Vernon was a voting rights activist who had committed to paying the poll tax for people who were too poor to register to vote. At the time, poll taxes were illegal in his jurisdiction but still enforced for local elections.
Klan terrorists firebombed his house on the 10th; Vernon fought them off while his wife and children escaped. On January 11th, he died in the hospital of injuries from the fire. His daughter was hospitalized with severe burns, but survived.
While the man who ordered the attack initially escaped justice, three of his food soldiers were sentenced to life in prison, and a fourth pled guilty to arson. The 'Imperial Wizard' was free to watch as the popular backlash against his actions ended Klan power in the region. His escape from justice would not be permanent, however - he was convicted on retrial and sentenced to life in prison.