John Jones: The Little Welsh Terror – Wales’ Own Houdini
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The story of John Jones, also known by many names—Little Turpin, Little Welsh Terror, Coch Bach Y Bala, and the Welsh Houdini—is one steeped in both criminal notoriety and legendary escape artistry. Born in Bala, North Wales, in 1854, Jones gained a reputation for his remarkable ability to slip out of even the most secure prisons, earning him a place in Welsh folklore. His exploits are woven with tales of daring escapes, run-ins with the law, and a rebellious spirit that captivated the imagination of Wales.
Early Life in Bala
John Jones’ early life was spent in the serene yet rugged landscape of Bala, Gwynedd, where the vast beauty of Llyn Tegid (Lake Bala) and the surrounding Eryri (Snowdonia) mountains contrasted sharply with the turbulent path he would later take. From a young age, Jones had a penchant for mischief, and as a teenager, he found himself frequently in trouble with the law. His ability to wriggle out of these situations, however, quickly earned him his first nickname—"Coch Bach Y Bala"—which translates to "Little Redhead from Bala," a reference to his fiery hair and daring nature.
As his reputation grew, so did his criminal activities. What began as petty theft soon evolved into a series of burglaries across North Wales. Yet, it wasn’t just his crimes that made him infamous; it was his Houdini-like ability to escape from captivity that cemented his status as a legendary figure.
The Great Escape Artist
One of Jones' earliest brushes with infamy came in the 1870s when he was imprisoned in Ruthin Gaol. Even back then, he was known for his extraordinary ability to escape from seemingly inescapable situations. While most prisoners would resign themselves to their fate behind bars, Jones saw each incarceration as a puzzle to be solved. Using homemade tools, metal spoons, and his resourceful mind, he made numerous bids for freedom, each more audacious than the last.
Perhaps his most notable failed attempt came in 1900 at Caernarfon Gaol. Awaiting transfer to the infamous Dartmoor Prison in Devon, Jones knew his time was running out. Dartmoor was notorious for its harsh conditions and high-security measures, which would make any future escapes far more difficult. In a desperate bid for freedom, he barricaded himself inside his cell and began to tunnel out. His plan, however, was thwarted before he could complete it, and he was soon on his way to Dartmoor—albeit with an even more legendary reputation. The Welsh Houdini had been foiled, but his spirit remained unbroken.
Life in Dartmoor Prison
Dartmoor Prison was a place where many hardened criminals spent their days breaking rocks under the cold gaze of guards. John Jones was no exception. He served two lengthy sentences in Dartmoor for burglary, but the unforgiving environment did little to reform his rebellious character. He returned to North Wales after his release, showing no signs of giving up his criminal ways. True to form, Jones found himself once again in trouble with the law just months after his return. His skill for burglary had not waned during his time in Dartmoor, and he was soon convicted of yet another burglary, sending him back into the clutches of the authorities.
The Escape from Ruthin Gaol
Jones was transferred to Ruthin Gaol while awaiting further imprisonment in Stafford Gaol. For most, the imposing stone walls of Ruthin would have been a deterrent, but for the Welsh Houdini, it was just another challenge. Never one to shy away from bold attempts at freedom, Jones set about his most ambitious escape yet.
Using a sharp tool, he tunnelled through the thick stone wall of his cell and fashioned a makeshift rope from his bedclothes. In the dead of night, he scaled the walls of the prison and disappeared into the Welsh countryside. His successful escape spread like wildfire across North Wales, further feeding his reputation as an almost supernatural figure—one who could slip through the fingers of even the most vigilant gaolers.
Final Days: The End of the Welsh Houdini
However, even for someone as elusive as John Jones, fate would eventually catch up. Just six days after his dramatic escape from Ruthin Gaol, Jones found himself hunted by the authorities. With his distinctive red hair and notorious name, it was only a matter of time before he was tracked down. The pursuit led to the rural land near Llanelidan, Denbighshire, where Jones was finally cornered.
During the chase, Reginald Jones-Bateman, one of the pursuers, fired a shot that struck John Jones in the leg. Bleeding profusely and unable to continue his escape, Jones succumbed to his wound. The man who had once evaded every prison in North Wales and beyond met his end not through chains or confinement, but from a gunshot wound on the open Welsh countryside.
A Folk Hero in Wales
John Jones’ death marked the end of a life that had been equal parts crime and legend. Yet, his story did not die with him. In the pubs and homes of North Wales, Jones' name lives on as a symbol of Welsh defiance and cunning. To some, he was a criminal deserving of his fate. But to many, he represented something much more—a man who refused to be broken by the system, whose wit and daring made him a hero in the eyes of the common folk.
The legacy of Coch Bach Y Bala, the Welsh Houdini, continues to be told in stories passed down through generations. His life of crime and escapology may have ended in tragedy, but it remains an indelible part of Welsh folklore. Even in death, John Jones is remembered as the little redheaded terror who defied the authorities time and time again, slipping through their grasp like the wind across the hills of Cymru.
Ymlaen Cymru! The legend of the Little Welsh Terror lives on.
John Jones: Y Dihiryn Bach Cymreig – Houdini Cymru
Mae stori John Jones, sy'n adnabyddus o dan sawl enw—Little Turpin, Dihiryn Bach Cymreig, Coch Bach Y Bala, a Houdini Cymru—yn un sydd wedi'i hamgylchynu gan enwogrwydd troseddol a dawn anhreiddiadwy am ddianc. Ganed Jones ym Mala, Gogledd Cymru, yn 1854, a chafodd enw am ei allu rhyfeddol i ddianc hyd yn oed o'r carchardai mwyaf diogel, gan sicrhau lle iddo yn chwedloniaeth Cymru. Mae ei anturiaethau'n llawn straeon am ddianc dewr, cyrchoedd gyda'r gyfraith, ac ysbryd gwrthryfelgar a ddaliodd ddychymyg y genedl Gymreig.
Bywyd Cynnar ym Mala
Treuliodd John Jones ei ieuenctid ym myd natur prydferth ond garw Bala, Gwynedd, lle roedd harddwch helaeth Llyn Tegid a'r mynyddoedd Eryri o'i amgylch yn cyferbynnu'n chwyrn â'r llwybr cythryblus y byddai'n ei ddilyn yn ddiweddarach. O oedran cynnar, roedd gan Jones ddawn arbennig am wneuthur drygau, ac fel arddegwr, roedd yn aml yn cael ei hun mewn trafferth gyda'r gyfraith. Roedd ei allu i lithro allan o'r sefyllfaoedd hyn yn fuan wedi sicrhau iddo ei lysenw cyntaf—"Coch Bach Y Bala"—sy'n cyfieithu i "Bachgen Goch o Fala," cyfeiriad at ei wallt coch a'i natur ddigon herfeiddiol.
Wrth i'w enwogrwydd dyfu, fe wnaeth ei weithgareddau troseddol hefyd. Dechreuodd gyda lladradau bach, ond yn fuan trodd at gyfres o fyrgleriaethau ar draws Gogledd Cymru. Ond nid ei droseddau yn unig a wnaeth ei enw'n enwog; ei allu fel Hudini i ddianc o gaethiwed a sicrhau ei statws fel ffigwr chwedlonol.
Yr Arbenigwr Mawr ar Ddianc
Un o'r troeon cynharaf a wnaeth Jones yn enwog oedd yn y 1870au pan gafodd ei garcharu yng Ngharchar Rhuthun. Hyd yn oed bryd hynny, roedd yn adnabyddus am ei allu rhyfeddol i ddianc o sefyllfaoedd a oedd yn ymddangos yn anhepgorol. Tra byddai'r mwyafrif o garcharorion yn ildio i'w tynged y tu ôl i fariau, roedd Jones yn gweld pob carchariad fel pos i'w ddatrys. Gan ddefnyddio offer cartref, llwyau metel, a'i feddwl cyfrwys, roedd yn gwneud ymdrechion lu i ddianc, pob un yn fwy eofn na'r un blaenorol.
Efallai mai ei ymgais fwyaf enwog i ddianc, er yn aflwyddiannus, ddaeth yn 1900 yng Ngharchar Caernarfon. Wrth aros ei drosglwyddo i Garchar Dartmoor yn Dyfnaint, roedd Jones yn gwybod bod ei amser yn prysur redeg allan. Roedd Dartmoor yn enwog am ei amodau caled a'i fesurau diogelwch uchel, a fyddai'n gwneud unrhyw ymgais i ddianc yn y dyfodol yn fwy anodd. Mewn ymgais anobeithiol am ryddid, fe wnaeth warchae ar ei gell ac yn dechrau twnelu allan. Fodd bynnag, fe wnaeth y cynllun fethu cyn iddo orffen, ac yn fuan cafodd ei anfon i Dartmoor—ond gyda mwy o chwedl wedi'i ychwanegu at ei enw. Roedd Hudini Cymru wedi ei rwystro, ond roedd ei ysbryd yn parhau'n ddigyfnewid.
Bywyd yn Carchar Dartmoor
Roedd Carchar Dartmoor yn lle lle bu sawl troseddwr caled yn treulio'u dyddiau'n torri cerrig dan wyliau llym y gwarchodwyr. Nid oedd John Jones yn eithriad. Fe dreuliodd ddwy ddedfryd hir yn Dartmoor am fyrgleriaeth, ond ni wnaeth yr amgylchedd anhyblyg ddim i newid ei natur wrthryfelgar. Pan ddychwelodd i Ogledd Cymru ar ôl ei ryddhau, roedd yn amlwg nad oedd ganddo unrhyw fwriad i roi'r gorau i'w ffyrdd troseddol. Yn wir i'w gymeriad, cafodd Jones ei hun mewn trafferth gyda'r gyfraith eto, ychydig fisoedd ar ôl iddo ddychwelyd. Ni wnaeth ei sgil am fyrgleriaeth leihau yn ystod ei amser yn Dartmoor, ac fe gafodd ei ddedfrydu am fyrgleriaeth arall, gan ei anfon yn ôl i afael y swyddogion.
Y Dihangfa o Garchar Rhuthun
Cafodd Jones ei drosglwyddo i Garchar Rhuthun tra'n aros i gael ei anfon i Garchar Stafford. I'r mwyafrif, byddai muriau trwm Rhuthun yn rhwystr, ond i Hudini Cymru, roedd hwn yn her arall. Wrth ddefnyddio offer miniog, fe wnaeth twnelu trwy wal drwchus ei gell a gwneud rhaff o'i ddillad gwely. Yn ystod noson dywyll, fe ddringodd dros furiau'r carchar ac aeth yn angof yn nyffrynnoedd Cymru. Roedd ei lwyddiant yn dianc wedi lledaenu fel gwyllt tân ar draws Gogledd Cymru, gan fwydo ei enwogrwydd fel ffigwr bron yn oruwchnaturiol—un a allai lithro trwy fysedd y carcharorion mwyaf gofalgar.
Dyddiau Olaf: Diwedd Hudini Cymru
Fodd bynnag, hyd yn oed i rywun mor drafferthus â John Jones, roedd yn rhaid i'r tynged ddod yn ôl. Ychydig ddyddiau ar ôl ei ddianc dramatig o Garchar Rhuthun, daeth y swyddogion o hyd iddo unwaith eto. Gyda'i wallt coch nodedig a'i enw adnabyddus, roedd ond yn fater o amser cyn iddo gael ei ddal. Arweiniodd yr ymlid i dir gwledig ger Llanelidan, Sir Ddinbych, lle cafodd Jones ei rwymo o'r diwedd.
Yn ystod y helfa, saethodd un o'r helwyr, Reginald Jones-Bateman, ergyd a darodd goes John Jones. Wrth golli gwaed yn ddifrifol ac yn methu parhau â'i ddianc, fe wnaeth Jones ildio i'w anaf. Daeth diwedd i'r dyn a oedd unwaith wedi dianc o bob carchar yng Ngogledd Cymru a thu hwnt, nid trwy gadwyni neu gaethiwed, ond o ergyd gwn ar dir agored Cymru.
Arwr Chwedlonol yng Nghymru
Marwolaeth John Jones oedd diwedd bywyd a oedd yn gyfuniad o droseddu ac anturiaethau chwedlonol. Eto, ni fu farw ei stori gydag ef. Yn y tafarndai ac yn y cartrefi ar draws Gogledd Cymru, mae enw Jones yn parhau i fyw fel symbol o wrthryfelgarwch Cymreig ac o gyfrwystra. I rai, roedd yn droseddwr a haeddai ei dynged. Ond i lawer, roedd yn cynrychioli llawer mwy—dyn na ellid ei dorri gan y system, dyn a wnaeth ei fedr a'i ddewrder yn ei wneud yn arwr ym marn y bobl gyffredin.
Mae etifeddiaeth Coch Bach Y Bala, Hudini Cymru, yn parhau i gael ei hadrodd mewn straeon a drosglwyddir trwy'r cenedlaethau. Er y daeth ei fywyd o droseddu ac anhreoleidd-dra i ben mewn trasiedi, mae'n parhau i fod yn rhan anorchfygol o chwedloniaeth Cymru. Hyd yn oed yn ei farwolaeth, mae John Jones yn cael ei gofio fel y Coch Bach na allai'r awdurdodau byth ei ddal, yn llithro trwy'u gafael fel y gwynt ar draws bryniau ei annwyl Gymru.
Ymlaen Cymru! Bydd chwedl y Dihiryn Bach Cymreig yn byw ymlaen.
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