THE HORRIBLE HEAD.
Sir George Vernon, father of Dorothy Vernon, and known as " The King of the I'eak " had immense power in those Deibyshire wilds in the sixteenth century. A pedlar once called at Haddon Hall, but was dismissed by Sir George, and went on to Bakewell, soma three miles off.. There he stopped at an iun, and that night a maid-servant saw him murdering the landlord by cutting his throat till his head was actually stvered from his body ! She at once fled out in the night in terror to Haddon Hall, and iuformed Sir George, who calmly ordered her to go hack and tell the pedlar to call on him with his wares. Ho also sent » servant with her to bring the landlord's head in a basket. In the morning the pedlar came, »nd opened his wallet in the courtyard, whereupon Sir George had his wallet also opened, and showed him the murdered man's head staring stiff and stark ; a ghastly that caused the frightened pedlar to fly out of th« gate at full speed. But the servants pursued hint, and took and hanged him on a ttee at Ashford by their master's orders. For this Sir George Vernon was accused of murder, under the title of " King of the Peak," but this name be repudiated, and the indictment wasciuasbed.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WSTAR18981104.2.34
Bibliographic details
Western Star, Issue 2253, 4 November 1898, Page 5
Word Count
222THE HORRIBLE HEAD. Western Star, Issue 2253, 4 November 1898, Page 5
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