Johnne Colquhoun, a man of considerable standing as a laird in Luse, Dunbarton, found himself embroiled in scandal and controversy during the early 17th century. The records preserved from the period indicate that Johnne was married to Lady Lillias Graham, the eldest daughter of John, Earl of Montrose. This connection placed him within the intricate web of Scottish nobility and its various familial alliances. Notably, a charge was levied against Johnne in 1633 that revolved around a clandestine scheme involving Lady Lillias’s younger sister, whom he was fostering. The case indicates that Johnne employed some form of 'love magic' to compel the young woman to enter into a relationship with him. The nature of the accusations implies a blend of interpersonal drama and the perceived malevolent use of supernatural forces, which were greatly feared and harshly punished during this era.
When it came time for him to face these charges at trial in Edinburgh, Johnne chose to abscond, a decision marked by his absence from court on the appointed day. Consequently, the authorities declared him an outlaw by "putting him to the horn," an archaic Scottish legal procedure that effectively stripped him of his lands and titles, rendering all his property escheated to the Crown. This punishment signaled not just a legal, but a social and economic downfall, leaving his estate and status in precarious standing. By fleeing to London, Johnne evaded immediate judicial process, but his actions left a lasting imprint on his family's legacy, intertwining their narrative with the enigmatic allure and trepidation surrounding witchcraft accusations at the time.