John K. Giles

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For the Republic of Ireland footballer, see: Johnny Giles.

Born 1895.

John K. Giles' crime was attempted robbery of the Denver and Rio Grande Western mail train.

He was sentenced to Alcatraz on May 11, 1935; was previously serving life in Oregon for murder before escaping.

On 31st July 1945, at 10:40 a.m., the Army launch General Frank M. Coxe pulled into the Alcatraz wharf. Giles, wearing an Army Staff Sergeant's uniform hid under the dock. He jumped aboard the boat through a freight hatchway below deck. As the boat pulled away, a count of the soldiers on board indicated one extra, and at the same time, a count of the Alcatraz dock workers indicated one missing convict. Assistant Warden E.J. Miller was notified, and he followed the General Coxe in a small speed boat until it reached Fort McDowell.

While on board, Giles was unaware that he being followed. He talked to fellow passengers and told them he was a "lineman working on the cable."

After Giles disembarked the boat, he was questioned by Lieutenant Gordon L. Kilgore, officer of the day. Kilgore had noticed that Giles' uniform appeared incorrect. After inspecting the passes and realizing they were bad forgeries, he was contained and eventually turned over to Assistant Warden Miller. By 11:00 a.m., he was headed back to Alcatraz.