About five o'clock last evening smoke was seen to be issuing from all around the eaves of the County Jail and the Sheriff's residence adjoining, several persons making the dis-covery about the same time. The firemen at the Fulton street house were quietly notified, and a telephone message was also sent to the City Prison. The patrol wagon and a dozen policemen were soon on hand, ready to secure the prisoners in case there was a probability of the jail burning, as on a former occasion, in mid-winter. There was much difficulty in ascertaining just where the fire was, and two openings were made in the slate roof before it could be found and extinguished, which was not accomplished until about half and hour after the discovery was made.

An investigation of the interior showed that a hole in the ceiling was the initial point of the fire, and that a lot of rags had been pushed up through it into the attic and then set on fire with a match. Suspicion fell upon Frederick Greiner, the condemned murderer, who, some of the prisoners said, had been seen on top of the upper tier of cells earlier in the afternoon, and also day before yesterday. When charged with the act Greiner strenuously denied it, but the actions of the deaf-mute Davis boy, known as the "Fire-Bug," were recalled by Deputy Sheriff Sullivan when on the inside. Davis endeavored to convey some information by imitating the lighting of a match and holding up his hand, but his pantomime was not they understood. The jail authorities say they endeavor to prevent matches from being carried into the jail, but they will get there sometimes without their knowledge. The damage by fire last evening was not very great, as there was no blaze for want of a draft.