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Coch Bach y Bala – ‘The Welsh Houdini’ |
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Coch Bach Y Bala’s attempted his second jailbreak in 1900 whilst awaiting transfer to Dartmoor prison from Caernarfon Gaol. Jones had been convicted at Beaumaris Assizes of burglary of £10 from the Waterman’s Arms in Amlwch, and had claimed that he was ‘framed’ by the police. Faced with another long sentence, Jones barricaded the door of his cell with parts of the weaving loom that was in his cell, and began to tunnel through the floor. His attempt failed and so he began another lengthily jail sentence at Her Majesty’s pleasure.
Ruthin County Gaol - Rules for Prisoners
"Every Prisoner guilty of any of the following offences will subject himself to punishment: Attempting to escape, or assisting others to do so, or knowing of any contemplated attempts for escape and not reporting the same directly"
Ruthin County Gaol Rules for Prisoners, circa 1850 |
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John Jones spent more than half his life in prison, with over 10 separate convictions for theft, breaking and entering, and on one occasion, for rioting against the Police in Bala. He was extremely anti-police, but his behaviour in prison was generally good (with the exception of the escapes) often being released early on license.
Of above average intelligence, Jones conducted his own defence on several occasions. In 1906, he was convicted of burglary and ferociously attacking a 71 year old woman. At the committal proceedings, the Magistrates court sat until 3am due to the length of the defendant’s address to the court. Unfortunately for Jones, the lengthily speech didn’t save him from 7 years imprisonment at Dartmoor prison, from which he was released in January 1913.
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