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.