The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-01-16
Edward RuloSr PhiloIogist and MUIR
Gerer.
SINGULAR SERIES OF EVENTS.

SINGULAR SERIES OF EVENTS,
The Utica IN. " Herald gives the fol.
lowing interesting account Of the life and
crimes of Edward H. Rulof, whose trial
was concluded at Binghampton, on We'd
nesday, by verdict Of murder in the first
degree. 1t says:
Edward II. Ruloff, now on trial for bis
life at Binghampton, is more than an ordi-
nary criminal. The crime for which he is
now arraigned cannot have passed from the
memory of the reader. 1t was only In
August last that the store of Halbert
Brothers, Binghampton, was burglarized,
and clerk-Frederick A. Merrick-kill-
ed, while resisting the burglars The latter
escaped. Two Of them, named Jarvis and
| Dexter, were drowned the same night,
while attempting to cross the Chenango
river. The other-Ruloff-w arrested
soon after. He gave his name as e. Dali
| ton, but was soon recognized, among othere,
by Judge Balloon and Mrs. Shuts, Ruleff's
mother-in-law. Should the trial which he
is now undergoing, result in bis dying
upon the scaffold, his death will be the
seventh known to us to be traceable to his
own agency.
Upwards of twenty-six years ago Ed
ward H. Ruloff married an estimable lady
in Ithaca, in this State. He was of liberal
education, learned in the law, especially the
criminal code, an accomplished draught-
man, shorthand writer, and master of
several languages. He had then, what be
still retains, pleasing exterior, perfect
knowledge of the arts of pleasing, some
thing which commanded respect, and at
the same time attracted and engaged SYM
pathy and confidence. He was DOCTOR a
lawyer, teacher, mechanic, as he saw
fit, and what was more remarkable, ap-
peared master of each profession. Sud-
denly, in the year lS45, bis wife and child
disappeared.
Ruloff was arrested on charge of alb
duction, and was confined in Jail at atIthaca.
He so won the confidence of the tailor,
Jarvis, and his wife, that they committed
their young SOD, Albert M. Jarvis, to his
tutelage. The result of his instructions
was life of crime, which terminated with
the Binghampton burglary, and quick
following death in Chenango river. The
trial Of Rulof for abduction took place at
Ithaca. He was convicted and sentenced
to Auburn State prison for the term of ten
years. During his trial, we are credibly
informed, Rulof made clean confession
to his counsel. The gentleman receiving
it has since died, but just previous to his
death be con6ded it to professional
brother, who is still living at Ithaca.
In prison Ruloff was model man. He
quickly won the confidence of the author
tiles, and, by bis talents, took the front
rank among the prisoners. From the de-
signs made by him, most of the carpets
manufactured in prison during his term
were woven. Immediately on his dis
charge from prison, Rulof was arrested on
a charge of numbering his child. At his
trial he did, as he Is now doing at Bing-
hampton, pleaded his own case. He was
found guilty and sentenced to death. But
the verdict was set aside by the court of
appeals on the ground that no murder had
been proved, as there had been no body
procured. He was discharged, but was
Immediately taken back to jail. Whelh-
er this was by his own request, fearing the
fury of the people, or on the affidavit of
his wife's people, that they considered |
their lives in danger with him at liberty, |
we have forgotten.
Certain it is lynching was resolved upon |
aud the time for it fixed. The sheriff, |
learning of the meditated violence, hurried |
Ruloff 10 close carriage to the steamboat |
landing, whence be was conveyed to the |
Jail in Cayuga county. When the lynch
ers assembled the bird had flown. Proba- |
bly, through connvance, Ruloff soon
escaped from Jail. In bis warderings,
hiding from men, he was badly frozen
The toes of one foot had to be amputated |
Thus, while fleeing from justice, be received |
a mark which may result in giving justice |
its due. A shoe, exactly fitting his de-
formed foot, was left behind in the burg
lars flight from the store in which Merrick |
met death.
Until his apprehension in Binghampton
in August last Ruloff had not been heard |
from for number Of years. 1t has since
transplred that once in the interim he had |
defended comrogue in a Delaware county |
court under an assumed name, and once in
Cortland county. He has also been en-
gagged in writing a treatise on the gram
mars of nations. The manuscript of this
work has been found in his room in New
York. In his room were found burglars
tools, disguises, and various other appl-
ances of rascals. He had recorded an as
sumed name," Lenrio," as the author of the
treatise. 1t is probable he will never fin
ishit. A gentleman lately from Binghamp-
ton, told us the other day that firm pur-
pose exists in that city to lynch Ruloff, if |
the jury do not convict him in this case.
This wretch has since had his trial for
the murder Of Merrick, and sentenced to
be hung.
DEATH OF MIsER--HE MAKES A