John Jones or 'Coch Bach Y Bala' (1854-1913) gained notoriety as a persistent thief who succeeded in escaping from gaol on several occasions. He was also known as 'The Little Welsh Terror' and 'The Little Turpin'. In 1913 he escaped from Ruthin Gaol but was shot by a local landowner at nearby Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd and bled to death. Despite his wrongdoings, he was a popular figure and the circumstances surrounding his death were the source of much public discontent in the area.