Trial of Duncan Terig, alias Clerk, and Alexander Bane Macdonald for the Murder of Arthur Davis, Sergeant in General Guise's Regiment of Foot

"Trial of Duncan Terig, alias Clerk, and Alexander Bane Macdonald" by Walter Scott is a historical account written in the early 19th century. The narrative centers around the trial of two men accused of the murder of Sergeant Arthur Davis, a soldier in General Guise's regiment. Set against the tumultuous backdrop of post-Civil War Scotland, the account delves into the complex legal proceedings and societal beliefs surrounding the case, including the intriguing element of spectral evidence. The opening of the trial introduces the context of the events leading to the murder of Sergeant Davis, emphasizing the eerie and wild terrain of the Highlands where the crime occurred. It establishes the atmosphere of fear and superstition in the community, particularly with regard to the specter that allegedly communicated details of the murder. Witness testimonies begin to unfold, detailing the relationship between the accused and the deceased, connecting the murder to the socio-political tensions of the time. The prologue serves not only as a historical account but also sets the stage for an exploration of justice, morality, and belief in the supernatural. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet, was a British novelist, poet and historian. Many of his works remain classics of European and Scottish literature, notably the novels Ivanhoe (1819), Rob Roy (1817), Waverley (1814), Old Mortality (1816), The Heart of Mid-Lothian (1818), and The Bride of Lammermoor (1819), along with the narrative poems Marmion (1808) and The Lady of the Lake (1810). He had a major impact on European and American literature.