Republished from City of Fairfax Commissioner of Revenue Page Johnson’s Facebook Post
[The only known photograph of the original Fairfax County Jail, c. 1863
Source: Virginia Room, Fairfax City Regional Library / Image Courtesy of Page Johnson]
On the morning of December 12, 1883, two Fairfax County men were arrested in Washington, D.C. on suspicion of grand larceny of a cow!
RICHARD “DICK” LANE and JOHN WHEELER
In 1883, Richard “Dick” Lane was a 30-year-old African American man and the former slave of William B. Scarce (1814-1860), Alexandria, Virginia. Scarce was also Dick’s biological father. Dick was born in July 1854 in Alexandria, Virginia. His mother, Jane Lane (1811- ? ), was also the slave of William Scarce. William Scarce was the proprietor of the Virginia House Tavern, formerly located at 1600 King Street, in Alexandria.
In 1883, John Wheeler, was a 21-year-old African American man and likely the former slave of George William Washington Jackson (1817-1862) and Martha (Love) Jackson. John’s mother was likely Mary Wheeler (1835- ? ), of Fairfax Court House and also the slave of George Jackson. The Jackson’s were the proprietors of the Dranesville Tavern on Leesburg Pike.
THE COW CAPER
In the early morning hours of Wednesday, December 12, 1883, Richard “Dick” Lane and John Wheeler, entered “Strawberry Vale”, the 144-acre farm of James N. Walton near Peach Grove (now Tyson’s Corner) Fairfax County, Virginia. Strawberry Vale was located on the south side of Chain Bridge Road (Rt. 123) at the interchange of present-day Interstate 495.
Lane and Wheeler appropriated one of Walton’s cows, intending to sell the animal for $60 at one of the cattle markets in D.C. The two men first drove the beast nine miles down Chain Bridge Road and across the Potomac River to Drovers Rest, a longstanding cattle market just above Georgetown. This is today’s 4759 Reservoir Road. Unable to find a buyer there, they moved on to Center Market, which was located on Constitution Avenue, between 7th & 9th Streets (now the site of the National Archives).
Unfortunately for Lane and Wheeler, at Center Market they encountered Metropolitan Police Officer Walter A. Nicholson, who became suspicious. Nicholson arrested the two men on suspicion of grand larceny and carried them to the Fifth Precinct Station House, located about a mile away at 500 E St., S.E. Under interrogation, Lane and Wheeler confessed to the theft and were held until they could be and turned over to Fairfax County authorities.
The following day, Fairfax County Sheriff George E. Sangster arrived to take charge of the prisoners, and presumably, the cow who was returned to its owner at Strawberry Vale. Lane and Wheeler were placed in the “Dungeon Cell” of Fairfax County Jail to await trial.
THE FAIRFAX COUNTY JAIL
The Fairfax County Jail was a significant two-story brick structure, approximately 50’ x 25’, constructed between 1799 and 1800, at the same time as the Fairfax County Courthouse. The jail was located approximately 190 feet S.W. behind the Courthouse, on a north-south axis, parallel with West Street.
A residential jailer’s house was constructed at the same time and was located just south of, and adjacent to, the jail. The jailer’s house was 1½ stories and detached from the jail. In 1883/4, Fairfax County Jailor, John T. Pettit, resided here with his family.
ESCAPE AND FIRE
After languishing in the Fairfax County jail for several months, Lane and Wheeler hatched a bold plan of escape.
A 2 a.m. Sunday March 9, 1884, there were just three prisoners in the jail – Dick Lane, John Wheeler and an African American boy, Harvey Wheeler, who was serving a sentence of 15 days for some minor offense.
John Wheeler described what happened. ‘[I] and Lane had decided to get out of the jail, [we had] collected a lot of pieces of wood, and on Saturday night put the pieces in the diamond cut in the door and set fire to them. The door was of wood, lined with sheet iron, and was soon consumed, not, however, until the flames had gotten under the roof. By this time the boy [Wheeler], who was in the adjoining room had roused the jailer, and before we could get away, Mr. Pettitt appeared on the scene and took charge [of me] and bound [me] to a tree until the furniture had all been gotten out of the jail and the residence of the jailer. Both buildings were destroyed.’
Jailer, John T. Pettit gave the following account for the Alexandria Gazette ‘At about 2 o’clock Sunday morning [I] was awakened by a noise and on rushing into the jail yard discovered that the jail was on fire…accompanied by Mr. Matthew Davis, [I] opened the outer door, when we were set upon by Wheeler and Lane, and so fiercely assaulted, that Lane succeeded in escaping. Wheeler was, however, not so fortunate.”
All three occupants of the jail nearly died. However, in the confusion, Dick Lane managed to escape. Wheeler, it was said, “was in a pretty bad way, his eyes being terribly swollen and his speech somewhat affected by the smoke.”
The resulting fire completely destroyed the eighty-five-year-old jail along with the adjacent jailer’s house. Lane was recaptured and both men were placed in the Alexandria Jail to await trial.
THE VIRGINIA PENITENTIARY
May 19, 1884, Lane and Wheeler were tried in Fairfax County Circuit Court and convicted of arson and grand larceny. They were sentenced to eight years in the Virginia Penitentiary in Richmond, four years for “cattle stealing” and four years for “jail burning”.
On May 23, 1884, Lane and Wheeler were processed into the penitentiary. The prison register identifies John Wheeler as prisoner #6315, a native of Appomattox Co., Virginia, 22 years old, 5’6” tall, “dark ginger cake” in color, black hair and black eyes.
On February 28, 1886, John Wheeler attempted to escape the Virginia Penitentiary by “cutting out”. He was given an additional sentence of one year by the Richmond City Circuit Court.
In 1888, John Wheeler’s 9-year sentence was commuted due to his having contracted “phthisis” (i.e. tuberculosis). He was pardoned by Virginia Governor Fitzhugh Lee on July 14, 1888.
The prison register described Richard Lane, as prisoner #6314, a native of Washington, D.C., 31 years old, 5’5” tall, “dark ginger cake” in color, black hair and black eyes.
Lane had previously been incarcerated in the Virginia Penitentiary in 1876 for a forgery committed in Fairfax County. He served two years.
In addition, Lane’s prison record indicates that he was given an additional 5-year sentence by the Richmond City Circuit Court on June 16, 1884, for an unknown offense committed shortly after his arrival.
In 1891, Richard Lane’s 13-year sentence was commuted due to his having contracted tuberculosis while incarcerated. The penitentiary doctor indicated that his case was “hopeless.” He was pardoned by Virginia Governor Philip W. McKinney on May 16, 1891, having served 7 years.
Both men presumably returned to Fairfax County, but disappeared from the historic record.
In 1885, a new Fairfax County Jail was constructed behind the courthouse. It was in use as a jail until 1953. It is now used by the Office of the Fairfax County Sheriff.
Acknowledgement to Alexandra “Alex” Campbell, Assistant Archivist, Fairfax Circuit Court Historic Records, who provided invaluable documentary support for this article.
