
Carroll O'Connor stars as a small-town police chief (and later a sheriff) in fictional Sparta, Miss. For a small town, Sparta has its share of murder, rape, corruption, racism and drunken driving, so O'Connor's Chief William Gillespie has his hands full. The TV series is based on the novel and film of the same name.
The discovery of slave artifacts at a construction site leads to an archaeological survey and murder.
Against Gillespie's warnings, Parker's rowdy stepfather (Pat Hingle) returns to Sparta followed by homicidal art thieves; guest Anne Meara.
Harriet and Bill become targets of a crazed gunman on the eve of their wedding; guest William Gannon.
As Bill and Harriet prepare for their honeymoon, a cult leader's (Peter Fonda) activities get the attention of Forbes.