[yarddog]

Perhaps my earliest memory is of seeing a picture on the front page of the Panama City "News Herald" of soldiers burning tables in the street.

I asked my Mother what it was and she told me it was marshall law in Phenix City. She then had to explain what marshall law was.

I saw the movie years ago and understand it was basically accurate. I used to know several federal agents who worked the Russell-Lee county area during the time. They told me it was about as bad as it gets.

One old agent who had retired told me that the same gang who killed Buford Pusser's wife was the one run out of Phenix City.

I had some small dealings with John Patterson. He impressed me as a personable and able attorney.

[AnAmericanMother]

Wow. My Russell County relatives used to talk about it. They lived out in the country, over Hurtsboro way, so Phenix City was a distant metropolis. I don't think they ever went there for anything other than filing deeds or getting a marriage license. They thought of it as a Bad Place to Be.