John Zinkan

© Strong City Herald

17 Dec 1917

Submitted by: Wanda Purcell

John Zinkan was shot by Bill Miller at Crawford Sunday afternoon, December 23, 1917.

These men had been having trouble over a tract of land. From an account of the shooting, it appears that Miller had started from Roberts' Store across the street to the blacksmith shop, that Zinkan followed him and in the course of the quarrel that Zinkan threw his hand to his hip pocket when Miller fired. The bullet struck Zinkan in the body and lodged in his spine.

He was taken to Cheyenne Sunday night for medical treatment and from there sent to the Clinton hospital Wednesday where he died Thursday morning.

After the shooting it was found that Zinkan was unarmed and he was evidently only bluffing.

He was from Seattle, Washington, and worked in Strong City for a few months last summer and fall.

He is a brother of James Zinkan who formerly lived near Crawford and was well known in this county.