The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-10-02
STOLE HORSES FOR FUN.
A YOUNG GIRLS PECULIAR CONDUCT.
seventeen-Year-Old Eta Robinson on Trial
at Parkersburg, W. Va, Charged
With Horse Steaung-Her
Love of Excitement.

PARKERsBURG, w. Va, Sept. 24.-There
is now in progress here a trial, begun yes
terday, of a seventeen-year-old girl named
Eta Robinson, whose life has, for the
past six months, been full of sensations.
The charge against her is hOrse-ste aling,
and the circumstances attending the COM
hitting of the crime are very romantic.
Six months ago Eta was visiting her
brother, who resides in the adjoining
county of Putnam, and is engaged as
farm hand by Thomas Handy, wealthy
real estate owner. One morning Eta was
missing, and also a fine horse belonging to
Nathan Mccoy After a search of some
days throughout the neighborhood, in
Guiding some OF the toughest OF West
Nirginia's hills and thickest ravines, the
horse was found in hegirl's possession near
the Ohio river. While her pursuers were
debating what to do with her Eta dashed
into the Ohio, still on horseback, and en-
deavored to swim across. She was cap
tured and while being returned to jail
told how she had travelled fifty miles alone
through a 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 refused to prosecute
her.
A short time after horse belonging to
a farmer nrmed Smith as missing just at
the time when the low country in the
hanawha valley was all flooded. The
horse was tracked to the edge of the wat
er and later found on the other side. The
next day both Eta and the horse were
found in a 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 pros
ecuted.
Six weeks later she stole a horse from
Lewis Lesley. She was pursued across
the Ohio, captured and brought back to
the Putnam county Jail. She was con-
fined there several weeks, in which time
her winning ways won her an entrance
into the confidence of the taller, who al
lowed her many privileges Two weeks
ago he awoke 10 find the fair maid had
gone, having cleverly made her escape by
cutting through an old wall. 1t was after
ward found that she had stolen a suit OF
men s clothes. and, taking the stable key,
had stolen fine horse, temporarily in the
ailer's possession, and fled the country.
For ten days ALI Burnett, the detective,
and posse secured the country in vain.
She was finally captured, 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 CLOVIS with youth and apparent inno-
cence, and her every look and action deny
that her peculiar conduct is from evil mo-
tives. Physically she is beautiful, always
full Of life and a general favorite. Her
education and manners have not been neg
lected, neither is she other than neat and
comely in her attire. Her youth, beauty
and general excellence in many ways
have created vast deal of sympathy in
her favor. and some of the most promi-
nent citizens of Putnam county are inter
csting themselves in securing her release.
The trial will probably last a week.