The Welsh Houdini. more from this section

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1 This document is a snapshot of content from a discontinued BBC website, originally published between It has been made available for archival & research purposes only. Please see the foot of this document for Archive Terms of Use. 27 February 2012 Home Last updated: 20 May 2008 North West Mid North East Coch Bach y Bala, translated as 'The Little Redhead of Bala', was born John Jones in the county of Merionethshire around His exploits made him famous across North when he escaped three times from jail. He was also known as 'The Little Welsh Terror' and 'The Little Turpin', and fast developed a reputation as a poacher and determined thief, spending more than half of his 60 years in most of the prisons in North, and many in England. Of the many professions John Jones followed - bricklayer, joiner, labourer, seaman and stoker - he was best known for his poaching and persistent thievery, both of which brought him into regular and continuous trouble with the Law. From a young age, Jones stole a variety of things, many of no use to him, which he would store in walls or hedges, and return to collect later. Jones would often boast of his exploits, often claiming to have stolen things when he hadn't. His self-publicising nature continued into his manhood, when his tendency to advertise his latest exploits was to become his downfall. Jones's first escape from prison was in November 1879, when he was awaiting trial at, for stealing 15 watches at Bala and Llanfor. One evening, he opened his own cell door, and those of three others, walked out of the main door of the Gaol whilst the staff were at supper, and out into the night. People in Black more from North West Towns & Villages Your patch Have your say or find out more about community life past and present. Your Say Talking points Share your views, gripes and passions and make your voice heard. A 5 reward was offered for his re-capture, and he was eventually apprehended three months later in bed in the Swan Inn, Mochdre near Colwyn Bay. Was it a tip-off from a customer who had heard Jones's stories in the Swan Inn that night? More... your comments Sardinia: Cymry yn 'ddiogel' Pontio: Dim prif weithredwr Jeremy Hails I spent from 1939 to 1945 in Bala when I was 6 to 12 yrs old and remember Wm Merediths fishing tackle and photographic shop in the High Street. I suppose he must be

2 the photographer of Coch Bach in the boat on Llyn Tegid. Wed Dec 3 09:15: Llyr Owen from Cefnddwysarn Interesting to learn that GH Jones's mother lived at Coed y Bedo, as Pentre my home is right next door. An old uncle of mine (Ifor Owen), who was born at Pentre, frequently spoke about the history of the area and its people, with the connection to the Quaker movement and various interesting stories from the past. I wonder if GH Jones' relatives still live at Coed y Bedo? Mon Jun 23 14:09: GH Jones, Canada Llyr Owen asked about the farm where my mother came to live. It was Coed Y Bedo & her father was Robert Edwards who was the tenth child of William & Ann Edwards of Ysgubor Fawr & a contemporary of Tom Ellis MP of Cynlas. Mon May 19 10:50: Llyr Owen from Cefnddwysarn I am a historian from Pentre farm in Cefnddwysarn. It would be really interesting to learn from which farm in Cefnddwysarn, GH Jones's mother was brought up in? I have read a book recently on Coch Bach's life, very interesting indeed. Wed Jan 24 12:07: GH Jones from Toronto, Ontario My mother, who was London Welsh, but brought up on a farm in Cefnddwysarn as a teenager, remembered Coch Bach Y Bala and often talked about him, especially his escaping through a pipe from Carchar Rhythun (). I have a framed picture taken by the late William Meredydd of a sail boat on Llyn Tegid containing five people, one of whom is Coch Bach wearing an old seafaring cap. Thu Jul 22 11:31: This site is now closed and cannot accept new comments.

3 27 February 2012 Home Last updated: 31 March 2009 North West Mid North East Coch Bach attempted his second jailbreak in 1900 whilst awaiting transfer to Dartmoor prison from Caernarfon Gaol. He 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 lengthy jail sentence at Her Majesty's Pleasure. 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 licence. 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. People in Black Unfortunately for Jones, the lengthily speech didn't save him from 7 years imprisonment at Dartmoor prison, from which he was released in January Ruthin County Gaol - Rules for Prisoners circa 1850 "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." More...

4 27 February 2012 Home North West Mid North East Jones's activities caught the public's imagination, and the media of the time sensationalised and publicised his activities. The following account from the North Times describes his last, and most famous escape: SENSATIONAL ESCAPE FROM RUTHIN PRISON "John Jones... 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 Times, 4 October 1913 Coch Bach had been awaiting transfer to Stafford Gaol to serve a three-year sentence for breaking and entering. On the night in question, he left his cell by tunnelling through the cell wall, and by using a rope constructed of prison bedding, climbing over the chapel and kitchen roofs, and finally escaping over the prison wall. People in Black more from North West Jones was on the run for six days before being tracked down on the Nantclwyd Estate several miles from Ruthin. He was shot in the leg by one of his pursuers, 19-year-old Reginald Jones-Bateman, son of an increasingly unpopular local landowner. John Jones was 60 and died of shock and haemorrhaging due to his injury. Jones-Bateman was charged with manslaughter, though the charges were subsequently dropped. Despite his wrongdoings, John Jones was a popular figure and the circumstances surrounding his death were the source of much public discontent in the area. Postcards of his funeral, and the location where he was shot, were massproduced and sold. Maybe not so much as a 'memento mori', but as the final evidence, legitimised by the camera, that Coch Bach was finally confined to one place. Coch Bach Y Bala's many escapes earned him the nick name of 'The Welsh Houdini', after the magician and escapologist who achieved international fame and notoriety for his daring feats of extrication, at the same time as 'Coch Bach' was making his many escapes from jail. Houdini and Coch Bach captured the public's imagination. The media and public interest in latter-day illusionist David Traffic and Getting around Take the train, boat or plane, or hit the region's roads. Activities Head for adventure Your guide to pursuits on mountains, rivers and at sea. Entertainment Days and nights out Find events for all ages, indoors and out, all year round. Tai Hanesyddol O blastai crand i ffermydd gwledig, camwch dros drothwy rhai o dai mwyaf hanesyddol yr ardal

5 Blaine's stunts show how fascinated and enthralled we become in tales of derring-do, whether the events are staged or not. Stories about those who buck the system, be they villains or heroes, capture the imagination of the everyday man, who may sometimes dream of escaping to a better world, defying their own personal and professional constraints. The Little Redhead of Bala provided his local and national public with a rebellious symbol of hope, and many a ripping yarn to enjoy in the bar or at the hearthside. Those who bought the postcard showing his funeral held the key to the reality of Coch Bach's life, that in death, there is no escape. Something that the Denbigh authorities were probably quite keen to promote as a deterrent to anyone who would follow in in his footsteps. With thanks to and Denbighshire County Council. Back to the beginning...