The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-05-19
THE GALLONS.
THE EXECUTION OF RULOFF
n z DIES FIR M L Y.
Refuses Religious Consolation

BINGHAMProN, n. Y, May lS.-At
precisely ll:35 o'clock this morning
Edward H. Ruloff was hanged in the
yard Of the Binghampton Jail for the
murder of Frederick A. Merrick on the
18th Of August. He died with the
same firmess he has exhibited from the
hour of his arrest. His last night was
somewhat restless and he slept but lit
tie. At o'clock this morning he was
removed 10 a room on the second floor
OF the jail 80 that he might not see the
final preparations. This room had a
window opening upon the hill outside,
on which hundreds Of people were gath
cred at an early hour, and he frequently
during the morning exhibited himself
at this window and was seen by the
multitude, but was in no way discour-
aged by the publicity. Many incidents
which happened during the few hours he
was there showed that his nerves were
yet unshaken. He was to be as good
as his word and die as he had lived,
without whining. At 1920 he was re.
quested to present himself to be dressed
Ior the final scene, but he did it him.
self declining all assistance. In the
meantime those holding permits to enter
the yard (about two hundred) were adj
mitted and placed in order.
At IL o'clock the condemned entered
the yard attended by Sheriff Martin,
Sheriff Root, of Tompkins county, and
Sheriff Brown. The prisoner walked
without support under the moose, which
having been arranged, Sheriff Martin
read the death warrant, which occupied
some minutes. Hethen asked Rulotf,
Have you anything to say why the
sentence of the law should not now be
carried into effect?' The prisoner an
swered in his natural voice. "Not any
thing" The Sheriff then asked him if
he desired any further delay, and re-
ceived negative reply by a shake OF
the head OF the condemned. All this
time the prisoner was standing unsup-
ported and gave no sign of emotion,
except gentle swaying Of the body.
At ll:35 the signal was given and he
was jerked up with tremendous force,
but did not break his neck
The instant the body settled down
upon the rope the spectators
were Mortified by seeing his right hand
naturally raised and thrust into the
pocket of his pantaloons. There was
no other movement except a slight
muscular contraction, and after hang
ing fifteen minutes the heart ceased to
beat The death was by strangulation
The body will be buried by the Sheriff
beside that of the burglars Jarvis and
Dexter, in Potters field.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
BlNGHAMpToN, May lS.-Edward H.
Ruloff, the learned murderer died unre-
pented and devoid of religious faith, re-
fusing to the last all attempts at
religious consolation. Ruloff's is one Of
the most remarkable cases of utter de-
pravity on record. His stern, unyield-
ing nature held out to the last and he
made no confession. The cheerfulness
which had characterized his conduct
previously wore off as the hour Of his
death approached, and he was on sew
eral occasions visibly excited and agl-
tated, but this he dispelled by an evident
effort. No priests or clergymen accom-
panied him to the scaffold. The State
militia were present for the preservation
of order. The spectators outside the
jail gradually increased during the fore
noon, several thousand being present
when the execution took place A
limited number, however, were only
permitted to witness the execution. The
body was cut down after hanging about
thirty minutes.