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Podcast: Mysterious Circumstances
Episode: Part 1 of 2 - The Death of Buford Pusser
Description: Buford Pusser was elected sheriff of McNairy County, Tennessee, on a platform of cleaning up the county, which was regarded as the most corrupt, crime-ridden county in the state, if not the U.S. by some local citizens. According to locals, several organized-crime rings, based mainly in Nashville, ran the criminal enterprises in McNairy County, including gambling, prostitution, bootlegging, narcotics, auto theft, etc. Pusser was a former amateur wrestler while living in Chicago, who locals perceived as tough as nails and incorruptible, which was a major departure from the image some prior local officials had. Although there were never any w...