Veneida Smith

Sheriff Says No Jail Can Hold Fair Tomboy of Mountains

Parkersburg authorities refused to pursue Veneida Smith, pretty 16-year-old girl, an alleged horse thief and jail breaker, into her mountain hiding places today. The sheriff and his deputies, opined "There ain't no jail that'll hold her," following the last escape when she sawed the bars in her cell window with a tiny blade of steel smuggled into the jail in her shoe. Sliding to the ground on a rope made with bed clothes, the "Holy Terror Tomboy," as she is known to authorities, evaded pursuit to outskirts of town where she secured her pony and galloped away in the direction of Cairo. Veneida is the veteran of a long string of jail breaks, according to authorities. Once she wrecked her cell with an iron bar because the sheriff refused to give her cigars to smoke. Previously she had broken out of a reform school, and numerous efforts of social workers to reform her were met with this reply: "The devil got me into it, let him get me out." Parkersburg authorities describe the girl as "pretty as a picture, wild as a deer, hardy as a mountain goat, as hard as nails, and able to care for herself anywhere."

Previously, previously, previously, previously, previously, previously, previously, previously, previously.

Tags: , ,

  • Previously