The Daily News Of The Virgin Islands

I CAN'T ESCAPE
Smithen Gives Up, Tired and Hungry, To Tortola Police

James Smithen, the third escapee from Fort Christian, surrendered meekly to Tortola police yesterday after six hungry days of freedom.

He waived extradition and was returned to St. Thomas on the Islander at 4 p.m. in custody of British Police Corporal Cecil Potter.

Smithen's only comment as he surrendered was: "I know I am

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I CAN'T
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surrounded . . . I can't escape."

Facing a seven year sentence for mayhem, Smithen was the last of three prisoners who pulled a daring escape from the Fort last Saturday. Two others, Samuel Ryan and Renaldo Richardson, surrendered earlier.

The three men face additional 10 year sentences for escape and police will file these charges against them. Ryan is already serving 2½ years for larceny and Richardson is awaiting trial for the same offense.

Ryan told a story of wandering from village to village on Tortola begging food and shelter. In each village he was greeted with suspicion and the question: "Are you a stranger?"

One by one, tired and hungry, Richardson, Ryan and Smithen gave themselves up and volunteered to return to St. Thomas.

The trio escaped from the Fort by hack-sawing four iron bars and lowering themselves to the ground by a rope made of knotted trousers. Somehow they made their way to the east end of the island where they secured a boat which they took to Sea Cow Bay in Tortola. The boat was later found abandoned and sunk.

Police are investigating reports that an unidentified "French-man" charged them $20 each for the trip to Tortola but police are not inclined to believe the report since the boat was found sunk and no unidentified aliens of this description were reported on Tortola.

St. Thomas police praised British officers for their determination in tracking the escaped prisoners and their cooperation in questioning and transporting the men to this island.