Sir George Vernon, father of Dorothy Vernon, ami known as " The King of the I'e.ik," bad immense power in those Derbyshire wilds in the sixteenth century. A pedlar once called at Haddon Hall, but was dismissed by Sir George, and wept on to Bakewell, some three miles off. There he 'topped at an inn, and that night a maid-servant saw him mnrdrr iug the landlord by cutting his throat till bis head was actually s< vered from his body ! She at once fleii i-ut id tbe night in terror to Had don Hill, it ml informed Sir George, who calmly ordered her to go back and tell the pedlar to call 011 him with bis wares. Ho also sent 1 servant with her to bring tbe landlord's head in a basket In tl;e morning tbe pedlar came, »nd opened bis wallet in Ihe courtyard, wheieupon Sir George had bis wallet also open* d. end showed him the murdered mail's he*d staring stiff and stark: a ghastly -i.'ht, that caused the frightened pedlar to llv out of th- gate at full speed. Hut the servants pur sued him, and took and hanged him on a tree at Ashfnr.i by their master's oriers. For tins sir Ceo,go V. rnon whs areu-ed of murder. the title of "King i-f the IVik, but this name he 1-1, and the indictment «:mcjiiashed.
THE LAKH WAKATII' MAIL. FRIDAY, .(AN (J, 189'.).
