John McCartney in a jury court in Hamilton

Thursday, September 24 – 1896
Hamilton. – Sheriff and Jury Court. – Before Sheriff Mair and a jury yesterday Archibald McPherson, coachman, and John McCartney, professional football player, Jackton, East Kilbride, were tried on a charge of having on 1^st August, at the shop at Jackton occupied by John McPherson, grocer, assaulted Henry Johnstone Kaox, warehouseman, Bonnyton, Busby. They were defended by Mr. W.T. Hay, writer. The evidence was very conflicting, and after a trial extending to nearly seven hours the jury, by 11 to 4, returned a verdict of not proven.
(Glasgow Herald, 25-09-1896)

Note: I have no evidence to claim that the John McCartney in the court case is the same John McCartney playing for Liverpool at the time. I have though checked all Scottish players, and there seems to be only one professional football player with that name at the time.