Joe Johns Let Me Start Again

Bushranger

Moondyne Joe
Moondyne Joe
Born	Joseph Bolitho Johns c. February 1826 Cornwall, England, UK
Died	13 August 1900(1900-08-13) (anile 74) Fremantle, Western Australia, British Empire
Resting place	Fremantle Cemetery, Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia
Occupation	Miner, Bushranger
Spouse(s)	Louisa Frances Elizabeth Hearn (m.1879–93; her expiry)
Criminal charge	Theft
Penalty	10 years' penal servitude

Joseph Bolitho Johns (c. February 1826 – xiii August 1900), better known as Moondyne Joe, was an English convict and Western Australia's all-time-known bushranger. Born into poor and relatively difficult circumstances, he became something of a trivial criminal robber with a stiff sense of cocky-determination. He is remembered as a person who had escaped multiple times from prison.

Biography [edit]

Remnants of a fence and well, congenital by Moondyne Joe

Early life [edit]

Born in Cornwall, UK, around 1826 and raised as a Roman Catholic, he was the third of six children of blacksmith Thomas Johns (1795–1833) and his wife Mary Bolitho (1804–1860). Joe was a tall human with blackness hair and hazel-coloured optics,^[1] and it is likely that he contracted smallpox in his youth as, later, records describe him as "pockmarked". His father died some fourth dimension in 1833, and Johns and his three brothers took work as copper miners. In 1841 the family was living at Illogan, Cornwall, simply by 1848 Johns had migrated to Wales, taking work every bit an fe ore miner, probably at the Clydach Iron Works.^[2]

Prison [edit]

On 15 November 1848, Johns and an associate using the proper name William Cross, the pseudonym for the captive John Williams, were arrested virtually Chepstow for "stealing from the house of Richard Price, three loaves of bread, i piece of salary, several cheeses, and other goods".^[three] Arraigned at the Brecon Assizes on charges of break-in and stealing, the pair pleaded non guilty. On 23 March, they were tried at the Lent Assizes before Sir William Erle. Newspaper reports of the trial suggest that the pair gave an unexpectedly spirited defense, only Johns was abrasive and "contravened the conventions of court procedure". The men were convicted and sentenced to ten years' penal servitude. W. J. Edgar (1990) observes that in several other cases brought before the aforementioned guess that day, guilty pleas to very similar charges resulted in sentences ranging from three weeks to three months.^[4]

Johns and Williams were to spend the adjacent seven months working on a government piece of work party in the local area, before existence transferred to Millbank Prison. On 1 January 1850, they were transferred to Pentonville Prison to serve their mandatory half dozen months of alone confinement. The pair were transferred to Dartmoor Prison on 21 October 1851, but shortly after Johns was transferred to the Woolwich prison house hulk Justitia, probably for disciplinary reasons. When the Justitia was destroyed past fire, he was transferred to the Defence. Virtually a year afterwards, he boarded the prison send Pyrenees for transportation to what was then the British penal colony of Western Australia to serve out the remainder of his judgement.^[4] In turn, Williams was transported to Van Diemen's Land in March 1852.

Australia bound [edit]

Remnants of Moondyne Joe's gate; it was this gate that he used to trap stock

Pyrenees sailed for Western Australia on 2 February 1853, and arrived in Fremantle on 30 Apr.^[5] In advantage for good behaviour, Johns was issued with a ticket of leave on inflow, and on 10 March 1855 he received a conditional pardon. He then settled in the Avon Valley, i of the nigh rugged and inaccessible places in the Darling Range. The Ancient proper noun for the surface area was Moondyne. Johns fabricated a living by partly fencing the springs in the area, and trapping escaped stock and horses. Often a advantage was offered for the render of such animals.^[4]

In August 1861, Johns caught an unbranded stallion and branded it with his own mark. This was effectively horse stealing, and when the police heard of this they arrested him at their first opportunity. The equus caballus was taken as evidence, and Johns was placed in the Toodyay lockup. Quondam during the night, Johns broke out of his prison cell, and stole the equus caballus once more, taking too the local magistrate's make-new saddle and bridle. He was caught the next day but, while on the run, he had killed the equus caballus and cutting his make out of the hibernate, thus destroying the bear witness. Consequently, he received only a three-twelvemonth sentence for jail-breaking, whereas a typical judgement for horse stealing was more than than ten years.^{[half dozen]}

While Johns was serving his sentence, there was a rash of convict escapes and attempted escapes, merely Johns remained well behaved. His good behaviour earned him a remission on his judgement, and he was released on a ticket of leave in February 1864. He then found work on Henry Martin's farm in Kelmscott. In January 1865, a steer named "Bright" belonging to William Wallace was killed, and Johns was accused of the deed. He was arrested on 29 March, found guilty on 5 July, and sentenced to x years' penal servitude.^{[vi] [7]} Johns was to protest his innocence of this criminal offence for the residual of his life. He was adamant not to serve what he felt was an unjust sentence and, in early November, he and another prisoner absconded from a work political party. They were on the run for nearly a calendar month, during which time they committed a number of small robberies. Information technology was during this time that Johns first adopted the nickname Moondyne Joe. They were finally caught 37 kilometres (23 miles) east of York by a party of policemen that included Tommy Windich, an Aboriginal tracker. For absconding and for being in possession of a firearm, Johns was sentenced to twelve months in irons, and transferred to Fremantle Prison.^[half-dozen]

Escape [edit]

In April 1866, Johns sent a petition to the Chief Justice, and received iv years off his sentence. This was evidently unsatisfactory to him for, in July, he received a farther six months in irons for trying to cut the lock out of his door. Early in August, he succeeded in escaping again. After cutting off his irons, he met up with three other escapees, and together they roamed the bush effectually Perth, committing a number of robberies and narrowly escaping capture on a number of occasions. Nearly the end of the month, one of the gang was captured by police. Realising that the gang could not elude the constabulary forever, Johns formulated a program to escape the colony by travelling overland to the colony of South Australia. This would be a long and arduous journey through extremely arid land, and the gang would take to be very well equipped if it were to stand up any chance of success. On 5 September, Johns equipped his company by committing the biggest robbery of his career, stealing supplies and equipment from the Toodyay store of an old enemy, James Everett. The gang then started travelling east along the explorer Charles Chase's established route. Their tracks were discovered by police on 26 September, about 160 kilometres (99 mi) due east of York. A team of police then set out after them, and they were captured on 29 September 1866 at Boodalin Soak, about six kilometres (3.7 mi) north-due west of the present-day site of the town of Westonia, approximately 300 kilometres (190 mi) northward-east of Perth.^{[half dozen]}

Difficult labour [edit]

As punishment for escaping and for the robberies committed while on the run, Johns received five years' hard labour on top of his remaining judgement. Extraordinary measures were taken to ensure that Johns did not escape again. He was sent to Fremantle Prison house, and kept in the yard with his cervix chained to the iron bar of a window, while a special "escape-proof" cell was made for him. The rock-walled cell was lined with jarrah sleepers and over grand nails, and was nigh air-proof and calorie-free-proof. Johns was kept in the cell on a bread and h2o diet, with merely one to two hours of exercise a solar day. In early on 1867, due to his diminishing wellness, Johns was prepare to piece of work breaking stone in the open air but, rather than permit him to go out the prison, the interim comptroller-general ordered that the stone exist brought in and dumped in a corner of the prison yard, where Johns worked nether the constant supervision of a warder. Governor John Hampton was so confident of the arrangements, he was heard to say to Johns: "If you go out again, I'll forgive y'all". However, the rock broken by Johns was not removed regularly, and somewhen a pile grew upwards until it obscured the guard's view of him beneath the waist. Partially hidden behind the pile of rocks, he occasionally swung his sledgehammer at the limestone wall of the prison.^[6]

On vii March 1867, Johns escaped through a hole he had made in the prison wall. Despite an extensive manhunt, no sign of him was institute, and he would not be recaptured for almost two years. He did non return to any of his old haunts, and he committed no crimes, so the authorities received very fiddling information most him. Also, many convicts were encouraged past Johns' adventurous escape, and a number of escapes were attempted in the post-obit months, so that he was quickly forgotten.^[six]

On 25 February 1869, Johns tried to steal some wine from the cellars at Houghton Winery. By take a chance, the owner had been helping with a constabulary search, and afterwards invited a group of police back to the vineyard for refreshments. When the possessor entered the cellar, Johns assumed that he was discovered, and fabricated a dash for the door into the arms of the police. He was returned to prison, sentenced to an additional 12 months, one-half to exist in separate confinement, for absconding. On 22 March 1869, he was sentenced to an additional four years in irons for breaking and entering. Johns made at to the lowest degree one more endeavor to escape, attempting in February 1871 to create a key for his cell in the carpenter'southward workshop, but was unsuccessful. Eventually, in Apr 1871, Comptroller General Wakeford heard from Johns of Hampton's promise. Subsequently verifying with Superintendent Lefroy that those words were spoken, Wakeford informed the electric current governor, Frederick Weld, who agreed that further penalisation would be unfair. Johns was given a ticket of go out in May 1871.^[half-dozen]

Later on life [edit]

The residual of Johns' life consisted of periods of expert behaviour punctuated by occasional minor misdemeanors and brief jail terms. In January 1879, he married a widow named Louisa Hearn, and they spent some fourth dimension prospecting for gold most Southern Cross. In 1881, while exploring the countryside around Karridale, he discovered Moondyne Cave.

Final years and death [edit]

In 1893, Johns' wife Louisa died at the age of 40, and the death affected him profoundly. Years later on, he began interim strangely, and was eventually plant to exist mentally sick. He died of senile dementia in the Fremantle Lunatic Asylum (at present the Fremantle Arts Centre building) on thirteen Baronial 1900, and was buried in Fremantle Cemetery.^[6] His tombstone bears the word "rhyddid", meaning "freedom" in Welsh.

Cultural references [edit]

Literature and film [edit]

It has been said^{[ by whom? ]} that the tales of Moondyne Joe inspired John Boyle O'Reilly to make his daring escape in 1869

While Moondyne Joe was bushranging in 1869, an Irish political prisoner named John Boyle O'Reilly was working in a captive route party near Bunbury. Although it is very unlikely that O'Reilly knew Moondyne Joe, he must take heard many stories of his exploits. In March 1869, O'Reilly escaped and was rescued past an American ship. Afterwards his arrival in the United States, he wrote a novel about convict life called Moondyne: An Australian Tale, whose fundamental character was chosen Moondyne Joe. The book is presented as fiction, and neither the character nor the plot bears much resemblance to the life of Joseph Johns.

In 1913, O'Reilly's novel was made into a picture show entitled Moondyne.^[viii] Directed by W. J. Lincoln, information technology starred George Bryant, Godfrey Cass and Roy Redgrave.^[9]

Randolph Stow wrote a humorous children'south book, Midnite: The Story of a Wild Colonial Boy, in 1967 which told the story of an Australian bushranger based on the life and exploits of Moondyne Joe and a Queensland bushranger Captain Starlight.^[x]

In 2002, Cygnet Books published The Fable of Moondyne Joe, a piece of work of juvenile fiction written by Mark Greenwood and illustrated by Frané Lessac.^[11] The book won the accolade in the Children's Books category at the 2002 Western Australian Premier's Book Awards.^[12]

In 2012, Fremantle Press published a postmodern estimation of Moondyne Joe's life, The Ballad of Moondyne Joe, including poems and prose by John Kinsella and Niall Lucy.^[13]

In vocal and poesy [edit]

The Ballad of Moondyne Joe ^[14]

In the Darling Ranges, many years ago,

At that place lived a daring outlaw, by the name of 'Moondyne Joe'.

He stole the squatter's horses, and a sheep or two or iii,

He loved to roam the countryside, and swore he would be complimentary.

The troopers said we'll catch him, but we know it'due south all in vain,

Every time we lock him upwards he breaks correct out again.

'Crusade in he goes, and out he goes, and off once more he'll go,

There'due south not a gaol in W.A. can continue in 'Moondyne Joe'.

Anonymous – sung past the public at the fourth dimension of his 1867 escape ^[15]

The Governor's son has got the pip,

The Governor's got the measles.

For Moondyne Joe has give 'em the slip,

Pop goes the weasel.

Moondyne Joe's Bar and Chophouse, Fremantle, takes its name from the famous bushranger

Anonymous ^[16]

It were Moondyne of course

That took Ferguson's horse.

He'd subconscious the same

In the hills of that proper noun.

When he constitute it had gone

Ferguson searched all the Swan,

And offered a pound

For when information technology was plant.

But Joe has it hid

And he pockets the quid.

In a calendar month to the day

Again the horse goes astray.

Merely Ferguson'due south no fool

Goes along to Moondyne Pool.

To see if it's truthful

The police force comes too.

When his judgement is gone

Joe is done with the Swan.

They call me bushranger—

I'll feel quite a stranger;

So by the Mass

I'll try the Vasse.

At Ellensbrook

The dizzy quondam rook

Gets a job

At 15 Bob.

No more I don't know

That's the story of Moondyne Joe.

In 1982 a musical/play was written by Roy Abbott and Roger Montgomery of the Mucky Duck Bush-league Band and performed past Mucky Duck and friends at various venues.^[17]

Memorials [edit]

A railway siding on the Eastern Goldfields Railway in Johns' expanse of operations in the Avon Valley has been named "Moondyne", about likely later the human rather than the area.

Festivals [edit]

On the outset Lord's day of May, the township of Toodyay celebrates the life and times of Moondyne Joe by holding the Moondyne Festival. This festival takes place in the principal street with street theatre, marketplace stalls, demonstrations and the entire boondocks is generally transported back to earlier years.^[18]

Run across also [edit]

• Cornish Australians
• List of convicts transported to Australia
• Listing of convict ship voyages to Western Australia

References [edit]

1. ^ Convicts to Australia : Pyrenees arrived in WA in 1853. Retrieved on 8 Feb 2014 from /members.iinet.cyberspace.au
2. ^ Devereux, Drew (2006). "Early on life of Moondyne Joe". Dollypot, Greenhide and Spindrift: A Journal of Bush History. 2 (3). ISBN0-85905-416-0. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 22 November 2006. ^{[ better source needed ]}
3. ^ "The Welshman and Full general Advertiser for the Principality of Wales". The Welshman. 30 March 1849.
4. ^ ^{a b c} Edgar, Westward. J. (1990). The Life and Times of Moondyne Joe: Swan River Colony Convict Joseph Bolitho Johns. Toodyay, Western Australia: Tammar Publications and Toodyay Tourist Heart. ISBN0-646-00047-0.
5. ^ "Shipping Intelligence". The Perth Gazette and Independent Journal of Politics and News. 4 July 1851. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
6. ^ ^{a b c d east f g h} Elliot, Ian (1978). Moondyne Joe: The Human being and the Myth. Nedlands, Western Commonwealth of australia: Academy of Western Australia Press. ISBN0-85564-130-4. Republished in 1998 by Carlisle, Western Australia: Hesperian Press. ISBN 0-85905-244-iii.
7. ^ "Supreme Courtroom—Criminal Side". The Perth Gazette and West Australian Times. National Library of Australia. 7 July 1865. p. 3. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
8. ^ Routt, William D. (2002). "More Australian than Aristotelian: The Australian Bushranger Film, 1904–1914". Senses of Movie house (xviii). Archived from the original on 24 Dec 2010.
9. ^ "Moondyne (1913)". IMDb: The Cyberspace Moving picture Database. September 1913. Retrieved 29 May 2006.
10. ^ Stowe, Randolph (1969). Midnite: The Story of a Wild Colonial Boy. Puffin Books. ISBN0-fourteen-030421-v.
11. ^ Greenwood, Marking (2002). The Legend of Moondyne Joe. Crawley, Western Australia: Cygnet Books. ISBN1-876268-70-0.
12. ^ State Library of Western Commonwealth of australia. "Western Australian Premier's Volume Awards – 2002 Winners". Authorities of Western Commonwealth of australia. Archived from the original on 9 November 2014. Retrieved xix December 2014. Additional archives: 26 July 2005.
13. ^ Kinsella, John and Niall Lucy (2012). The Carol of Moondyne Joe. Fremantle, Western Australia: Fremantle Press. ISBN9781921888526.
14. ^ "Fremantle Prison: Factsheet". Archived from the original on 22 August 2006. Retrieved 14 January 2006.
15. ^ Graham Seal (1996). The Outlaw Fable: A Cultural Tradition in Uk, America and Australia. Cambridge University Printing. ISBN0-521-55317-2.
16. ^ Stewart, Athole (25 June 1948). "Western Sussex". Early Days (December 1948): 37.
17. ^ "Trove". trove.nla.gov.au.
18. ^ "Moondyne Festival". Retrieved v May 2014.

External links [edit]

Wikisource has several original texts related to: Moondyne Joe

• M. Tamblyn, 'Johns, Joseph Bolitho (1827–1900)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Heart of Biography, Australian National University, Johns, Joseph Bolitho (1827–1900), published in hardcopy 1972, accessed online 10 February 2014
• Family unit History site at dbolitho.co.britain

roundsorwits.blogspot.com

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moondyne_Joe

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