Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-05-25
Execution of Rulloff.

The following description of the closing
scenes in the life of Ruloff, who was exc
cuted at Biughamten, N. Y, on Thurs
day. is by a special correspondent of the
N. Y. Tines:
The crowd having been arranged in
the yard by Chief Flynn, of the Bing
hampton police, and all being in readiness
at lib, Sheriff Martin with his assist
ants, entered the room of Rulof and an
nounced to him that the time had come.
The prisoner declared that he was ready,
and not only did not finch from the moose
and strap, but inclined his head for the
one and arranged his arms for the other
The Moose being placed about his neck,
bis arms were pinioned tightly to his
side. but the lower arms being left free,
he Immediately obeyed the dictates of his
nature by thrustiug his hands into bis
pantaloons pockets. Walking slightly
bent forward, in his natural posture, he
stood at the door of his room. Turning
to those present he said, Let us
shake hands here, for shall do nothing
of that hind down stairs" He went
through the ceremony with all present,
and after it was over thrust his hands
into his pockets again. Then turning to
the sheriff-"You won't have any clergy
man believing down there, will you,
Sheriff ~ and Martin assured him that
his wishes in that respect would be OBJ
served, and he said in perfectly natural
voice, "Let's GO"
Walking between two deputy sheriffs.
but entirely unsupported by either, and
with Sheriff Martin before, at 1l:20 a. m
II
ewes cast upon the ground, as was his GUS
tom, and stepping naturally and firmly,
he walked in a moment across the short
space and stood, without culver of
muscle, under the rope. He was not
moved by the surging of the spectators
toward him, nor by the shouts of "down
in front" from the more indecent in the
rear He yielded passively TO be moved
about by the deputy sheriffs, so that he
could stand in the proper spot under the
rope, and did not show the least tremor
when the moose having been attached to
the rope, was fitted to his neck. Nor did
he sink under the most trying of his or
deals to which he was next subjected.
This was the reading of the death-war
rant, which was done in distinct, loud
voice by Deputy Sheriff Osborne. The
document, which bad been drawn by Dis
trict-Attorney Hopkins, was necessarily
long, "a it must recite the action of the
Court of Oyer and Tsrminer, of the Su-
preme Court in General Term on appeal.
of the Court of Appeals, and of the Su-
preme Court in General Term on remitter.
when the final day was named. The read
ing, therefore. occupied ten minutes, and
during all of this time the condemned.
trussed as be was for death. never falter
ed even for an instant. Occasionally his
body swaSed slightly. but it was plain
that the motion was due to the fact that
his feet were pinioned.
When the protracted reading was con-
cluded, Sheriff Martin said in voice
slightly tremulous, "Mr. Ru'loff have
you anything to say why the sentence of
the law should not now be executed ?"
The prisoner answered in low. but per-
fectly natural voice, Nothing at all"
A pause of moment ensued. Sheriff
Martin was evidently Disconnected by the
reply, as his programme contemplated
giving the prisoner ample time for any
remarks he might wish to make. He
stepped around near the signal-line, and
from this position said ..@
"Mr. Rulloff, it now lacks twenty-six
minutes of the time fixed in my mind for
carrying out the sentence of the law.
Have you nothing to say to this audi
ence ?" .-s
The answer was negative motion OF
the head.
The Sheriff DO you desire any further
delay
Another negative motion. and as he
made it the prisoner said to 8. R. Brown,
the Deputy, upon his right, 81 can't stand
STILL"
That instant the white cap was drawn
over his head and face. Sheriff Martin |
gently shook the rope, and the slack was
drawn in. He gave the signal-cord a
slight pull, then a stronger one; there
was slight thud heard behind, and Ed |
ward III. Rnllof was jerked upward into
space at II 35 o'clock a. m.
Then was witnessed the strangest |
spectacle ever afforded in hanging felon. |
When jerked up he had his hands in his
pantaloons pockets, but the violence of the |
shock of the body settling down upon the
rope, pulled out the right hand. Eyes
almost started from their sockets to see
that hand move backward three or more
inches and thrust itself into the pocket
just as it was before. Human imagina-
ton would never have dared such startl.
ing proof of "the ruling passion strong in
death" The incident was instantly seized
upon by the physicians present as of alb.
sorbing interest, and as leading to Intern.
Unable discussion as to whether the
was due in any degree to the
action of the mind.
But this was the only movement of the
body after the ascent. There was no
whatever, not even tho con.
traction OF muscle visible to the nearest