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May 2022
39m 27s

Six Impossible Episodes: Prison Breaks

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About this episode

Dramatic prison escapes often have some common themes -- they often include a lot of tunneling. Here are six highly ingenious and low-violence prison breaks from history. 

Research:

  • "Warriors, witches and damn rebel bitches: The Scotswomen who stood their ground." Herald [Glasgow, Scotland], 15 Sept. 2019. Gale In Context: Global Issues, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A599477490/GPS?u=mlin_n_melpub&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=32ea1a50. Accessed 18 Apr. 2022.
  • Abashiri Prison Museum. https://www.kangoku.jp/multilingual_english/
  • Alcatraz History. “The Great Escape from Alcatraz.” https://www.alcatrazhistory.com/alcesc1.htm
  • Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Pennsylvania system". Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Jul. 1998, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Pennsylvania-system. Accessed 20 April 2022.
  • Callow, John. “Maxwell, William, fifth earl of Nithsdale.” Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. 10/27/2010. https://doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/18413     
  • Carlos, Marius Jr. “Yoshie Shiratori: The Incredible Story of a Man No Prison Could Hold.” Breaking Asia. 2/3/2020. https://www.breakingasia.com/gov/yoshie-shiratori-the-incredible-story-of-a-man-no-prison-could-hold/
  • Cho, Hahna. “Escape from Libby Prison.” Backstory Radio. 9/28/2018.  https://www.backstoryradio.org/blog/escape-from-libby-prison/
  • Detwiler, Jacqueline. "How Popular Mechanics inspired the most Famous escape in history." Popular Mechanics, vol. 195, no. 1, Jan.-Feb. 2018, pp. 74+. Gale In Context: Science, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A522758178/GPS?u=mlin_n_melpub&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=e0949ca7. Accessed 18 Apr. 2022.
  • Eastern State Penitentiary https://www.easternstate.org/
  • Eastern State Penitentiary. “"That's Where the Tunnel Is".” Via YouTube. 10/12/2010. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dgaKHfbGlo
  • Eicke, Leigh. "Maxwell [née Herbert], Winifred, countess of Nithsdale (1672–1749), Jacobite courtier." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.  23. Oxford University Press. Date of access 20 Apr. 2022,
  • FBI. “Alcatraz Escape.” https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/alcatraz-escape
  • Kurohi, Rei. “French gangster escapes prison a second time: 5 other serial jailbreakers from around the world.” The Straits Times International Edition. 7/2/2018. https://www.straitstimes.com/world/french-gangster-escapes-prison-a-second-time-5-other-serial-jailbreakers-from-around-the-world
  • Lewis, Robert. "Alcatraz escape of June 1962". Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 Jun. 2021, https://www.britannica.com/event/Alcatraz-escape-of-June-1962. Accessed 20 April 2022.
  • Murray, Jean. “The Law Must Take Its Course – Limerick Women Sentenced to Transportation.” Limerick Civic Trust, September 2005 – August 2006. https://www.limerick.ie/sites/default/files/atoms/files/limerick_women_sentenced_to_transportation_by_jean_murray.pdf 
  • Schreiber, Mark. “News outlets quick to fall in love with prison break coverage.” Japan Times. 5/5/2018.
  • Slater, Sharon. “9 Limerick Women Escape Prison in 1930.” Limerick’s Life. 10/17/2013. https://limerickslife.com/limerick-women-prison/
  • Stamp, Jimmy. “The Daring Escape From the Eastern State Penitentiary.” Smithsonian. 11/13/2013. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/the-daring-escape-from-the-eastern-state-penitentiary-180947688/
  • Stater, Victor. "Herbert, William, styled first marquess of Powis and Jacobite first duke of Powis (c. 1626–1696), Jacobite courtier." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.  24. Oxford University Press.
  • Zombek, Angela. "Libby Prison" Encyclopedia Virginia. Virginia Humanities, (07 Dec. 2020). Web. 20 Apr. 2022 https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/libby-prison/

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