Sectorg3
Start free Explore products
Sectorg3 fact file

Notorious Prison Escapee - Joseph Bolitho Johns

He is also famously known as Moondyne Joe. He was a notorious Australian bushranger known for his numerous escapes from prison during the 19th century.

Reference article Updated 2026-11-09 Sectorg3 fact library
Advertisement

Joseph Bolitho Johns

Some of the details may be subject to interpretation, embellishment, or myth.
Some of the details may be subject to interpretation, embellishment, or myth.
  • 1. Early Life: Joseph Bolitho Johns was born in Cornwall, England, in 1826. He migrated to Australia in 1848, seeking his fortune during the Gold Rush era.
  • 2. Criminal Activities: Johns turned to a life of crime and was initially arrested for stealing horses. Over time, he gained a reputation for his audacity, cunning, and repeated escapes from custody.
  • 3. Escapes: Despite numerous convictions and imprisonments, Moondyne Joe managed to escape from various Western Australian prisons multiple times. He utilized various methods like scaling walls, picking locks, digging tunnels, and even hiding inside mattresses or deliveries.
  • 4. Special Cell: Due to Moondyne Joe's repeated escapes, authorities built a special cell at Fremantle Prison, Western Australia, in 1869. The cell, known as the "Escape-Proof Cell," was constructed with thick walls, inescapable doors, and a reinforced ceiling.
  • 5. "Pardoned" Escape: In a daring twist, the authorities offered Moondyne Joe a challenge. If he could escape the specially designed cell, they promised to pardon his crimes. True to form, Moondyne Joe successfully escaped from the cell by removing the door hinges using a piece of metal he obtained secretly.
  • 6. Capture and Release: Despite the challenge's success, Moondyne Joe was captured again but gained considerable public sympathy. He was released in 1873 under a conditional pardon, which required him to leave the Western Australian colony.
  • 7. Later Life: After his release, Moondyne Joe led a relatively reformed life and tried to make an honest living as a horsebreaker and woodcutter in other Australian states. He eventually settled in the town of Toodyay, Western Australia.
However, the basic outline of his life and remarkable escapes is widely accepted.
However, the basic outline of his life and remarkable escapes is widely accepted.
It can be attributed to the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun, also known as King Tut.
It can be attributed to the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun, also known as King Tut.

Related fact file: The Tomb Of King Tutankhamun

  • 1. Discovery: The tomb of Tutankhamun was discovered on November 4, 1922, by British archaeologist Howard Carter. The tomb was located in the Valley of the Kings, near the city of Luxor (formerly Thebes), on the western bank of the Nile River.
  • 2. Tutankhamun's Reign: Tutankhamun was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh who reigned during the 18th dynasty (approximately 1332-1323 BCE). He ascended to the throne at a young age and died around 18 years old.
  • 3. Carter's Expedition: Howard Carter's expedition was funded by the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, George Herbert. After years of searching, with waning pati...

Read the full fact file

Advertisement

Continue reading

More reference fact files from the Sectorg3 library.

Fact file Living On Water - The Bajau People Also known as the Sama-Bajau, are an indigenous ethnic group of maritime Southeast Asia.… Fact file Zhen Xian Bao - The Book of Threads The pinnacle of the art of Chinese origami. Originally used to carry sewing supplies. But… Fact file The Colossus Of Rhodes - The Second Wonder Of The Ancient World Erected on the Greek island of Rhodes in the 3rd century BC, this colossal statue depicted… Fact file The Most Durable Words - Everlasting Gospel A reminder of God's love, grace, and mercy towards humanity, inviting all people to accept… Fact file The Four Legged Woman - Josephine Myrtle Corbin She was an individual who lived from 1868 to 1928. She was born as Josephine Myrtle Corbin… Fact file The Great Disappointment - William Miller An event in 1844 when followers of William Miller, a preacher and leader of the Adventist…

Run your organisation on Sectorg3

Schools, healthcare, ISP billing, SACCOs and communities — one platform, separate data.

Create a workspace