sCO TT AND.
The Stems* rejoioes rto leax that- there is every probability that the Edinburgh bawled,- he cominenioration a the first eentanary of Robe,rt Burnes bittliday,will be presided over by Lord Brougham. Such an act weuld, we ate sure, be very grateful and welcome not only to the citisena of Edinburgh but to all Scotchnien, and to the admirers of Bums throughout the world, Hitch interest has been excited in Scotland by the 'trial of William Reed before the High Court of Justiciarrat Edinburgh for the murder of lifarg,a- retTaylor. The case presents a horrible story, but it has been already told, and a few words will herein it to the reader's recollection. Margaret Taylor was servant to Mrs. Reid, a widow, living at Smailburn, near Falkirk. William Reid, the widow's son, seduced' the girl. When it was found that in due course she would be a mother, Reid, and a young surgeon, Dr. Tho- mas Girdwood, endeavoured to proeure abortion by the use of sharp instru- ments. The consequence was that the girl fell ill from the injuries received in the operation. It so fell out that 'Mrs. Taylor' her mother, arrived at Smallburn, with an offer of marriage to " Maggie "from the son of a neigh- bour who accompanied her. In her anguish and agony, the poor girl con- fessed to her mother the real nature of her illness ; she had 'hitherto been treated for something different but akin to it. The mother told Dr. Myrtle, the medical man, and Mrs. Reid. Dr. 'Myrtle hastened to get some meth- cities, and to bring with him Dr. Girdwood senior. They arrived too late ; the god had died. On hie way, Dr. Girdwood had done his utmost to send Reid out of harm's way, little thinking what was about to befall himself. Reid went to Glasgow, where he was arrested. Dr. Thomas Girdwood, the son of Dr. Girdwood, poisoned himself with laudanum in a carriage on the road from Falkirk to Linlithgow !
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