The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-09-25
A FAIR GIRL HORSE-THIEF.
Career of Young Adventures Who Steals
Simply for the Love of Excitement.

PARKERsBURG, w. Va, Sept. 24.-There is
now in progress here trial, begun yester-
day. of seventeen-year- r-old girl named
Eta Robinson, whose life has for the past
six months been full of sensations. The
charge against her is horse-stealing. and
the circumstances attending the committing
of the crime are very romantic. SixmOnths
ago Eta was visiting her brother. who re-
resides in the adjoining county of Putnam,
and is engaged as Farmland by Thomas
Handy, wealthy real estate owner. One
morning Eta was missing. and also fine
horse belonging to Nathan Mccoy. After
search for some days throughout the
neighborhood. including some of the rough
est of West Vlrginia's hills and thicket
ravines, the horse was found in the girls
possession. near the Ohio river. While her
pursuers were debating what to do with
her, Eta dashed into the Ohio, still on
horseback, and endeavored to swim across
She was captured and while being re-
turned to jail. told how she had travelled
fifty miles alone through strange country
after night. She was placed in Jail, but
broke out and returned to her brother,
when Mccoy, from whom she had stolen
the horse. took pity on her youth and re-
fused to prosecute her.
farmer named Smith was missing just at
the time when the low country in the Ka-
nawha valley was all flooded. The horse
was tracked to the edge of the waters, and.
day both Eta and the horse were found in
hollow. The girl had swan the stream,
mile wide, on horseback. She slept out at
night, living on what she could steal. For
the second time her youth protected her,
and she was not prosecuted. Six weeks later
she stole horse from Lewis Losley. She was
pursued across the Ohio captured and
brought back to the Putnam county Jail.
She was confined there several weeks, In
entrance into the confidence of the jailer,
who allowed her many privileges. Two
weeks ago he awOke to find the fair maid
had gone, having cleverly made her escape
by cutting through an. old wall. 1t was
of mems clothes, and. taking the stable key,
had stolen fine horse temporarily in the
jailer's possession and fed the country. For
ten days detective and posse secured the
with the horse still in her possession. near
her old home. During her escapades she
had lived on berries, corn or anything she
could find, and alone wandered through
the widest and most dangerous territory.
This young adventures does not steal
from any other motive than simply the love
of excitement and adventure. Her face
glOws with youth and apparent innocence,
and her every look and action deny that
her peculiar conduct is from evil motives.
Physically, she is beautiful, always full of
life and general favorite. Her education
and manners have not been neglected,
neither is she other than neat and comely
in her attire. Her youth, beauty and gem
eral excellence in many ways have created
vast deal Of sympathy in her favor, and
some of the most prominent citizens of Put
nam county are Interesting themselves in
securing her release. The trial will prob
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