coch bach y bala

"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.)

John Jones, known as Coch Bach y Bala ("the little redhead from Bala"), was a kleptomaniac and poacher. Having served "time" in every prison in North Wales, and many in England, he is thought to have spent more of his life in prison than out. Nicknamed "the Welsh Houdini" he had a reputation for escaping:

SENSATIONAL ESCAPE FROM RUTHIN PRISON...
NOTED CRIMINAL'S LEAP FOR LIBERTY...
HOLE CUT IN CELL WALL...
IMPROVISED ROPE MADE FROM BED CLOTHES.

 

"John Jones, alias "Little Turpin," and known throughout Wales as 'Coch Bach y Bala', effected his escape from Ruthin Prison on Tuesday morning, in a sensational manner, and at the time of writing is still at large. He gained his liberty as the result of indomitable pluck, great astuteness, and wonderful agility... 'Coch Bach' is regarded by some as a hero; his performance is certainly a daring piece of work. The escape took place between four and five o'clock in the morning, before the majority of the warders entered upon their duties... The daring manner of his escape, and the quickness with which he left behind him the precincts of the prison baffled the gaol authorities and the police."

(North Wales Times, 4 October 1913.)

After five days on the run, weak from living rough on the Nantclwyd Estate, Jones was shot. He died later that day from gunshot wounds and shock and was buried in Llanelidan churchyard.

Such was the interest in Coch Bach y Bala that postcards of his funeral and the spot where he was shot were sold to the public.
Postcard of Coch Bach y Bala's funeral.
Coch Bach y Bala


Name: John Jones.

Born: Probably near Bala, county of Merioneth, circa 1853.

Occupation: Bricklayer, joiner, labourer, seaman, stoker, labourer.

Died: Gunshot wound to leg, aged 60, on 6th October 1913.

Character: History of criminal behaviour from early age; stole eggs; stole worthless objects of no use to him; even boasted he had stolen things when he hadn't; tendency to hide stolen property in hedges or walls and to return later to collect them.

Good worker. Jobs between periods of imprisonment include stoker on ships to Holland and South America. Behaviour in prison good, usually released early on licence. Above average intelligence - conducted own defence on several occasions. Tendency to enjoy publicity and notoriety. Extremely anti-police.

Summary of criminal record:

1871: First term of imprisonment (previously corporal punishment). Poaching:
Sentenced: 1 month's imprisonment.

1872: Convicted of stealing items including a knife and empty purse at Llandderfel.
Sentenced: 4 months' imprisonment.

July 1873: Convicted of stealing cash on 12 Feb. and 12 June totalling under 13s[hillings].
Sentenced: 6 years' imprisonment.

Dec. 1878: Convicted, with five others for riot at Bala (police stoned).
Sentenced: 6 months' imprisonment.

11 July 1879: Convicted at Denbighshire Quarter Sessions of being a rogue and vagabond' after being discovered in a garden at Gresford with intent to commit a felony'.
Sentenced: 10 months' imprisonment at Chester gaol.

22 Oct. 1879: Arrested for stealing 15 watches on 14 October 1879 at Bala and Llanfor.
Committed for trial at Merionethshire Quarter Sessions.
Sent to Ruthin Gaol to await trial.

30 Nov. 1879: ESCAPED from gaol by walking out of main door whilst staff were at supper. Opened cell door and 3 others. £5 reward offered. Apprehended 3 January. 1880 in bed in Swan Inn, Mochdre, near Colwyn Bay.

Jan. 1880: Convicted at Dolgellau Quarter Sessions of stealing 15 watches and additional burglary of £44.10s, and other items at Llanfor on 7 December 1879.
Sentenced: 14 years' imprisonment (probably at Pentonville or Dartmoor prisons).

27 July 1891: Convicted at Chelmsford (Essex) Assizes to two cases of burglary on 11 June 1891. Tried to escape when arrested. Pleaded guilty.
Sentenced: 7 years' imprisonment (either at Portland or Dartmoor). Released on licence.

April 1900: Convicted at Beaumaris Assizes of burglary of £10 from Waterman's Arms, Amlwch. Claimed he was 'framed' by police.
Sentenced: 5 years' imprisonment (with additional 2 years 193 days remaining of previous sentence).
When awaiting transfer to Dartmoor attempted ESCAPE from Caernarfon Gaol by breaking his loom to barricade door and tunnelling through floor.

June 1906: Convicted at Caernarfon Assizes of burglary and ferocious attack on 71 year old woman at Abererch (original charge attempted murder) and stealing £10.
At committal proceedings magistrates court sat until 3a.m. due to length of defendant's address at court. Sentenced: 7 years' imprisonment at Dartmoor prison. Released: January 1913.

June 1913: Convicted at Dolgellau Quarter Sessions of breaking and entering Jordans' solicitors offices, Bala. Whilst awaiting trial ESCAPED from Bala police cells in county buildings .Apprehended in barn 3 miles away.
Sentenced: 3 year's imprisonment.

30 Sept. 1913: Whilst in Ruthin Gaol awaiting transfer to Stafford to serve sentence ESCAPED by tunnelling through cell wall, and by rope made from bedding over roof of chapel and kitchen and over wall.

6 Oct. 1913: Shot by Reginald Jones-Bateman, aged 19, near Nantclwyd Isaf. Died of shock and haemorrhage due to gun shot wound to leg. Jones-Bateman later accused of manslaughter but charges dropped.

9 Oct. 1913: Buried in Llanelidan churchyard.