The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-04-05
The Murderer Rulloff-AnOther Chap
ter in RRts Eisc An illustration OF
Hfs .Hari Luck ... ....I ~.

from the Troy Tiiucs, March 2a.Q
We have learned from n source beyond
dispute The particulars Of an incident in tho
career of Edward Ruloff. which he himself
recently told to an intimate friend AS an
illustration Of the "hard luck" which has
attended him all through life. Rullotl stated
to this gentleman that upon his release from
Auburn prison he wandered down into
PENNSYLVANIA. and, having perfect con-
tidence in his ability to fill almost any
position in the faculty Of college,
applied for n prcfcssorship In Jeffer-
son College. There was no permanent
opening for him In the institution but the
professors gave him some clerical work to
do, aud in a little while satisfied them
selves Of his remarkable scientific and lit
erary attainmen:s. so that when an apph-
cation came from Chapel Hill College, in
North Carolina, for professor of Ian
CuaSes. the faculty of Jefferson were able
to recommend Rullotf 10 1t as proper
person to fill the position. While prepar-
ing to accept the protessorship at Chapel
Hill, he received 4 letter from Mrs. JAR
Wis, the wife Of the Ithaca jailor whom he
had seduced. and through whom he was
enable 10 make his eScare from prison, 20
the effect that sue had lett her husband, and
was living with hcr son (the same who was
drowned in the liver ut Binshamtou after
! the murder) in destitute circumstances, and
demanding the sum of $500 for pressing
| snd immediate wants. The letter contained
a note from the son that unless the money
was forthcoming he would kill Rulloff on
| sight the first time they met. He was utterly
without the means to send so large
sum. Gratitude and love both con.
spired in his breast to induce one
earnest effort to secure the money and send
it to the only woman he ever loved. His
meditations led him TO devise the robbery
| Of jewelry store in neighhoring village.
| and putting his plans into execution, he
carried them ont successfully, and plum
| dered the store of considerable amount of
jewelry. This he tied up in his handker.
chief. and rs rapidly rs possible fled from
the scene Of his crime. Travelling along
the highway in the early morning, he
was overtaken by stranger, who re.
luctantly gave him permission to ride.
| They had proceeded but a few miles,
when two horsemen approached them, and
arrested them for Observation-Disclosures very
wagon in which Rulloff was riding having
been stolen the previous evening by his
| companion. Here was dilemma even for
| 80 skilled a villain as the Professor of Cha
pei Hill College. But his "cheek" saved
| him. Perslsting that he knew nothing of
the robbery of the horse and wagon, but
WAS chance passenger, picked up by the
real thief upon the highway, and being able
to prove his good character by the profes-
sors at Jefferson College, he was discharged
at the examination upon the accusation of
horse-stealing. but before he had left
| the, courtroom the officers looking
for the burglar who had stolen the
ljewelry came in, identified the pro-
perty found in the wagon, and insist
ed upon arresting him for this crime.
Rulloti was in no wise abashed. The same
| confident mir which he had maintained all
through the trying ordeal, and the teSti-
mony OF the Professors, served him to the
end, and declaring his ignorance Of all
knowledge of the burglary, as we'll as of
the horse. stealing, he was second time dis
charged, while his companion was held for
both crimes, and ultimately suffered the
punishment for the very offence which Rul-
loii himself had committed. In describing
this incident in his life, Rulon laughed,
and said it was only one instance of the
" deviliSh hard lurk" which bad followed
! him all through his varied career.