger Lee story. A free copy will be sent to the first 50 readers who send a request, along with full contact info, to:
Timothy Lane "Stagger Lee" chapbook
c/o Riverfront Times
6358 Delmar Blvd., Ste. 200
St. Louis, MO 63130

or via letters@riverfronttimes.com.