George Sinclair, Fifth Earl of Caithness: ``Wicked Earl George''

``The late George, Earl of Caithness, was succeeded by his grandson, George, son of the Master of Caithness, who died in prison at Girnigoe. This George inherited much of the talents of his grandfather, with, if possible, greater cruelty of disposition. In the traditional history of the county, he is called by way of distinction the 'Wicked Earl George;' and his conduct in many respects shows that the appellation was no misnomer.

``He signalized his accession to the earldom by deliberately killing, in broad day, David and Ingram Sinclair, the two principal keepers of his late father. David lived at Keiss, and Ingram at Wester. Ingram's daughter was to be married, and a large party, including his lordship, was invited to the wedding. On the afternoon of the day fixed for the marriage, as the Earl was taking an airing on horseback, he met David on the Links of Keiss, on his way to Wester, and ran him through with his sword. Immediately on doing so, he galloped over to Wester, and calling Ingram aside—who was at the time amusing himself with some friends at foot-ball—he drew out a pistol and shot him dead on the spot. He then coolly turned his horse's head towards Girnigoe, and rode off with as little concern as if he had merely killed a brace of moor-fowl. There was, strictly speaking, no law in the county at the time; and being a great nobleman, and possessed of ample power of 'pit and gallows,' he escaped with impunity. The crime seems to have been winked at; and, doubtless, from dread of a similar fate, never made the subject of complaint by the relatives of the murdered parties.

``Sir Robert Gordon's version of the story differs a good deal from the preceding account, which is derived from the Caithness tradition. He says that `the Earl, after dinner, without any other preamble,' slew the two brothers while they were amusing themselves at foot-ball, having previously secreted their weapons, so that they might have nothing wherewith to defend themselves. `And the reason,' he adds, `that moved Earl George to kill them, was because they favored the Earl of Sutherland.' This is not at all likely. The true reason, beyond a doubt, was revenge for their having been instrumental in the murder of his father, the late Master of Caithness. This, in his opinion, justified the deed; and it certainly must be allowed to plead as an extenuating circumstance in the commission of a crime otherwise the most atrocious and cold-blooded that can be conceived.

``Tradition adds that during the alarm and confusion caused by this shocking affair, the company dispersed, and the wedding ring was lost. Not many years since, a finger ring of a curious construction—supposed to be the identical wedding ring—was found at Wester. It was of pre gold, twisted so as to represent a serpent coiled, with his tail in his mouth, an emblem of eternity.''

``George, Earl of Caithness, distinguished by the not very flattering title of the `Wicked Earl George,' died in the month of February this year, aged 79. His son, William, Lord Berriedale, died a few years before him. Earl George, by his tyrannical conduct, had procured himself many enemies, and it is quite possible that his faults may have been thereby much exaggerated. Some of the crimes at least with which he was charged were never fully proved against him; and it is clear, from the whole course of his history, that he had a very bitter enemy in Sir Robert Gordon. `The quietness and moderation,' says Mackay, `with which he appears to have conducted himself during the last twenty years of his life plead strongly in his favor.'''