Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1871-06-14
s,i,or nnd nc Doesors.

Tic head of this educated hero of
seven murders, who was executed at
Binghamton, New York, several weeks
ago, is after all likely to prove a vaua-
Bile contribution to science. The
Binghamton Republican says:
Rulotfs brain which was carefully
examined weighed 30 ounces, being
9l or 10 ounces heavier than the aver.
age weight. The heaviest brain ever
weighed was that of Curvier, the
French naturalist, which is given by
some authorities at 60 ounces, and by
some at Ga ounces. The brain OF
Daniel Webster (partly estimated on
account of q portion being destroyed
by diseuse) weighed g! ounces The
brain of Dr.. Aborcrombe OF Scotland
weighed SO ounces. The lower (brutc)
portion of Rulofi's brain and tho me-
chanical powers were unusually large.
The upper portion of the brain, which
directs the higher moral and religious
sentiments was very deficient. In
the formation oflhe brain, Ruloff was
u ferocious animal, and, so far us dis.
position could relieve him from re.
rponsibility, he was not strictly re.
sponsiblo for his acts. The measure.
ment OF Ruloff's head around the eve
brows (supra orbilaD was pa inches;
the skull was probably the thickcss
over known. In no place was it less
than ec.eights Of an inch in thick.
ness, and in most places il was half
an inch thick The usual thickness
of n mans skull is less than one fourth
of an inch. Ruloffs head was opened
in the usual way, by parting the scalp
over the top OF the head, from one ear
to the other, and saving off the top.
The surgeons who performed the oper-
alton say il required three. quarters of
an hour to saw around the skull, and
before it was completed they began
to think the head was all skull With
the protection of a skull half an inch
thich, and scalp Of the thickness and
toughness of a rhinocoros rind, the
man of seven murders was provided
with natural helmet that would have
defined the force OF any pistol bullet.
If he had been in Mcrrick's place, the
bullet would have made only slight
wound; and had he been provided
with cuts uerd equal to his scalp
his defensive armor against bullets
would havo been us complete as q
coat Of mail.
The cords in Ruloff"s neck were as
heavy and strong as those Of an OK,
and from his formation, one would
suppose that he was protected against
death from the gallows as well us by
injury to his head RulofTs body was
larger than il was supposed to be by
casual observers. The Sheriff ascer,
tained when he took tho measure of
the prisoner for coffin TO bury him
| in, that he was five feet and 10 inches
in height, aud measured 10 inches
across the shoulders. When in good
condition his weight was about l75
pounds. 1t is very well known that
Ruloil's grave was opened three differ
ent times, last Friday night, by differ
ent parties who wanted 10 obtain his
head. Ono Of these parties was from
Albany, and twice the body was dis
inferred by persons living in Bing.
hamton. One company would no
sooner cover up the body, which all
found hesdless, and leave il, than an.
other company would como and go
through the same operation. 1t is
now known that the head was never
buried with the body but was legally
obtained before, the burial BY the sur.
geons who havo possession oft. The
hair and beard were shaved off close,
and an excellent impression in plaster
was taken of the whole head. The
brain is now undergoing hardening
process, and when that is completed,
an impression will be taken of il en-,
tire, then it will be parted, the differ.
ent parts weighed, and impressions
made of the several sections.