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'''John Chinnick''' (1850-1883) born Chatham Canada (family bible). ([[Hoopes]] says b. 1845 England)

...; John Chinnick, who squatted on a tract which later was to become a great portion of the new town of [[Miles City]] and who also was a trouble maker and one of the rougher element in the early days;

The lands surrounding the ferry boat landing on the north, east and south were claimed under squatters' rights by different citizens of the community, the principal claim being made by John Chinnick, who, together with one or two other claimants, formed a company known as the "[[Miles City Townsite Company]]" and platted the land claimed by them into lots and blocks. Under the title derived from the townsite company, there were business houses erected along the present Main Street for several blocks and also along the entire length of Fifth Street from Main Street to the Northern Pacific right-of-way, all facing this [[ferry boat landing]]. Fifth Street at that time was called Park Street. The [[Northern Pacific Railroad]] Company upset the claim of the Miles City Townsite Company when it filed its plat to this land on [[27 Aug 1881]], claiming title under the act of Congress approved [[2 Jul 1864]] whereby it was granted every other section of land on each side of the railroad line, these being the odd numbered sections in the township. Inasmuch as that portion of Miles City was in Section 33, Township 8 North, Range 47 East, it was claimed by the Northern Pacific and platted by it. In the certificate of survey on the plat filed by the Northern Pacific, the land platted was described as "all the surveyed portion in said Section 33". Referring to the plat of the survey of Section 33, one learns that there was a certain portion of it which was not surveyed, and that is what is referred to above as the "ferry boat landing". 

[[Fanning the Embers]]: One identity worth mentioning among the occupants of this section, is [[John Chinnick]], whose saloon -- and also his ranch home, located in the neighborhood of the baseball park -- were acknowledged "hangouts" for all the desperadoes who happened this way. John himself was never misjudged by his fellow citizens. They knew him for just what he was, but in his daily contact with the world he was in many respects a decent sort and always ready and willing to join in public movements. And in those days inquiry into one's antecedents or private business was discouraged.

The main reliance of the toughs was on John Chinnick, who kept a joint -- next to the Jordan store -- where they hung out, and a feed trough for them at his ranch, out beyond where the ball park was. John ranked as a citizen. He was one of the earliest to come, one of the townsite company, and was to that extent, one of the founders of the town. The new gang took to him, however, and he to them and this association so lowered his standing in the community.

[[C. N. Strevell]]: Another real tough, but who didn't advertise it, was John Chinnick. It had been rumored that Chinnick and his gang (robbed Cahn, which is widely claimed to have been done by [[Big Nose George]] Parrott). Not long after the robbery, a "posse" called at Chinnick's house in the evening and knock brought John to the door. The sheriff said, "Better come with us John." He replied, "Wait till I get my hat." A pistol shot was heard and it was found that John had shot himself, preferring death in this manner to the western custom of lynching.

[[19 July 1880]] [[Big Nose George]] Parrott and [[Jack Campbell]] showed up again in Miles City. Two of [[Sheriff Irvine]]'s deputies, [[Lem Wilson]] and [[Fred Schmalsle]] approached Parrott at John Chinick's cabin, where he was staying. Parrott was sitting the doorway enjoying the evening breezes when Schmalsle "told him to throw up, placing a pistol to his left ear." They then did the same with Campell at at a local saloon.

[[8 Oct 1881]] Fort Benton River Press: ([[Yellowstone Journal]]) There seems to be a boom in horse stealing again. At regular intervals for the past year, some of our residents have missed their stock. Some of it has been found and the thieves prosecuted but the majority are still at liberty. Whether it is an organized gang or is done by individuals who use toe stock to skip the country with deponent sayeth not. Six fine mules belonging to [[John McCormick]] were taken on Tuesday night, two belonging to [[Aleek Pratt]] and four from John Chinnick's ranch. Thursday, a couple of campers near town lost four head.

[[6 Nov 1882]] YJ: A. C. Logan of the Daily Press was attacked by [[John Chinnick]] in the [[Cosmopolitan theatre]]. A fight ensued which attracted quite a crowd. No damage done.

[[4 Jan 1883]] YJ: [[Fred Schmalsle]] and [[John Chinnick]] pulled up stakes and started for the upper Powder river country on a buffalo hunting expedition.

[[9 Feb 1883]] YJ: [[Fred Schmasle]] and [[John Chinnick]] came in yesterday from a hunting expedition through the southern part of this territory, and northern Wyoming.

[[1 May 1883]] Helena Independent: Indictments of county officials- defrauding county- [[John Chinnick]] name on list- he indicted for unlawful detention of books.

'Big Nose' used to hang out at Chinnick's place when he was in Miles City. In fact, that is where he was captured in 1880. One of the gang was arrested at Chinnick's saloon and ?Al Chinnick? was thought to be "a sometime member" of Parrott's gang.

(The Plainsmen of the Yellowstone): 
:"One Saturday ([[21 Jul 1883]]) morning a man named [[William Rigney]] and a companion, drunk and ugly from an all-night carouse, turned up at the residence of a respectable citizen* while the family was at breakfast. When ordered out, they made obscene remarks about the wife and daughter - a thing which the frontier did not tolerate. Saloon keeper, [[Charley Brown]]**, who was passing by, walloped Rigney over the head with a "stout club" and stretched him senseless while the second tough took to his heels. Rigney was put in jail, only to be taken from the jailer about midnight by a group of citizens who hanged him from a nearby railroad bridge. The published account made the action appear to have been carried out by vigilantes but old timers say that Rigney was already dead when he was hanged, and the action was merely to cover the fact and prevent Brown from being tried for manslaughter."

:"This thug had been a hanger-on and part time employee at the [[Cosmopolitan Theatre]], a variety house on the south side of Main Street at 6th Street. Early Sunday morning - a few hours after the hanging - this building was discovered to be on fire and the blaze swept the entire block before it was stopped. This fire was obviously the work of an arsonist and many citizens believed Rigney's pals had started it as an act of retaliation. The town had long had a considerable number of tough characters, and the coming of the railroad in November 1881 had added to the assortment. After discussing the matter, the "vigilante committee" issued an ultimatum to the undesirable element to get out of town or take the consequences."

:"The leader of this faction was John Chinnick, one of the first settlers in the town. He was not a bad sort in some ways, and quite civic minded, but his saloon and cabin had always been the rendezvous of any shady characters who drifted up or down the Yellowstone - including [[Big Nose George]] Parrott. When he was informed on Monday morning (July 23rd?) that he had been banished from town, he first agreed to go, but later showed signs of being unwilling to leave quietly. About noon he apparently had a scuffle*** with his wife over a revolver and in the tussle he received a fatal wound in the abdomen. This caused a death a month later. With their leader in a critical condition, the rough element heeded the warning and left."

[[Recollections of Old Milestown]]: Chinnick was one of the first to be told by "the committee" to leave. He was due to depart Monday evening and just to show that he was a good fellow he spent Monday forenoon around town, going the round of the different resorts, discussing the situation with an entire absence of rancor, but at the same time with an air of bravado that clearly indicated that he did not intend to comply with the ultimatum. In the forenoon he was in his shirt-sleeves so that all might see that he was unarmed, and to this fact he more than once called attention ... as evidence that he was a peaceable citizen. At noon he went home to dinner. His home was on the western outskirts of the town in a belt of timber; wholly apart from other houses and quite capable of being made a fortified position, and it was to this ultimate condition that events pointed -- as the gang had all congregated at the Chinnick ranch and report was that they were well supplied with arms and ammunition and intended to make a fight. At that time I resided at the corner of Third and Pleasant streets, distant about a quarter of a mile from the Chinnick home, which was clearly in view, the intervening space being open. Naturally I was interested in what might be going on in the camp of the enemy and during the noon hour of that fateful Monday I was watching the place through a field glass. As I looked I observed a sudden commotion among the many who had been lounging about and shortly a messenger was seen to leave the ranch for town. On his return, which was speedy, he brought a doctor. After a stay of half an hour the doctor returned to town, the bearer of the startling news that John Chinnick had been accidentally but fatally shot. He had intended coming up town again in the afternoon, this time packing his gun. His wife endeavored to dissuade him from doing so and a scuffle for the possession of the weapon ensued, during which it was discharged, the bullet entering Chinnick's abdomen, inflicting a wound that proved fatal after a lapse of four weeks. Just what would have happened in Milestown that night had the shot gone harmless, is hard to guess. Chinnick was a nervy and reckless man. He had a considerable following and had made up his mind that he would not be driven out of town like a yellow dog. On the other hand, the committee was composed of men of nerve and determination. A clash even more, a battle was imminent, and it certainly would have been fought but for the accidental shot that put Chinnick hors du combat and scattered his following. This rabble needed his nerve and reckless assurance to keep them in line and when his personality was removed they had no stomach for the fray. They scattered in all directions under the friendly cover of that Monday night and the next day the current of our communal life resumed its accustomed peaceful flow. This event marked the crest of the wave of lawlessness that had been slowly gathering since the incoming of the railroad two years before, encouraged by the lax conditions under which we had existed in the earlier days. The lynching and the subsequent lineup against the undesirables, established the conviction that there was an authority that could and would punish drastically and the community felt safer. 

.* The family was that of ??? Campbell, a Northern Pacific official.
.** A neighbor?
.*** another source: "in a struggle with his wife for a rifle to take to town"

[[27 Jul 1883]] Helena Independent: Headline-Miles City Reign of Terror-
fire, lynching of Rigney, shooting of John Chinnick- mystery surrounding shooting- 3 rumors- suicide, jealous wife, vigilantes fearing him turning traitor- Vigilance committee order number of people to leave town- roughs organized and ordered Vigilance committee to leave- determined citizens organized to save town- mob dispersed & town was quiet.

[[31 Jul 1883]] St. Paul Daily Globe (Mandan Pioneer): There was a gang of about 20 roughs in Miles City, including Rigney. He had gone to the house of Mr. Campbell for an evil purpose and was caught and lynched. Rigney's friends threatened to burn the town. They attempted to burn the [[Inter-Ocean Hotel]] and a man named Ryan is now under arrest for burning the Cosmopolitan, which happened 3 hours after Rigney's lynching. There is no doubt the fire that destroyed the Cosmopolitan and the stores was incendiary - started by Rigney's friends. As soon as it started, there were three distinct reports, probably using kerosene cartridges. The vigilantes have ordered out the toughest of the sluggers, backed up by the threat of more lynchings. John Chinnick was shot, but he claims that it was done by himself accidentally when cleaning his rifle. He was the proprietor of the Cosmopolitan and the original owner of the townsite. He is lying in a dangerous condition. These roughs are called "rounders", men who hang around the saloons and gambling houses, picking up money where they can. This in Miles City's first hanging.
(Billings Herald): The action of certain citizens of MC was a grave step, esp for William Rigney. A number of hard cases, of the same kidney as Rigney, had been making their rendezvous in Miles for some time, and growing bolder by degrees, had become a terror to the rest of the town. They had been warned to leave town, but scoffed at the warning. Rigney had made some horrible threats against members of Mr. Campbell's family and was arrested trying to break into their house. This was the last straw and a vigilante group wasn't willing to let normal justice take its course.

[[2 Aug 1883]] Worthington, MN Advance: John Chinnick accidentally shot himself at Miles City, and is not expected to recover. Chinnick was rather a notorious character, and was supposed to be the chief and leader of the roughs who have infested Miles City.

[[15 Aug 1883]] Benton River Press: John Chinnick, who shot himself, or as many think, was shot by another party, can not recover.

[[21 Aug 1883]] (or 20th) Chinnick dies in the afternoon. He is reported to repeat, just before death, that he shot himself accidentally from a pistol held in his own hands.

In the book ''The Last West'', it is speculated that he was accidentally shot, but by his wife Nell / Iola. 

John's widow, Iola married Calvin H. Lille / Lilly in March 1884

Iola ???? b. 1840 Ohio (1880 census taker [[Tom Irvine]] says they are single, and birth info disagrees with Hoopes) Hoopes says her name was Nell, but then Iola, she was married to John 4 yrs, 8 mo, 3 days, she helped in running the saloons. Neither are listed in 1882 city directory.

The 1880 Census for Miles City lists,
 John Shinnick age 35 - born England - father England - mother Ireland
 Iola Shinnick age 40 - b. Ohio - father Ireland - mother Ireland
Probably John's older brother on the census for Missouri River Valley, Meagher County:

 Thomas Shinnick 49 - Farmer - b. Ireland - father & miother Ireland
 Margaret Shinnick 40 - Ireland
 There were five children.

The reference for Chatham, Ontario is a newspaper article from newspaper there saying that family members had been notified of his death in Miles City, Montana.

[[File:LynchingStory1941.jpg|thumb|850px|From a story printed in 1941 in the Roundup Record-Tribue & Winnett Times, by Wilchey]]

'''Details from article to the left''':

* Hangouts for toughs:
# [[Trailer Jack]]'s dance hall and saloon
# John Chinnick's saloon on lower Main street
# John Chinnick's Cosmopolitan theatre on Main street
* Cosmopolitan was a variety theatre (contained a barroom and a room of boxes (booths? private rooms?) Girls worked the boxes on commission, getting drinks.
* Rigney was a bartender and worked that Friday night, was drunk when he left in morning
* Half-way home he passed a house that he knew contained two daughters
* Charley Brown lived across the street in the livery.
* He grabbed a spoke from a government wagon wheel.
* Rigney was unconscious when taken to jail.
* The jailer's name was Jim Conley.
* The mob was quiet and non-violent.
* Lynching occurred on the eastern end of Main street where the railroad crossed a coulee on a tressle. 
* Rope tied to RR tie on tressle, Rigney pushed off into space.
* Just before dawn, gunshots alerted the town to the fire.
* The fire destroyed a half block on the south side of Maine, from the corner of Park towards 6th, stopped by the only brick structure, Savage's 2-story Drug store. 
* Businesses affected:
# Cosmopolitan
# [[Symond's gun store]]
# [[Bishop's Side-Board Saloon|Bishop's restaurant]]
# [[Keogh and Matthew's saloon]] and gambling hall
# several other places
* a sign with the vigilante mark of "3.7.77" on it was found on Rigney's body when cut down, plus the doors of several other known bad characters.
* Chinnick "from that time lost his grip on Miles City and his reign ended a short while after"

'''Differences from other accounts''':
* Incident started on the night of July 1
* Rigney's first name (John vs Wm)
* No mention of a companion or Mr Campbell.
* Rigney tried to break into their room. They heard him and screamed, he told them to shut up and continued to force "an entrance" (door or window?) Their screams woke up Charley Brown.
* Implied that almost three weeks passed between the lynching and Chinnick's shooting.
* John owned vs leased vs just managed the Cosmopolitan

See: [[Cosmopolitan fire]]