Memorable Manitobans: John “Bloody Jack” Krafchenko (1881-1914)

Outlaw.

Born in Romania in 1881, he came to Canada with his parents aged 7 and settled at Plum Coulee. He was constantly in trouble as a child. He later fought as a boxer. He was arrested for passing bad cheques in 1902, robbed a bank in 1906, and robbed another bank at Plum Coulee in 1913, killing the manager. He was arrested in Winnipeg in December 1913, escaping from the Winnipeg police station and setting off a major manhunt. He was recaptured on 18 January 1914, and was hanged on 9 July 1914. He is the subject of a long poem by Dennis Cooley, Bloody Jack (1984).

See also:

The Story of “Bloody Jack” Krafchenko by Martin Zeilig
Manitoba History, Number 35, Spring/Summer 1998

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Hyldegunn Block / Burris Block (686 Toronto Street, Winnipeg)

Sources:

Dictionary of Manitoba Biography by John M. “Jack” Bumsted, Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press, 1999.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 21 October 2020

Memorable Manitobans This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations. Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text: Custom Search Browse surnames beginning with: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z Browse deaths occurring in: 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Send corrections and additions to this page to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.ca Criteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements Help us keep history alive!