The Washington times., 1922-11-13
GIRL
BREAKS JAIL
SECOND TIME
vsnieda Smith Again Demon
stratss Iron Bars Cannot
Deny Her Liberty.

PARKERSBURG, w: Va, NOV
l3.-Pretty sixteen-year-old Venie;;
da Smith, wearing q boys cap and
q woman's riding habit, was still At
liberty today, although the su'
thorities are combing the coun-
tryside for her. .
Saving patiently through one OF
the bars in her cell here, the girl
escaped for the second time, slip
ping out of the window and drop
ping to the ground by means OF her
blanket fashioned into a rope.
Devil Is In Me.
The last person reported to have
seen her was a farmer who said
that she was astride one OF her
black ponies on the 81. Marys
pike. putting miles between her
and the scene Of her adventurous
career OF the last few years.
She Ia described az blonde Of
exceptional beauty. with long flow.
ing locks and has the appearance
Of wellforned athlete with the
exception Of a slight stoop to her
shoulders.
Since her first escape. which at.
tracted wide attention. Vcnieda has
been occupying her time with her
violin and with books and papers
left her by ladies Of the city who
have been frequent visitors at the
jail since her recapture. Many OF
them spoke to her of religion. OF
the powers OF evil. and tho neces.
sity OF mendins her ways. Their
advice and counsel are said 10 have
had a strange influence on the
girl. who wrote In q book found
after her escape:
THE devil is with me. lie r,sts
me do what ] did. lie got me ia
here. He will get me out Of here
and then he win help me-"
Short.term prisoners at the jail.
train riders. etc. who are fire.
qucntly employed by tho Jailer A
trustees in cleaning up the cells.
carrying food to prisoners and
other duties, tell Of the girl on sew
erai occasions causing paper bags
in the cell with her to move about
by no other apparent cause that
the expression OF her will. fright.
ening the witnesscs to the act
half out Of their senses. When
Jailer Ed Callihan. to VIII ,m the
weird incidents were reported made
an inquiry Of the girl concerning 9
the alleged incidents. she invited
him to so TO . sizzling hot place.
Swan Creek.
Sentenced twice to the reform
school. on both occasions she made
her escape from that institution
once clad only In a blanket.
Officers a years or 30 ago went to
her home to arrest her and she ran
through the woods. swan Worthing.
ton creek and got away. She was
arrested several weeks ago on q
charge Of stealing q horse and con-
fined in the county jail. With q bar
Of iron, she pried loose two bars Of
her cell and escaped. secured .
terrified, Ohio, when officers over
took her and in a chase forced her
TO abandon her mount.
She was captured the following
morning back at her home In this
city, having walked barefooted III.
teen miles In the cold and frost OF
the early morning.
Arrafgned in circuit court on the
charge, the case was set for trial,
and continued 10 the next term Of
the court. beginning In January. In
default Of $500 bond she was re-
ma nded 10 Jail to await trial.
While In jail she went into tan.
trums on several OCCASIONS. one
time tearing out a section OF plaster
In the padded cell, and at other
times giving vent to her feelings IN
vitrioiic language and screams. Jail
authorities have been wearing q pale
and hsggard look since she took up
her residence in the county baatfla.