The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-05-06
An Extraordinary ProposItiOn-A
Man Wants to be Hanged in the
Interest of Learning,

An Extraordinary PropOEtiOn-A
Man Wants to be Hanged in the
Interest Of Learning. ~
Our readers are aware that Q man Of
remarkable intellectual requirements
named Rulof is under sentence Of death
for murder in New York; concerning
whom and his approaching execution one
Samuel Langhorne writes as follows to
the New York 7r5uns!'
Feeling as l do, l am not sorry that
Rulofr is to be hanged, but l am sincerely
sorry that he himself has made 1t necesSa.
ry that his vast capabilities for usefulness
should be lost to the world. Inthis, mine
and the public's Is a common interest
For II Is plain that In the person Of Ru-
loft ono ol the most marvellous intellects
that any age has produced is about to be
sacrificed, and that, too, while halt the
mystery OF It's strange powers Is yet &C.
cret, Here Is q man, who has never en-
tered the doors Of a college or univer-
sity, and yet, by the sheer might Of his
innate gifts, has made himself such a co.
lossus in obstruse learning that the
ablest Of our scholars arc but pig.
mics in his presence. By the evidence
of professor Mather, Mr.. Surbridge, Mr..
Richmond, and other men qualified to
testify, this man Is as familiar with the
broad domain Of philology as common
people are with the passing events Of the
day. His memory has such o limitless
grasp that he Is able to quote sentence
after sentence, paragraph after paragraph,
and chapter after chapter, from gnarlGd
and knOtty ancient literature that Ordi-
nary scholars arc capable Of achieving
little more than bowling acquaintance
with. But his memory is the least Of his
great endowments., BY the testimony Of
the gentlemen above referred to, he Is able
To critically GRGlyze the works Oi the old
masters OF literature, and while pointing
out the beauties Of the originals with u
pure and discriminating taste, Is as quick
to detect the defects Of the accepted trans
lations; and in tho latter case, If excep-
tions be taken to his judgment, he stalght.
way opens up the quarries Of his ex.
haustlesS knowledge and builds very
Chinese wall Of evidence around his po.
sitlon. Every learned man who enters
RulofFs presence leaves It amazed and
confounded by his prodigious capabiH.
ties and attainments. One scholar said
he did not believe that in tho matters OF
subtle analysis, vast knowledge in his pc.
culiaf field Of research, comprehensive
grasp ofsublect and serene kingship over
It's limitless and bewildering details, any
land or any era Of modern times had given
birth to Ruloff's intellectual equal. What
miracles this murderer might have
wrought and what luster he might have
shed upon his country ifhe had not put q
forfeit upon his claim oil lie so foolishlyl
But what II the law could be satisfied, and
the gifted criminal still be saved. If \
lie be offered up on the gallows to atone
for the murder Ruloif did, will that suffice?
II SO, give me the proofs, for, in all earn
estness and truth, aver that in such o
case l will instantly bring forward z man
who, in the interests Of learning and
science, will taks RGl067S crime upon him
Sssf, ana submit to b hanged in Rulo6's
pldee. Lean, and will do this thing; and l
propose this matter, and make this offer
In good faith. You know me, and know
my address. .rt