Scams, Money, & Murder – True Crime This Week: Prison Breaks

Date: November 9, 2025
Host: Vanessa Richardson, Crime House

Episode Overview

This episode of “True Crime This Week” dives into the captivating history of prison escapes, spotlighting legendary breakouts and their impact on popular culture. Host Vanessa Richardson weaves together the stories of two infamous escape artists: Jack Sheppard, an 18th-century London thief whose four jail breaks made him a working-class folk hero, and Joseph Bolitho Johns, better known as Moondyne Joe, a 19th-century convict-turned-folk legend in Australia through a series of ingenious escapes. Through these tales, Vanessa explores how defiance of authority and cunning escapes can transform criminals into enduring icons.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jack Sheppard: London’s Daring Escape Artist (00:55–29:31)

• Background and Early Life

  • Born in 1702 in Spitalfields, London, in poverty.
  • Apprenticed as a carpenter; “by all accounts he was on track to become a model citizen” (06:30).
  • His life took a turn after meeting Elizabeth Lyon at the Black Lion pub, leading to alcohol abuse and criminal influences.

• First Crimes and Partnership

  • Commits first burglary at age 21, emboldened by lack of repercussions.
  • Forms a criminal duo with Elizabeth after breaking her out of jail, eventually bringing his brother Tom into the operation.

• Series of Daring Escapes

  • First Escape (11:00): Breaks out of St. Giles Roundhouse by smashing through the ceiling using bedsheets.
  • Second Escape (13:32): Sawing through leg irons and bars, Jack and Elizabeth descend 25 feet via a makeshift rope; escape yard of another jail by scaling walls.
  • Third Escape (18:15): Disguised as a woman, Jack walks out of Newgate Prison with Elizabeth and her friend’s help.
  • Fourth Escape (24:51): Picks lock with a nail, climbs up a chimney, breaks into a vacant cell, then uses bedsheets to lower himself from the roof.

• Downfall and Execution

  • Becomes a public sensation; his life and escapes are published and sold.
  • Recaptured and executed on November 16, 1724 before a crowd of 200,000—about one-third of London’s population.
  • Noted for the government’s intent to make an “example” of him, fearing his popularity might inspire others.
  • His body is trampled by fans hoping for a last look.

• Legacy

  • Remembered as a working-class folk hero, a symbol of defiance against authority.
  • “Jack Sheppard lives on to this day as a folk hero, a working class bandit who no jail could hold” (28:55).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “There were even merchants selling copies of Jack’s autobiography … proof that no matter what happened at the gallows, the story of his many thefts and daring escapes would live on.” – Vanessa Richardson (05:35)
• “He was a scrappy thief from the lower class, sticking it to the authorities by busting out of every jail they put him in.” (15:25)
• “Instead of any famous last words, he simply handed the hangman a pamphlet in which he’d written his autobiography.” (29:15)
• “His execution was so public, so gruesome, it was obvious the government wanted to make an example of Jack Sheppard.” (07:05)
• “They thought the physician might be able to resurrect him with warm blankets and wine.” (28:50)

2. Joseph Bolitho Johns (‘Moondyne Joe’): Australia’s Legendary Escapee (31:22–end)

• Early Life and Transport

  • Welsh miner, arrested in 1848 for stealing food; sentenced to 10 years at a Western Australia penal colony.
  • Arrived in Australia in 1853, awarded a ‘ticket of leave’ for good behavior (akin to parole).

• Escapades Begin

  • First Escape (35:45): Arrested for “branded” unowned horse; escapes jail by removing screws from lock, steals back horse and police saddle.
  • Tried for jailbreaking, serves time, is released, and resumes farm work.

• Injustice and Escalation

  • Imprisoned in 1865 for alleged cattle rustling (claims innocence).
  • Decides to break out as “he was done playing nice” (37:41).

• Legendary Bush Escapes

  • Flees with other prisoners through the Australian wilderness, displays exceptional bush survival skills (“knew how to throw the police off his scent” (38:32)).
  • Escapes repeatedly, sometimes still in leg irons; utilizes knowledge of landscape and cleverly evades Aboriginal trackers and police.

• Supermax and Ingenious Escape

  • After recapture, Warden George Hampton builds an 'escape-proof' cell, threatens severe punishment.
  • Joe uses pile of rock shards to shield his pickaxe strikes on the yard wall. “At some point, Joe realized he could use this to his advantage.” (44:05)
  • On March 7, 1867, escapes through the concealed hole while the guards are distracted.

• Final Years and Pardon

  • Hampton vows “dead or alive” recovery; Joe vanishes into the wilderness for two years.
  • Caught by chance stealing wine; requests the pardon promised by Hampton’s replacement, Henry Wakeford, who releases him in 1871 for being a “nonviolent offender.”
  • Moondyne Joe lives quietly, marries, and remains a revered Australian icon.

• Legacy

  • Annual Moondyne Festival celebrates his legend.
  • “His refusal to serve time for a crime he swore he didn’t commit made him a legendary figure in Australia and beyond.” (49:38)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “He was not a career criminal by any means. This burglary was actually his first offense. But that didn’t earn him any sympathy from the British justice system.” (32:15)
• “If he managed to escape again, he’d be given a full pardon.” – Warden George Hampton (45:30)
• “The pile of shards grew until it was waist high, blocking the guard’s view of Joe’s lower torso.” (44:15)
• “In May of 1871, at the age of 45, Moondyne Joe walked out of the prison gates a free man…” (48:05)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:55 – Introduction to the week’s theme: Prison Breaks; overview of Jack Sheppard and Moondyne Joe
• 04:15–29:31 – Deep dive into the life, crimes, and escapes of Jack Sheppard
• 31:22–49:50 – The saga of Moondyne Joe: from first crime to legendary escapes and final pardon
• 49:00–49:38 – Reflection on escape artists’ place in history; power of defiance against authority

Tone and Style

Vanessa’s narration is engaging, dramatic, and steeped in historical detail. She balances empathy for the escapees’ rough origins with a sense of wonder at their cunning. Both stories are told in a storytelling style that blends intrigue, tragedy, and admiration for the individuals’ ingenious exploits.

Summary Takeaway

“True Crime This Week: Prison Breaks” provides a riveting exploration of two iconic escapees who became legends not only through their crimes but through their resistance to institutional authority. Vanessa’s storytelling draws out the human drama at the heart of these tales, highlighting the impact of their exploits on society and pop culture. Listeners are left reflecting on why such figures remain folk heroes centuries later—etched into history as irrepressible spirits who dared to break their chains.