The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-04-11
A Stray Leaf from the Life of Criminal.

The Troy, N. j. Times, speaking about
Rullof,who has just been sentenced to be
hung, says:
We have learned from source be-
yond dispute, the particulars of an Incl
dent in the career of this remarkable
man, which has never been published,
and which he himself recently told to an
intimate friend as an illustration Of the
"hard luck" which has attended him all
through life Rullof stated to. this gen
tleman that upon his release from Auburn
prison, he wandered down into Pennsyl-
vania, and having perfect confidence in
his ability to gil almost any position in
the faculty of a college, applied for
professorship in Jefferson College There
was no permanent opening for him in the
institution but the professors gave him
some clerical work to do, and in little
while satisfied themselves of his re-
markable scientific and literary attain
mente, 50 that when an application came
from Chapel Hill College in North Caro-
lima for professor of languages, the fac
ulty of Jefferson were able to recon-
mend Rulloff to it as a proper person to
fill the position. While preparing to ac-
cept the professorship at Chapel Hill,
he received letter from Mrs. Jarvis, the
wife Of the Ithaca jailor, whom he had
seduced, and through whom he was ena-
oled to make his escape from prison, to
the effect that she had left her husband
and was living with her son--the same
who was drowned in the river at Bing-
hampton after the murder-in destitute
circumstances, and demanding the sum
of $500 for pressing and immediate wants.
The letter contained note from the son
that unless the money was forthcoming
he would kill Rulloff on sight the first
time they met He was utterly without
the means to send SO large a sum. Grat-
itude and love both conspired in his
breast to induce one earnest effort to Sc
cure the money and send it to the only
woman he ever loved. His meditations
led him to devise the robbery of jew
elry store in neighboring village, and
putting his plans into execution he car
ried them outsuccessfully, and plundered
the store of considerable amount Of
jewelry. This he tied up in his handker-
chief, and as rapidly as possible fed
from the scene Of his crime. Travelling
along the highway early in the morning,
he was overtaken by a stranger, who re-
luctantly gave him permission to ride.
They had proceeded but few miles,
when two horsemen approached them and
arrested them for horse-stealing-the very
wagon in which Rulloff was riding hav-
ing been stolen the previous evening by
his companion. Here was dilemma
even for so skillful villain as the profess
sor of Chapel Hill College But his
"cheek" saved him. Persisting that he
knew nothing of the robbery of the
horse and wagon, but was chance pas
senger picked up by the real thief upon
the highway, and being able to prove his
good character by the professors at JEFF.
ferson College, he was discharged at the
examination upon the accusation of horse
stealing but before he had left the court
room, the officers looking for the burglar
who had stolen the jewelry came in, iden-
tilted the property found in the wagon,
and insisted upon arresting him for the
crime. Rulloff was in no wise abashed.
The same confident air which he had
maintained all through the trying ordeal,
and the testimony of the professors, serv-
ed him to the end, and declaring his igno-
rance of all knowledge Of the burglary
as well as Of horse stealing, was second
time discharged, while his companion was
held for both crimes, and ultimately suf-
fered punishment for the very offense
which Rulloff himself had committed
In describing this incident in his life
Rulloff laughed and said it was only one
instance Of the devilish hard luck' that
followed him all through his varied career.