Some prisoners, such as soldiers, were held there temporarily awaiting extradition to other jurisdictions, but most of the inmates were debtors imprisoned by their creditors.

[1] The jail was completed in June 1862 constructed of Philadelphia brick ornamented with New Jersey freestone trimmings.

[3][4] Woodhull was the first female candidate for President of the United States and she spent a month at the jail, including election night, accused of publishing obscene materials.

After being arrested for bilking the city out of millions of dollars, Tweed jumped bail and was later apprehended in Spain.

[5] In 1895, Carlos Roloff was imprisoned on charges of violating neutrality laws for his filibustering expeditions during the Cuban War of Independence.