THE LISLE GREANER. Eugene Davis Publisher. Lisle, Broome Co, New York. May 27, 1871 EDWARD H. RULLOFF (part 2) THURSDAY May 18. THE MORNING OF THE EXECUTION. The morning of the execution was as pleasant as ever dawned. The sky was absolutely cloudless, and the sun coming out in full brightness, literally chased away the light mists of morning. There was to the minds of all persons who thought of the fact, a very sad suggestion; but we presume not one rational regret that the law would take its course. The crowds began to gather before daylight. At sunrise, when usually very few persons are in the streets, hundreds were astir, so alive - we shall hardly say so feverish - was the public mind in reference to the coming execution. Men and boys and women went in troops over the Court House grounds, to the jail and assembled about the building. The jail-yard where the execution was to take place was perfectly hidden from sight from any direction outside the jail. The crowd increased constantly and rapidly, until it numbered perhaps five thousand. It was not a disorderly crowd. Intense anxiety to get a look at RULLOFF, after the execution, if not before, animated all; and there was hardly any boisterous conversation. The waiting of some, included the time after the execution, must have been nine or ten hours. RULLOFF's LAST MORNING RULLOFF did not sleep any last night. And refuse breakfast, except a bowl of coffee. He often expressed his desire to have the execution finished. He said he did not fear the consequences of death as much as though he committed the murder of MIRICK. He would talk somewhat cheerfully on his hobby of language, but upon other subjects he was reticent. At 6:15 o'clock RULLOFF was removed to the middle cell up stairs on the north side of the jail. He reclined on a bed, as attired in shirt, pantaloons and boots. Some of the time he would look coolly out upon the large crowd in the Court House grounds Elias AYRES, undertaker, arrived with the coffin at ten o'clock. It was placed in the south prison, and was immediately occupied by reporters for a writing table. Charley HAZARD, of the Elmira "GAZETTE", not only leaned over the coffin to write, but complacently put one leg upon it, and went on with his report. At eleven o'clock, the hour at which it was expected RULLOFF would be hanged, the jury and those who were favored with invitations as Deputy Sheriffs went into the yard and stood under the rays of the sun until the prisoner was brought out. Before RULLOFF was brought out, he said to the Sheriff's in his husky voice. "You won't have any prayers, nor any damned nonsense down there will you?" He was informed that his preference would be respected. HOW HE WAS DRESSED. RULLOFF wore the same suit in which he appeared when on trial last winter - black coat, pantaloons and vest, and blue cap. There was no platform arraigned for him, and he stood on the ground while the preparations, and ceremony of reading the death warrant were taking place. THE GIBBET The gibbet was a simple contrivance consisting of a beam, about twelve feet long and ten inches square, passed trough the brick portion between the Sheriff's barn and the jail. In the loft of the barn was the drop, in charge of Deputy Sheriff EDMISTER, of Lisle. The drop was apiece of cast iron, weighing 215 pounds. This was held up with a rope which was cut when the signal cord was pulled by the Sheriff. At 11:29 the prisoner was led into the yard by the Sheriff, who had hold of the halter. Sheriff ROOT, of Tompkins county, supported him by holding his right arm, and Deputy Sheriff L. M. BROWN assisted him in a similar manner on the left. He was taken under the gibbet, and the rope around his neck was connected with the drop by Sheriff MARTIN. He was pinioned by straps around his ankles, knees and elbows, by strong leather straps. That work was done by Deputy Sheriffs BROWN and A. K. MARTIN. RULLOFF put his hands in his pockets, and as he stood supported by an officer on each arm, he made no movement, except a slight back and forward motion. He looked down for a few seconds when the officers were buckling the straps about his knees, as though he took and interest in the work and held the closely together so the pinions could be put on as quickly as possible. After the work was completed the Sheriff announced that Deputy Sheriff OSBORNE would. . .' READ THE DEATH WARRANT. The warrant delivered to the Sheriff at Elmira on the 5th of April, when RULLOFF received his final sentence by Judge MILLER, at the general term of the Supreme Court, was read by Mr. OSBORNE, in a clear, firm voice. The prisoner stood motionless, save a slight trembling of his limbs and stared vacantly towards the ground, as words of the death warrant were pronounced. He evidently had no strength, and no courage to look at those around him. His appearance indicated bewilderment of mind. When the reading of the warrant was finished, the Sheriff asked RULLOFF if he had anything to say why the sentence of the court should not be carried into execution. There was no response by the prisoner, not even a motion to indicate his desire; but his sorrowful countenance, and rapidly failing strength, clearly betrayed his wish. After the lapse of a minute of time the Sheriff stepped to the left side of RULLOFF, and said, in a tone sufficiently loud enough to be heard by all in the courtyard: "It is now about twenty-six minutes before the time I have fixed for the execution; Is there anything you would like to say to the audience?" There was no response. The Sheriff then spoke in an undertone to one of his Deputies, that he thought it would be best to let his stand there until 12 o'clock. RULLOFF said in a whisper, that he could not stand, and the Deputies advised the Sheriff to pull the drop at once. The Sheriff then said in a loud voice, "If you have nothing to say, is it your desire that the execution should take place now?" RULLOFF whispered :"yes." During this conversation RULLOFF trembled violently, and was held up to a great extent by two Deputies who stood back of him. A white cap was drawn over his face by Deputy Sheriff Robert BROWN. At 11:36 the Sheriff pulled the signal cord to the executioner, who was in the barn adjoining the jail yard, separated by a brick partition. In an instant the rope that held the drop was cut, the drop fell, and RULLOFF was jerked up in the air about four feet. In going up, his right hand was jerked out of his pocket, and as he slowly whirled around, his face to the wall, his back to the spectators, he put his hand back in his pocket. The first attempt to do so failed, and the second time he succeeded, showing that he then had his reason complete. There was no struggle nor a movement about the body after it was raised from the ground, except a slight gurgling sound at that instant, and a rising of the shoulder a few times, as though gasping for breath, about two minutes after it was suspended. The Sheriff's duty was done throughout, with admirable tack and good judgment. The District Attorney, who was invited to be present to witness the execution, by virtue of his position went into the jail-yard, but previous to the execution retired. THE BODY ON EXHIBITION It was decided by the Sheriff upon very general request, to place the body of RULLOFF in view of the spectators. After it was encoffined, it was taken outside the jail, and under arraignment of the guard, was seen by many thousand person's. Thus ended the life of Edward H. RULLOFF. In review of some of the later newspaper clips he did not leave quietly. (Bill Grummons.) May 27,1971 After the execution of RULLOFF, his body was decapitated, and his head passed on into the possession of surgeons for the purposes of scientific examination. RULLOFF's brain weighed fifty-nine ounces, being about 10 ounces heavier, then the ordinary weight. The brain of CUVIER the French naturalist, weighed from 64 to 65 ounces and that of WEBSTER, 64 ounces; the average weight of men's brains, is set down at 50 ounces. JUNE 1, 1871 Two women went to the Old Cemetery Tuesday morning and decorated the grave where RULLOFF's body was buried, previous to the time the committee from Post Watrous visited the burying ground. The act gave offence to someone who saw the flowers lying there, and they were removed. Bill Grummons [email protected]