John Hamilton
John "Red" Hamilton was a Canadian criminal and bank robber active in the 1920s and 1930s. He is best known as an associate of the American outlaw John Dillinger, participating in bank robberies and prison escapes. Hamilton's story is marked by his violent career, his lingering death from gunshot wounds, and his secret burial by his fellow gang members. His Canadian origins and his role in the Dillinger gang make him a notable figure in the history of transborder crime.
Early Life and Criminal Beginnings
John Hamilton was born on August 27, 1898, in the small community of Byng Inlet, Ontario. His father was an Irish Canadian from Essex County, Ontario, and his mother was a German American woman from New York. He lost two fingers on his right hand in a sledding accident when he was young, leading to the nickname "Three-Finger Jack." His criminal activities led him across the border into the United States. His first known major conviction came on March 16, 1927, for the robbery of a gas station in St. Joseph County, Indiana, which resulted in a 25 year prison sentence.
Prison and the Dillinger Gang
Hamilton served his sentence at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City. There he befriended inmates who would become central figures in Depression era crime sprees. His associates included John Dillinger, Russell Clark, Charles Makley, Harry Pierpont, and Homer Van Meter. Dillinger was paroled in May 1933 but vowed to free his friends. He had handguns smuggled into the prison. On September 26, 1933, Hamilton joined nine other armed convicts in an escape through the main gate of Indiana State Prison. This breakout directly led to the formation of the core Dillinger gang.
The Crime Spree of 1933 to 1934
After escaping, the gang learned Dillinger had been arrested and jailed in Lima, Ohio. Needing funds for a rescue, they robbed the First National Bank of St. Marys, Ohio, on October 3, 1933, escaping with $14,000. Hamilton accompanied Charles Makley, Harry Pierpont, Russell Clark, and Ed Shouse to the Lima jail on October 12, though he did not enter the building during the murder of Sheriff Jess Sarber. The gang's activities escalated in Chicago. On December 13 they invaded a bank to loot safe deposit boxes, netting as much as $50,000. The next day, Hamilton killed Chicago police detective William Shanley in a shootout at a garage, an act that prompted the formation of a forty man Dillinger Squad by the Chicago Police Department.
The violence continued into the new year. On January 15, 1934, Hamilton and Dillinger robbed the First National Bank in East Chicago, Indiana, stealing $20,376. During this heist, police officer William O'Malley was shot and killed. Dillinger was officially charged, but several witnesses indicated Hamilton was the shooter. Hamilton was wounded twice during the robbery. By this time, he was ranked third on Indiana's list of public enemies, behind Dillinger and Harry Pierpont. After Dillinger's escape from the Crown Point jail, he reformed the gang with Hamilton, Homer Van Meter, Tommy Carroll, Eddie Green, and Baby Face Nelson.
The reconstituted gang executed two major robberies. On March 6, 1934, they robbed the Security National Bank and Trust Company in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where Baby Face Nelson severely wounded motorcycle officer Hale Keith. A week later, on March 13, they hit the First National Bank in Mason City, Iowa. During this robbery, Hamilton was shot in the shoulder by an elderly judge across the street, who also wounded Dillinger. The intense manhunt forced the gang to hide at the Little Bohemia resort in Wisconsin. It was raided by the FBI on April 22, 1934, in a botched operation that resulted in the death of an innocent civilian named Eugene Boisneau.
Key Events in the Dillinger Gang
The timeline of Hamilton's involvement with the Dillinger gang was marked by rapid escalation from prison break to nationwide manhunt. The following list outlines several major events during this period. After the FBI raid at Little Bohemia on April 22, Hamilton, Dillinger, and others escaped. The gang's mobility diminished under the pressure of a massive federal and state pursuit. Their final confrontation with police occurred the next day in Minnesota.
- March 16, 1927: Hamilton is convicted of gas station robbery in Indiana and sentenced to 25 years.
- September 26, 1933: Hamilton escapes from Indiana State Prison with nine other convicts, aided by guns smuggled in by John Dillinger.
- October 3, 1933: The gang robs the First National Bank of St. Marys, Ohio, stealing $14,000 to fund Dillinger's jailbreak.
- October 12, 1933: Hamilton is present outside the Lima, Ohio jail where Dillinger is freed after Sheriff Jess Sarber is murdered.
- December 14, 1933: Hamilton kills Chicago police detective William Shanley, leading to the creation of a special Dillinger Squad.
- January 15, 1934: Hamilton and Dillinger rob the East Chicago, Indiana bank. Officer William O'Malley is killed and Hamilton is wounded.
- March 6, 1934: The gang robs a bank in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, wounding Officer Hale Keith.
- March 13, 1934: The Mason City, Iowa bank robbery results in Hamilton and Dillinger being wounded by a civilian.
- April 22, 1934: FBI raid on Little Bohemia. Civilian Eugene Boisneau killed.
- April 23, 1934: Hamilton is mortally wounded in a shootout in Hastings, Minnesota.
Mortally Wounded Death and Burial
The day after the Little Bohemia raid, on April 23, 1934, Hamilton, Dillinger, and Homer Van Meter were confronted by police in Hastings, Minnesota. Another shootout ensued, during which Hamilton was struck by a bullet and mortally wounded. The gang transported him back to Chicago to seek treatment from their underworld physician, Joseph Moran, who refused to help. Dillinger then took the dying Hamilton to a hideout in Aurora, Illinois, overseen by fellow criminals Volney Davis and Edna Murray. Hamilton reportedly succumbed to his wounds on April 26, 1934. Dillinger and Davis buried his body in a secluded location near Oswego, Illinois. In an effort to prevent identification, Dillinger reportedly covered Hamilton's face and hands with lye before burial.
Unaware of his death, authorities indicted Hamilton on May 19, 1934, for harbouring fugitives. His sister was convicted on the same charge and served a short prison sentence. Rumours persisted for years that Hamilton had survived, fueled by alleged sightings and even claims from his nephew of a visit in Ontario. However, forensic evidence later confirmed his death. Dental records from the Indiana State Penitentiary were matched to the amalgam restorations on the teeth of the body identified by Davis and Murray, providing conclusive proof that the buried man was John Hamilton.
Portrayals in Media and Literature
The story of John Hamilton and the Dillinger gang has been adapted numerous times in film and literature. His death and burial are depicted in the 1957 film Baby Face Nelson, where he is played by Anthony Caruso. Dan Terranova portrayed him in the 1965 film Young Dillinger. In the 1973 film Dillinger, the events of his mortal wounding and burial are inaccurately attributed to gang member Charles Makley. John Philbin took on the role in the 1991 television film Dillinger. A fictional account is found in Stephen King's 2001 short story "The Death of Jack Hamilton," which focuses on his final days. The 2009 film Public Enemies features Jason Clarke as Hamilton, though the film erroneously shows him with all five fingers on his right hand.
Notable Bank Robberies with the Dillinger Gang
The financial take from the gang's robberies was substantial for the time, though often accompanied by violence. The table below summarizes key heists directly involving Hamilton. These robberies attracted intense police scrutiny and public notoriety. The violence associated with them ensured that Hamilton and his associates remained at the top of law enforcement's most wanted lists.
| Date | Location | Amount Stolen (2025 equivalent) | Notable Incident |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 3, 1933 | First National Bank, St. Marys, Ohio | $14,000 ($348,000) | Funded Dillinger's jailbreak from Lima. |
| December 13, 1933 | Chicago Bank (safe deposit boxes) | Up to $50,000 ($1,244,000) | Armed invasion to empty deposit boxes. |
| January 15, 1934 | First National Bank, East Chicago, Indiana | $20,376 ($490,000) | Officer William O'Malley killed. Hamilton wounded. |
| March 6, 1934 | Security National Bank, Sioux Falls, South Dakota | Not specified | Officer Hale Keith severely wounded by Baby Face Nelson. |
| March 13, 1934 | First National Bank, Mason City, Iowa | Not specified | Hamilton and Dillinger wounded by a civilian. |
A Modern Namesake and Context
The name John Hamilton appears in contemporary Canadian legal contexts unrelated to the 1930s gangster. In a recent and unrelated case, a former Northumbria Police detective constable named John Hamilton was convicted of misconduct in public office in the United Kingdom. This 55 year old former officer, who worked in a child and adult protection safeguarding department, was found guilty on February 23, 2026, for inappropriately messaging a 14 year old rape victim. He was scheduled for sentencing on April 10, 2026. This shows that the name, while historically linked to a notorious criminal, is separate from individuals involved in modern legal proceedings. In Ontario, the John Sopinka Courthouse in Hamilton is a major centre for criminal proceedings, hearing cases ranging from assault and impaired driving to more serious offences.
Questions about John Hamilton
Did John Hamilton kill a police officer?
Hamilton was involved in shootings that resulted in the deaths of police officers. He killed Chicago police detective William Shanley on December 14, 1933. During the East Chicago bank robbery on January 15, 1934, police officer William O'Malley was shot dead. While Dillinger was charged, multiple witnesses identified Hamilton as the shooter.
Was John Hamilton really Canadian?
Yes, John Hamilton was Canadian. He was born on August 27, 1898, in Byng Inlet, Ontario. His father was an Irish Canadian from Essex County, Ontario, and his mother was a German American woman from New York. His criminal career was primarily active in the United States during the 1920s and 1930s as an associate of John Dillinger.
How did John Hamilton die?
John Hamilton died from a gunshot wound. He was mortally wounded by a bullet during a shootout with authorities in Hastings, Minnesota, on April 23, 1934. After being refused treatment by underworld physician Joseph Moran in Chicago, the dying Hamilton was hidden by associates in Aurora, Illinois. He reportedly died on April 26, 1934, and was buried near Oswego, Illinois, by John Dillinger and Volney Davis, who used lye on his face and hands to prevent identification.
Were there rumours that Hamilton survived?
Yes, there were persistent rumours that John Hamilton survived his reported 1934 death. The FBI received numerous tips from people claiming to have seen or heard from him, and his nephew maintained he had visited Hamilton in Ontario afterwards. However, no hard evidence for his survival was ever found. Dental records from the Indiana State Penitentiary were later matched to the body identified by his associates Volney Davis and Edna Murray, providing conclusive proof of his death.
Where was John Hamilton born?
John Hamilton was born in Byng Inlet, Ontario, Canada, on August 27, 1898. His father was an Irish Canadian from Essex County, Ontario, and his mother was a German American woman from New York. He gained the nickname 'Three Finger Jack' after losing two fingers on his right hand in a childhood sledding accident. This accident occurred when he was young and resulted in the distinctive nickname that followed him into his criminal career.
How did John Hamilton escape from prison?
John Hamilton escaped from Indiana State Prison on September 26, 1933. He was serving a 25 year sentence for a gas station robbery conviction on March 16, 1927. While incarcerated, he befriended future associates like John Dillinger. Dillinger, paroled in May 1933, had handguns smuggled into the prison. A total of ten armed men, including Hamilton, then walked out through the main gate.
Sources and further reading
- John Hamilton (Wikipedia)
- Hamilton Criminal Lawyer | John Sopinka Courthouse (danielbrownlaw.ca)
Checked by the Nosy Mag desk. Last updated 2026-10-24.
