The State Line Mob: A True Story of Murder and Intrigue

Both sides of the Pusser story are intriguing, this tells the story leading up to the election of him.

This is about where I lived.

Although I was in high school and later a freshman in college, all this took place less than 30 miles from where I grew up. I remember older people talking about this and I also remember driving by all the places in the book as well. They were famous and just about like the wild west-scumbag cheaters who bought the law. Since, I knew of the happening and had actually seen all the places talked about in the book it really held my attention and I could hardly stop reading it. It is true of all the happenings and event, but in real life, I think everything was much worse. as seniors in high school and college freshman, we would drive up HIghway 45, just to see if we could see any "actions", but we never did, but one time we were in a place under age and there to dance, but not at these location, when old Buford Pusser walked in. Talking about scattering, we all did. I remember hurrying to the ladies room for I had no fake ID on me and everyone underage was carried off in a police car. Non of us drank, but we were afraid, everyone was afraid of him and this book just hits a bit of the going on at the State Line of Tennessee and Mississippi and true, it is there were people who just disappeared from these clubs and gambling halls. The BOOK IS REALLY GOOD!

I started reading this book...and COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! I was shocked, captivated, saddened and thrilled all from this one book. I have always known the Bufford "Walking Tall" side, but to hear all this from before Buford and how the State Line Mob came to be. I hear from other people that would talk about "Pheonix City,AL" and how bad it was and how a lot of those thugs drifted to the state line. I myself live along the TN river and have no doubt that alot of the tales of "cement shoes" or "chain neckties" in Mr.Morris book are true. Mr. Morris takes you into the book as if you are right at each incident going through it and as I said it is hard to escape once you get pulled in. It seems to skip parts of Pussers life that you would want to see or know about, but this book is not focused on him. I really feel in my opinion this is all about the State Line Mob and how ruthless they were and how they all had ice in their veins. To me the book describes "Towhead" as the typical psycho...polite and nice with people during incarceration to doing things degrading to women, murdering, fighting, stealing...you name it. By the time I finished reading the book I felt pride for men like Buford Pusser and hope there are other men today like him that KNOW what is right...then stand up for it! Great job W.R.Morris!

This book is very awesome. When u start reading it u dont want to put it down. I lived in McNairy Co. for almost 20 yrs. My mom was from there. She was born there and knew Buford and some of the people they were talking about in the book. It was awesome to read about it. It was a shame Buford got killed the way he did. My hat goes off to the author . Thank you for writing it.Thanks,Sheri Stedman

This book will probably only be of interest to followers of the Buford Pusser story (the Sheriff of "Walking Tall" fame). It is the final book in Morris' Buford Pusser trilogy (the first two are "Twelfth of August" and "Buford"). Morris was the Tennessee Sheriff's official biographer but fell from favor with Pusser before his death and thus the book is written with a slightly unfavorable view of the late lawman. Morris reveals Pusser to be "less than the idealistic hero" of the Walking Tall movies in this book. The book tells the story of the "State Line" area that was the backdrop for Pusser's adventures as Sheriff. It tells the sordid stories of the individuals and the establishments of the region (Alcorn County MS and McNairy County TN).The book itself is not nearly as well written as "Twelfth of August." Morris attempts to dramatize the stories and only makes them less credible by the way he does so. Be cautioned as it is filled with profanity. It also contains sexual content (unnecessarily I might add). It should be noted that many consider Morris to be a poor authority on the Pusser/State Line story and that he wrote only for profit, embellishing and exagerating the stories he tells for effect. He is villified by both sides of the story today. Personally I have found no reason to doubt him outright and he is the only source of information about the Pusser Legend.

Buford Pusser fought "fire with fire" in eradicating the State Line Mob. This is a great read and a must for anyone who read the Twelfth of August. If you like true crime, syndicated crime or just Southern legends, this is a great read.

This is the real mob that made a national sensation of Buford Pusser.The author details the schemes and personalities of the state line gang. You’ll be amazed at what you learn. These were some rough and tough people who would do anything to part someone from their money.If you enjoy criminal history, you’ll enjoy this book greatly.

Interesting background to the story of Sheriff Buford Pusser, McNairy County, Tennessee. The State Line Mob operated some shady clubs around Corinth, MS from the 1940's to the 1970's. The book deals with the main characters behind these enterprises, especially Towhead White and the Hathcock relatives. Eventually they encounter Sheriff Pusser who was willing to do what was necessary to combat their threats and illegal activities. This book clears up many of the misconceptions presented in the original "Walking Tall" set of movies. The book has fairly large print and is a fast read. However, many of the included photographs are too dark to make anything out.