Crime and Punishment: The Case of Joseph Ralph
Teachers Notes
‘Prison Escape!’ is a fun and informative introduction to Victorian prison life. This, and other
Victorian prison related workshops available on the Lincoln Castle Investigate schools programme
could form an interesting and engaging part of a study of crime and punishment through time.
Victorian prison policy is an important topic in this story. Joseph's case is reflects the Victorians
determination to deal with their ever increasing social problems brought about by industrialisation
and urbanisation. It reveals their resolve and energy in trying to find solutions. The arguments of
punishment versus rehabilitation and retribution versus a new start are revealed through the rich
collection of documentation contemporary to the time.
Victorian prison related workshops link to the history national curriculum at Key Stage Two:

a local history study

a study over time tracing how several aspects of national history are reflected in the locality
(this can go beyond 1066)

a study of an aspect of history or a site dating from a period beyond 1066 that is significant
in the locality.

a study of an aspect or theme in British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge
beyond 1066

changes in an aspect of social history, such as crime and punishment from the Anglo-Saxons
to the present or leisure and entertainment in the 20th Century
National curriculum links at Key Stage Three:

ideas, political power, industry and empire: Britain, 1745-1901

Britain as the first industrial nation – the impact on society
The case of Joseph Ralph
The Joseph Ralph case stands out because of the significant effect his escape had on prison life at
Lincoln and the national media attention it attracted at the time. It has been suggested that the
character Magwitch from Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, published in 1861 may have been
inspired from him reading about the case of Joseph Ralph. This would make an excellent literacy link
to a school visit.
In 1854, after being convicted of burglary, Joseph was awaiting a 20 year transportation sentence at
Lincoln Castle prison. Most of the prisoners held here at the time were awaiting trial, or being held
before moving to larger prisons or houses of correction. Others, as in Joseph's case, were to be
transported to Western Australia.
According to newspaper reports at the time, Joseph Ralph was a boy when he was adopted by a
gang of thieves to slip through small windows and steal. This is how his life of crime began. We have
no evidence that this is true, but he was certainly convicted for burglary on several occasions and did
escape from Lincoln Castle gaol twice with daring and great skill.
Joseph's methods of escape were daring and innovative, particularly on the second occasion. There
had been escapes before, but as a result of Joseph's escapes and the wide publicity that they
attracted, the governor of the time Nicholson, was sacked for incompetence and replaced with
Governor Foster, who took a much harder line with prisoners.
Lincolnshire Chronicle 13th October 1854
‘It is Resolved there has been so much mismanagement and neglect in the Government of
the Prison for which the Gaoler Mr Nicholson is responsible that a report therefore shall be
made to the High Sherriff of this County and that he shall be requested to remove
Nicholson for his Office and to appoint a Successor at his earliest convenience….’
Other Newspapers at the time made a bit of an anti-hero of Ralph, almost a Robin Hood character:
The Hull Packet 3rd October
‘His escape is one of the most daring and wonderful feats that has ever been
accomplished: the plan shows the deepest sagacity, and an extraordinary amount of selfreliance. Clogged and impeded in his movements by the irons, the difficulties must have
been such as would require rare courage and patience…’
Joseph was undoubtedly skilful and creative in his escapes, though it has been suggested that he
may have had help from other prisoners and that his escape was made much easier by warders
being off their guard and the regime of prison was far too relaxed under governor Nicholson.
Transportation
Between 1850 and 1868, 9,721 convicts were transported to Western Australia. Transportation
ceased in 1868 with the last convict ship, the Hougoumont departing Britain with 62 convicts on
board. Convicts who were well-behaved could look forward to obtaining a ticket of leave well before
the completion of their sentence. Ticket of leave men were permitted to work for money, after
which, the convict might obtain a conditional pardon, which meant complete freedom except that
they could not return to England. Joseph Ralph had a ticket of leave at some point during his life in
Australia, but found himself into trouble again, stealing as before. He tried escaping from prison here
at least ten times. He died in prison hospital, Fremantle in 1887.
The Dark Cell
The dark cell was used as a severe punishment for prisoner misbehaviour. Prisoners would be given
a bucket and only bread and water. They would sleep on the floor. A prisoner may spend up to three
days in the cell. Once the door of this cell is closed, this is a completely dark space with no windows.
(Visitors can try this out!).
Joseph was known to be a well-behaved prisoner in general and so mostly avoided time in the
punishment cell. However, after his final trial before transportation, his will and ability to escape was
considered such high risk that he spent three days in the dark cell before transportation as recorded
in the prison journals at the time.
Different life opportunities?
Beneath the glamour and bravado of his anti-hero status, Joseph was a criminal and his behaviour
was morally wrong. He stole from others and was sometimes violent, beating up a police officer in
Nottingham which ultimately led to his final capture and sentence of transportation.
Would Joseph have been a good citizen if he had experienced different life chances? He did become
a favourite of the chaplain in Fremantle prison, who described him as ‘a sincere man who had the
potential to be reformed, as long as bad companions did not tempt him’. Being a man of some
intelligence, he worked in the prison library for some time. The skills he used in escaping gaol could
certainly have been put to better use! This is a good point for discussion in the classroom.
NOTICE
ESCAPED
FROM LINCOLN CASTLE
On the night of the 2nd instant
JOSEPH RALPH
Under sentence of Transportation for 20 Years
He states that he is a native of York and served an apprenticeship to a stonemason named Johnson;
he is about thirty years of age, but looks older, he is five feet six and a quarter inches height, has a
round full face, fresh colour, small mouth, rather small blue eyes, a small mole under the left eye,
and one under the left ear, and a cut on the left cheek; he has light brown hair, inclined to curl,
rather bald on the top of the head, short neck and broad shoulders, a cut on the back of the left
hand, a blue mark above the left elbow, and is very reserved in manner. He had on when he
escaped, a pair of dark grey prison trousers tied up the sides with tape, but took with him a Brown
Melton Over-coat, a dark Alpaca Jacket, the sleeves of which are nearly new and darker than the
body, and a waistcoat of the same material, a pair of faded black cloth trowsers, and a black hat. He
was double leg ironed, and handcuffed to his left wrist.
Information is to be immediately given to the Keeper of Lincoln Castle, or the nearest Constable
Lincoln Castle Oct 3rd 1854
W AND B Brooke Printers Lincoln