Montross Jail Burns, from the Northern Neck News dated November 30, 1888.

"On Monday night last an attempt was made by John C. Johnson, the negro who
is confined in our jail under sentence of death, to break jail by
burning through the floor. The particulars are as follows: About 12
o'clock of the night same, the jailer and others of the village were
aroused by the cry of fire proceeding from the jail when it was found that
there was a fire in Johnsons' room and he was almost sufficated by smoke.
After the doors were opened and the smoke let out, it was seen that a
smoldering fire under the window had burned a hole through the floor almost
sufficiently large for a man to go through.-----The fire was
extinguished and preperations were made to remove Johnson to another room.
Upon being questioned, Johnson said he had burned the staple
(webmaster:this is what held him in place preventing his excape.)out Friday
before. His bed had been spread over the burnt place. Matches were found
in the pockets of the prisoner and, as he was searched when first put
in jail, it is evident that they had in some way been secretly slipped
in to him."