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John McKie - Southampton footballer
A fairly standard (if somewhat blurry) picture of an late 19th century footballer. So why have I bothered to colourise him?
This is John McCoy (alias John McKie) of Southampton, a fairly competent right-back. Nothing to separate him from the bulk of players around in the late 1890s.
But on a Tuesday morning, October 23, 1906, the ex-Southampton footballer walked into Cumnock Police station in Ayrshire and, according to the Cumnock Chronicle, “quietly” informed the on-duty sergeant that he had “just cut his wife’s throat and he had called to give himself up”.
And so it was.
What had driven John McCoy to such a desperate act? Unfortunately, he chose not to take the stand during his trial, his defence team instead stating “that at the time when the accused is alleged to have committed the crime charged against him he was insane, and was subject to and acted under the influence of a maniacal paroxysm and sudden uncontrollable insane impulse which deprived him of his senses”.
The Southern Evening Echo – who were also reporting the story with great interest - remembered him as being “a dashing defender, just over average height, lithe in build and with curly flaxen hair; he was the ‘beau ideal’ of a footballer”.
A picture emerged of a tortured soul temporarily unbalanced by a massive sustained indulgence in alcohol, in the days leading up to the murder, a lack of any clear motive and the fact the case for the Crown did not produce sufficient medical evidence to “meet the special plea of the defence” was, just about, enough to spare John the hangman’s noose.
After just 20 minutes, the jury – following direction from the judge - returned with a verdict of culpable homicide and John McCoy, ex-Southampton and Hampshire County footballer was sentenced to ten years penal servitude.
We talk today of players under stress and acting out of character. Bear a thought for the tortured mind of John McCoy.
(Original image and background information from Duncan Holley)
John McKie - Southampton footballer
A fairly standard (if somewhat blurry) picture of an late 19th century footballer. So why have I bothered to colourise him?
This is John McCoy (alias John McKie) of Southampton, a fairly competent right-back. Nothing to separate him from the bulk of players around in the late 1890s.
But on a Tuesday morning, October 23, 1906, the ex-Southampton footballer walked into Cumnock Police station in Ayrshire and, according to the Cumnock Chronicle, “quietly” informed the on-duty sergeant that he had “just cut his wife’s throat and he had called to give himself up”.
And so it was.
What had driven John McCoy to such a desperate act? Unfortunately, he chose not to take the stand during his trial, his defence team instead stating “that at the time when the accused is alleged to have committed the crime charged against him he was insane, and was subject to and acted under the influence of a maniacal paroxysm and sudden uncontrollable insane impulse which deprived him of his senses”.
The Southern Evening Echo – who were also reporting the story with great interest - remembered him as being “a dashing defender, just over average height, lithe in build and with curly flaxen hair; he was the ‘beau ideal’ of a footballer”.
A picture emerged of a tortured soul temporarily unbalanced by a massive sustained indulgence in alcohol, in the days leading up to the murder, a lack of any clear motive and the fact the case for the Crown did not produce sufficient medical evidence to “meet the special plea of the defence” was, just about, enough to spare John the hangman’s noose.
After just 20 minutes, the jury – following direction from the judge - returned with a verdict of culpable homicide and John McCoy, ex-Southampton and Hampshire County footballer was sentenced to ten years penal servitude.
We talk today of players under stress and acting out of character. Bear a thought for the tortured mind of John McCoy.
(Original image and background information from Duncan Holley)