Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-04-03
RnIon,s mHnrd Luck.n

We have learned from source beyond dis
pute the particulars OF an incident in the career
of this remarkable man which has never been
published, and which he himself recently told
TO an intimate friend as an illustration of the
"hard luck" which has attended him all through
life. Ruloff stated to this gentleman that upon
his release from Auburn prison he wandered
down into Pennsylvania and having perfect
confidence in his ability to fill almost any posi-
ton in the faculty of q college, applied for
professorShip in jefferson college. There was
no permanent opening for him in the instiu-
ton; but the professors gave him some clerical
work to do, aud in little while satisfied them
selves of his remarkable scientific and literary
attainments, so that when an application came
from Chapel Hill college in North Carolina for q
prof ssor of languages, the faculty of Jefferson
were able TO recommend Ruloff to it as proper
person to fill the position. While preparing
TO accept the prolessorship at Chapel Hill,
he received a letter from Mrs. Jarvis, the wife
of the Ithaca iailor whom he had seduced,
and through whom he was enabled to make his
escape from prison, to the effect that she had
left her husband and was living with her son,
1.-THE same who was drowned in the river at
Binghampton after the murder,) in destitute
circumstances, and demanding the sum of $500
for pressing and immediate wants. The letter
contained note from the sou that unless the
money was forthcoming he would kill Rulof on
sight the first time they met. He was utterly
without the means to send so large sum. Graf
itude and love both conSpired in his breast to
induce one earnest effort to secure the money
and send 1t TO the only woman he ever loved.
His meditatiOns led him TO devise the robbery of
a jewelry store in neighboring village, and
putting his plans into execution he carried them
out successfully, aud plundered the store
of a considerable amount of jewelry. This
he tied up in handkerchief, and as rapidly as
possible fled from the scene of his crime. Trav-
cling along the highway in the early morning
I.ax,
ly gave him permission TO ride. They had pro-
ceeded but few miles when two horsemen APP
preached them, and arrested them for horse
steallng-the very wagon in which Ruloh was
riding having been stolen the previous evening
by his companion. Here was dilemma even
for so skillful a villain as the professor of Chap
el Hill college. But his "cheek" saved him.
Pcrsisting that he knew nothing of the robbery
of the horse and wagon, but was chance pas
senger, picked up by the real thief upon the
highway, and being able to prove his good
character by the professors at Jefferson
college, he was discharged at the eXamina-
ton upon the accusation of horse steal
ingi hut before he had left the court room
the officers looking for the burglar who had
stolen the jewelly came in, identified the prop
erty found in the wagon, and insisted upon AZ
resting him for this crime. Rulotf was in no
wise abashed. The same confident air which he
had maintained all through the trying ordeal
and the testimony of the professors served him
to the end, and declaring his ignorance of all
knowledge of the burglary as well as of the
horse stealing, he was the second time discharg-
ed, while his companion was held for both
crimes, and ultimately suffered the punishment
for the very offence which Ruloff himself had
committed In describing this incident in his
life, Hulotf laughed and said it was only one
instance of the "devilish hard luck" which had
followed him all through his varied career
Troy Times