Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-04-14
RULOEF. THE mURDERER
From he Troy Times, March 20

From he Troy Times, March 20.
We have learned from q source beyond
dispute the particulars OF an incident il
the career of this remarkable man which
has never been published, and which HI
himself recently told to an intimate frienc
as an illustration of the ''hard luck which
has attended him all through life. Rulof
stated to this gentleman that upon his re
lease from the Auburn Prison he wander
cd down into Pennsylvania, and HAVING
perfect confidence in bis ability to fill al
most any position in the faculty of a col
lege, applied for professorship in Jeffer-
son College, There was no permanent
opening for him IN the institutions; but
the professors gave him somo clerical
work to do, and in little whiIe satisfied
themselves Of his remarkable scientific and
literary attainmGnts, sc that when an an
plication came from Chapel Hill College,
IN North Carolina, for n professor of Ian
gaage7, the faculty Of Jefferson were able
to recommend RuIoff to it as proper per
son to fill the position. Whi!o preparing
, to accept the professorship at Chapel Hill
he received letter from Mrs, Jarvis, the
wife Of the Ithaca TAILOR whom he had Sc
duced, 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 tthe same who
was drowned in the river at Bingham pton
after the murder), in destitute circum-
stances, and demanding the sum of $500
for pressing and immediate wante. The
letter contained nOt0 from the son that
unless the money YVES forthcoming he
would kill Ru!off on sight the first time
they met. He YVES utterly without the
means to send go largo a sum. Gratitude
and love both cCuspircd in his breast to
induce one earnest effort TO secure the
money aud send it to the only woman he
ever loved. His meditations led him to
devise the robbery of a iewelry store in a
neighboring village, aud putting his plans
into execution he carried them out success-
fully and plundcred the store of consid-
erable amount Of jewelry. This he tied
up IL his handkerchief, and as rapidly as
POSSIBLE fed from the scene of his CRIME.
Travelling along the highway IN the early
morning he was overtaken by a stranger
who reluctantly gave him permission to
ride. They had proceeded but few miles
when two horsemen approached them and
arrested them for horse stealing-the very
wagon in which Ruloff was riding having
been stolen the previous evening by his
companion. He was dilema even for so
skiIful villain as the Professor OF Chanel
Hill College. But his " cheek saved him.
PersistiDg that he knew nothing of the
robbery OF the horse and wagon, but was
a chance passenger picked up by the real
thief upon the highway, and being able TO
prove his good character by the Professors
atJefferson College, he was discharged at the
upon the accusation OF horse
Sealing, but before he had left the court
'oom the officers looking for the burglar
Who had stolen the jeweIry came in, iden-
itied the property found in the wagon and
assisted upon Grresting him for this crime.
NuloH was an NO wise abashed. The same
air which he had maintained ali
he trying ordeal and the testimony Of the
Professors served him to the end, and,
ieclarlng his Ignorance Of all knowIedge
# the burglary, as well as of the horse
'eahng, he was second time DISCHARGED
While his companion was held for both
rlmes, and ultimately suffered the punish.
nent for the very offence which Rnioff
1 n had committed. In describing
ms Incident y eide in his life RuloG laughed and
leh hard luck I" which had followed him
III through his varied career. -