The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-13
RULLOFF, THE MURDERER.
Examination by Medical Experts
Into Rulloff's Sanity.
EARLY LIFE OF THE CONVICT.
Pathological Investigations Ingenious Theory
Concerning the Origin Of Language.

SVlUVIulu6 euU UIlStu VI DuuSuOSVs
RULLOTF'S SANITY ESTABLISHED.
9fe.s ALBANY, N. Y, May II, 1871.
TO Ills Excellency Hon. JOHN T. HOFFMAN,
DEAR SIa-In accordance with the request oil
your Excelency we proceeded to Binghamton on
the 0tn day OF May, and on the 10Th OF May mace
careful and thorough examination OF Edward II.
Ru hon, Mr.. Dwight King, OF Albany, accompanying
US and acting as secretary. Herewith we have the
honor to present our report and conclusions. Very
| respectfully, your obedent servants,
| .mnH4 gB JOHN P. GRAY,
s. OAKLEY vANDERPOOL.
THE EXAMINATION.
Upon entrance into the cell OF Rullon the prI-
soner was sitting upon cot bed, surrounded BY
books and apparently intent upon study. He had
on white shirt and light pants and presented nc
appearance OF concern or anxiety, He had moi
been previously informed OF our arrival
| and upon an announcement by the sheriff he indi-
Gated no marked surprise externally, but rose, and
| with some appearance Of hesitation, received us
Immediately, upon understanding the object OF the
| commission, RuOff said:-
"Gentlemen, this ia no work OF mine; don't pre-
tend to be either insane an idiot. am feeble In
body, az you may see; but this has not affected my
| mlnd The proposal Of commission Is no move Of
| NINE"
| After little preliminary conversation ne was In
formed that the Governor had ordered the examina.
tion, and that 1t was no idle curiosity that brought
the commission there, but simply duty; that they
desired to make thorough examination, and first
OF his physical condition. To this he gave ready
assent and said that he did not desire to conceal or
| deceive.
| APPEARANCE OF THE MURDERER.
Rulor is man about i've feet eight inches In
height; head large and broad, with the facial line
almost perpendicular; under Jaw square; chin
broad; mouth rather large, with closely compressed
lips; nose small; eyes dark gray, with large pupils
and steady; the whole expression OF face concen.
trared, showing great selfcontro and power Of at
tenti0n; shoulders broad. chest uil-in fact com.
pact vigorous frame; small hands and weshaped
arms. His complexion is healthy, although tho
color showed confinement; skin sort and pcrspira-
bic; temperature natural; muscles sort from
taken under the sphymograph, ninety per
an entirely sound condsion Of the 1esrEhe ex
animation py the opthalmiscope. He wrote and
read however without NJ spectacles ana only having
dimness Of vision probably came from age. When
the pupil was tested py q light applied directly to
the eye The dllatiOn and contraction were rapid, and
demonstrated that the ilargeness Of the pupil was
natural and not due simply to confineinent In
food; could eat ANYTHING; digestion periect slept
Wen, and the body was well nouIisned. lie CON-
kim and e ssy Of M and p nas he
found ne could not cloy his system BY excess OF
fats. This had existed since 1850. In answer to
questions, he states that he would prefer not to be
asked where he born, but would say that 1t was
10 the North. His parents were OF sound and vlgor
GUS health. His father died when he was i've years
old, and an uncle took care Of him. He went TO
school, and got through the high schools, studying
uncle declining to rave him study the classics unless
he m,anded to have him enter profession. His OWL
desiras We ~ study them and ~
BE A GENTLEMAN. --gi.y -
He wished to lay q broad foundation ana acquire
general education He entered LAWYERS ONCE as
clerk, simply for the purpose Of earning q living
studies. Took UP chemistry and botany, Greek and
Latin. He remained two years there devottng all
took him to eat his MEALS lie then entered store
as clerk, where he continued the same Study, Keep
leisure moment for study. afterwards ne COM
menced the study OF medicine, with the Intention
study Of languages At ABOUT this time he married,
ana at twenty-five years Of age his career was
interiered with by what he denominated
He spoke OF having been broken down In health
while there, from winch condition he had never
QUESTION. How long since your constitution was
thus broken downp
broken down; my health was feeble; cannot run
three times across thus room about thirty feet with
o. How long has this condition exstedG A.
About fifteen or twenty years. and particularly since
1852
Q. How do you feel this inabiity-generally or in
some particular part2 A. have palpitation or the
heart and difficulty OF breathing, and sudden and
violent exertton sometimes throws me into convu
g. Has this latter state existed for twenty yearss
A. Yes, fifteen or twenty years.
q. How old are you n0w2 A. Fifty years, and
since was thirty five this inability TO endure fatigue
Q. When you went to prison IN ls4s what was
your condition or healthy A. Vigorous and strong;
weighed from 10 to LIS pounds.
Q. Where were y0u sent to prison from9 A. From
Ithaca, Tompkins county.
q. Your health was imp Hired while in prison9 A.
8. Was your health Affected immeciateiy after en-
terlnG prison A. No, not p particularly but had
what called as Worx IT is
at various things, wove some, but was Chiefly en-
pIoycd in making dcslons ;or carpets.
O. Had you ever worked at designing before
going TO Auburn A. had. for amusement, never
for q business.
o. Were you sick from 1sae to 1882 A. No; 1
was taken SICK after seven years. imprisonment
that was the particular sickness causing my present
O. What was the cause OF that lness9 A. I can.
not tell; only know that could neither eat nor
drink. could do nothing was out OF body and mind,
my whole system was deranged, my fesh wasted
away, had night sweats, was restless ana could
~! Miep, s0uld not attribute all tails to amp indl.
O. Did the doctor inform you of the cause then or
say what was me matter with youY A. No; sup.
pose it was dyspepsia; ne gave me pepsIn.
q. Who was your physician2 A. While | was
there Dr. Briggs and Dr. Van Arden were there, and
| think DR.. Forgate saw me.
q. In connection with your sickness and night
s-...ts had von feTTerr A, ! Cannot say whether !
had al ii0t; only know that was horribly sick at
that time and for year alter, and that no language
'Vyld bf ssSEsgs , KY aRSs s ya we're il prison
were you engaged in the study OF philosophy A.
occupied all my leisure IN languages, more or less,
and at that time had been thinking about II day
and night because believed had the secret Of
success In pathological Studies.
o. Did you continue your carpet designs after
getting betterf A. No; was appointed
COOK IN TIE nos PITAL
for twenty or twenty-five persons; i was then SO
sick that could not stand up and do the work, but
had to sit with my elbows on the table to handle
things In cooking, and after washing the dishes
had to lie on the floor on my back and
wipe them while resting my elbows
on the pavemenL l was bound 10 live
n possible, and % stay IN this Kitchen seemed my
k.last chance. wanted TO complete my book that