THE RULLOFF"GALLOWS"JUG or A Murderous Saga Unfolds on a Piece of Stoneware
by Steven B. Leder The cobalt blue decoration, obviously done by an unskilled hand, is child-like in its stick figure style. What it depicts, however, suggests an event somewhat more serious in nature. There is a gallows, a hangman, a rope and a hanging criminal. Under the gallows is the name "Rulloff." Between the dangling man and the gallows post is written the date "Friday/March 3." The one gallonjug — eleven inches in height — impressed "W. Roberts. Binghamton, NY" is one of the few known pieces of decorated stoneware depicting a documented historical event. Why the jug was decorated with such a macabre scene is still a mystery, but it may be conjectured that the decorator planned to attend the hanging and filled the jug with whiskey to help pass the time. In any event, much has been uncovered about the notorious character named Rulloff and his criminal behavior, and that information will be presented here in its entirety. Edward Howard Rulloffson was born on July 9, 1819, in Hammond River, near the city of St. John, in New Brunswick, Canada. His family was a good one. One brother became a successful farmer in Pennsylvania, another was the noted California photographer William Herman Rulloffson. Edward attended St. John's Academy, New Brunswick, and was a very able student. He became well read in botany, zoology, physics, mineralogy, and literature. Rulloff was, at varying times in his life, a pharmacist, doctor, lawyer, teacher and expert philologist. He even published a work, entitled "The 44
The Rulloff "Gallows" Jug, impressed "W. Roberts. Binghamton, NY" Cover of original book depicting Rulloffs life.
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Method of Formation of Language," in which he claimed to have discovered a key to the origin of all languages. After secondary school, Rulloff, having dropped the "son" from his name, was, for a short time, a store clerk in St. John. During his employment, there were two fires of suspicious origin. It was later discovered that Rulloff had removed large quantities of merchandise from the store before each blaze. It is noteworthy, when taken in connection with what seemed in later years a fatal tendency toward blundering, that he should defy detection by appearing in a suit of clothes made from the stolen goods. Evidence at the same time points to his having been arrested in New Brunswick for petty theft. In 1839 he served two years in the St. John's penitentiary. When released from the penitentiary, Rulloff went to New York City, but was unable to find work. As a result, he traveled to upstate New York. His first employment was as a canal laborer, but the physical work was not to his liking. Then,in 1842, Rulloff obtained ajob as a pharmacist in Ithaca. Here he acquired a thorough knowledge of drugs and their effects, as pharmacists often substituted for doctors in country towns during this time. However, Rulloff decided not to pursue a pharmaceutical career, and became a teacher in a select school in the town of Dryden. Here he met Harriet Schutt, a good-looking seventeen yearold pupil. They were married on December 31, 1843, against the wishes of her parents and the rest of her large family. Soon after, he and his bride moved to Lansing to escape his in-laws.