Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-06-22
Misfellaneons.
RULOFF AGAIN.

cHdpldiu Oh tne Auburn IrlSOn III lo4C,
and for several years subsequently. The
journal forms part of an unfinished work
entitled "Lives of Notorious Criminals at
Auburn, n. Y, which is now in the pos
session of Mr.. Clark's daughter who lives
at Chessning, Mich. The first mention of
Ruoff was made one Saturday evening in
1913.
10 complete this miserable day, went
with the warden and turnkey to see FIVE
prisoners who had arrived on the evening
train, and had been chained together in
the dungeon for the night, for the prison
Is SO iull there were no cells ready for
their occupancy. One face among the
five impressed me forcibly, and he must be
something very striking to impress one at
all among so many faces of every nation,
color and temperament This particular
one looked up quickly as we entered with
lights, or rather he turned his face toward
us, and then quickly turned away, reso-
lutely facing the wall. Curious to know
what he wished to conceal, / went direct
ly to him, accosting him with, "Well, sir,
what is your name?' He looked up with
kind OF idiotic stare, dropping his chin.
But those eyes, even the iron will which
| every lineament of his face betrayed,
could never quench their baleful fire.
That the idiotic expression had been as
sumed for the occasion, was too apparent
to be regarded moment. You might
find him in an insane asylum, but never
i'll the idiots department. SO repeated
my question somewhat authoritatively. He
answered simply, "Rulotf." ''Ruloff, and
what else ?n asked. Rufus" he replied,
and having met my eye, he again turned
away.
Sunday evening-The peculiar impress
sions | received last night, concerning the
convict Ruloff, We're by no means dissipat-
ed upon seeing him this morning, when
he was in Sabbath school. He was sitting
at the foot of the alphabet class, grasping
his primer as firm with his left hand as
though it weighed II hundred pounds, fas-
tening with the index finger of his right
hand each letter as he passed over it, as
though his very life depended upon keep
ing it there. His hair has been cropped
close to his head, revealing the sharp
angles of his Uranium, and no man with
| such Il development of brain could have
other than stormy life. His clean shaven
| face disclosed Il cruel sensual mouth and
| intleXble chin. His eyes this morning
were dark gray. though when / was con-
versing with him this afternoon | again
thought them black. When had COM
pleted the arrangement of the class, and
got everything into working order, l
stopped before Ruloff, asking, can you
| read mo, Sir" he answered meekly.
Did you never 90 to school? mo, sir"
Where were you born? ''1n New York
City" Do you want to learn to read the
Bible Yes, Sir, if can" If you can,
why can't you9 II suppose it is very
hard work to learn to read ?" and he drew
long sigh. Do you know your letters?
Not all of them" Say what you know?
| He commenced in loud, hesitating voice,
saying u b b C. He shook his head
doubtIully, and as though unable to go
further, looked up appealingly to me,
though he meant it should play no tricks
he next saw the Chaplain he began in an
| angry manner. "Why in Gods name
Here the chaplain rebuked him for the use
of such language. You see," he said
apologetically, II forget that l am no
longer my own master, but why did you
send me from the Sabbath schoolP" Be
| cause | knew you were trying to deceive
| me-you overdid the matter altogether.
| "Chaplain," he continued meekly, "will
you let me join the Bible class ?" Tell me
why you told me you couldn't read.
| Truly, Chaplain" he replied earnestly,
| Il thought that none but those who could
not read were admitted to the class. So
when the turnkey put the same question
to me that you did, | answered in the neg
ative, and when | found myself in the
class. thought it would be impolitic to
contradict myself" But why did you
want to join the class ? why, Chaplain,
to be obliged to sit three hours in Meth
odist class-meeting, and have to tell the
state of your mind, and hear others would
| be bliss to staying .here."
Abruptly changing the conversation, |
asked for what crime were you sent here?
He gave me one piercing glance, and an
| swered quietly; They accuse me of bur-
glary." And We're you guiltyp 'The
jury found me So" And have heard to-
| day, said |, that you are also under indict-
ment for the murder of your wife and
| child" was watching him closely, he
| exhibited no emotion save of intense
scorn, as he replied: Il suppose the
| hounds will next accuse me of numbering
| all my relations, because they don't hap
pen to know where they are.
One chapter tells how Il woman calling
herself Alice Edwards, called at the Chap
lain's house in destitute and diving CON
dition, and during the remaining week of
her life told her sad story. Driven from
home by the cruelty of her father, she
started for New York in search of employ
ment. On her way she fell in company
with Rulot1 who easily won her youthful
confidence, and to whom she told her
| story. Rulotf had assumed the name of
Edwards, took the girl to his house in New
York, and provided for her wants. After
telling how Edwards furnished her with
dresses, and went with her to several
places in search of employment, the re-
suit of which search showed that she could
not get an honest living IN New York,
tinued her story as follows: Mr. Edwards
said that | could stay with him and keep
the parlor and chambers, and he would
take care of me. told him could never
do that, could not live there in that way.
| would starve first. He asked me why l
was afraid of him. told him | was not
afraid of him. but of what people would