They Didn't Need Bail to Get Out of Jail!
In the 1890s, Union City constables faced a major problem after they had captured the criminals in town. Where were they supposed to put them? One of the things the constable could do with criminals in the early days of Union City was to take the criminals to the jail on West High Street.
One of the first jails in the borough was located between the corner diner and the Bisbee Implement Company on West High Street. It was a small building, about 12 x 15 feet with a fireplace and a large flue.
In the late nineteenth century, a Union City constable jailed a borough citizen who had been a guest in some of the best jails in the county. He locked the man in the Union City jail with the promise of food and lodging for the night.
William Gillett, the great grandfather of William Gillett and the father of the William Gillett who was in Coleman's Band for many years, said that the man was 'not much in love with this jail." Since the man was built along slender lines, he shimmied up the smoke flue and then jumped to the ground and freedom. It was not a clean jail break as he was "a much soiled bird,' by his tight squeeze in the flue.
Another jail was located just west of Main Street on the north side of West High Street. Coleman's Band room was on the second floor of the jailhouse, and long-time Union City residents like Dick Steadman remember hearing the band practice upstairs and the prisoners downstairs.
One of the first jails in the borough was located between the corner diner and the Bisbee Implement Company on West High Street. It was a small building, about 12 x 15 feet with a fireplace and a large flue.
In the late nineteenth century, a Union City constable jailed a borough citizen who had been a guest in some of the best jails in the county. He locked the man in the Union City jail with the promise of food and lodging for the night.
William Gillett, the great grandfather of William Gillett and the father of the William Gillett who was in Coleman's Band for many years, said that the man was 'not much in love with this jail." Since the man was built along slender lines, he shimmied up the smoke flue and then jumped to the ground and freedom. It was not a clean jail break as he was "a much soiled bird,' by his tight squeeze in the flue.
Another jail was located just west of Main Street on the north side of West High Street. Coleman's Band room was on the second floor of the jailhouse, and long-time Union City residents like Dick Steadman remember hearing the band practice upstairs and the prisoners downstairs.