Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-06-01

-Ha,per's Magazine.
Execution Of Edward II. Rull0ff.
From biographical sketch in the Buff.
falo Courier Of this notorious criminal, re-
Gently hung at Binghampton, N. Y, we
learn that his proper name was Edward
II. Rulofson; that he was born at Ham
mond River, N. b., in 1919; that he was
always fond of study, and graduated from
st. Johns Academy at the age Of 16; that
he subsequently taught school for three
years in ST. Johns, which place he left in
1841, with reputation far better for abili-
ty than honesty. He was married,in 1S43.
and subsequently moved to Cayuga Lake,
N. Y, and engaged in the practice of med
icine as botanical physician.
Con the evening Of June %, 1916, Rul-
loft requested lady neighbor to remain
with his wife, who was ailing, during his
own brief absence from home. He re-
turned shortly, and, before the neighbor
went away, prepared some composition tea
in cup. This was the last seen of wife
or child. The next morning Rulloff bor-
rowed horse and wagon, as he said, to
carry large chest to his uncle's, at Mott
vile, ten miles distant, where his wife and
child had gone on the previous night. He
set out with such chest and sack, going
in direction which would lead to Cayuga
Lake. On the following day he returned,
and told the person from whom he Dor
rOwed the wagon that his family were
away on visit for few weeks. His SUBJ
seQuent actions and the continued absence
of his wife and child excited suspicion, and
this was not allayed by contradictory sto-
ries told by him as to their whereabouts. To
make long story short, after leading his
brother. in law wild goose chase to the
West, ostensibly in pursuit of his wife,
and several times running away himself
from his companion, he was brought to
Ithaca, and lodged in Jail on charge Of
murder. But as the bodies could not be
found, he was tried for the abduction of his
wife only, and was sentenced to ten years
imprisonment in Auburn, though small
doubt existed that he had been guilty of a
double murder, and had sunk the bodies to
the bottom of Cayuga Lake. At the expi-
ration of his ten years confinement, Octo
Der %, 1866, he was taken to Ithaca, and
tried for the murder of his child. He defend
ed himself with rare ability, but was found
guilty and sentenced to be hung The de-
cisioa was afterwards reversed by the
Court of Appeals, and the case was re-
mitted for further proceedings. In May,
1857, he broke Jail and went TO Pennsyl-
mia Before this he became acquainted
with young Jarvis, who, under his infu-
ence, became his accomplice in the crime
for which the stern punishment was melted
out yesterday.
Every effort was made for his recap
ture, but at first he eluded all pursuit
According to his own confession, shortly
to be published under the name Of James
Nelson, he occupied Professorship in the
Allegheny College at Meadviile. He re-
manned but brief time, and subsequently
perpetrated many crimes. While commit.
ting burglary at Warren, Pa, he froze
his foot, and the defOrmity resulting there
from several times caused his arrest. He
served term for robbery in the Connect
cut State Prison, and another in sing
Sing, for Duchess County burglary,
where he was known as James kerron.
He was also brought to Ithaca on the old
charge, but proof Of the murder was not
forthcoming, and he was released. During
these years his leisure time, in and out Of
Jail, was devoted to his work on the origin
of language, Of which 30 much has been
said, and he justified his crimes on the
plea that they were committed for the
purpose Of gaining means to further his
great end. Such is recital of the leading
incidents in the life of this notorious rob-
Der and murderer down to the date Of the
crime for which he was hung.
On the night of August IL, or rather the
early morning of August 16, 1870, two
young clerks, Frederick A. Myrick and
George s. Burroughs, sleeping in the ex-
tensive store Of Hubert Brothers, Bing-
hamton, aw0ke to And three men In their
room. They jumped from bed, and a
fierce fight ensned. Two of the burglars
nan down stairs, but Myrick clinched and
held the third, whom he had struck on the
head with stool. The other two then
came back, and Burroughs saw one of
them hold Myrick while the other shot
HIM. Burroughs made his way into the
street and raised loud alarm. The fire.
bells were rung and hundreds of citizens
turned out. The three burglars made Q
hasty retreat and pursuit that night was
intellectual. But in the morning the bodies
OF two men were found drowned in the
Chenango River, who proved to be young
Jarvis, before mentioned, and man named
Dexter, also companion of RulloG They
were recognized BY Burroughs as two OF
the burglars. Efforts to capture the third
resulted on the following day in the arrest
OF Rullof. He was identified by the facts
OF his former character and intimacy with
Jarvis and Dexter, by pair of shoes
which were left in the store fitting his