EDWARD RULOFF, BROOME COUNTY COURTHOUSE Portrayed by Brandon Lown (Ruloff), Evan Stark (Judge), Tom Putenbaugh (Sheriff), Billy Jack Broder (Deputy)

Edward Ruloff is believed to have murdered his wife and child when he lived near Ithaca. He was arrested but was not convicted of murder because the there was no body. He was convicted of abducting his wife and spent 10 years in Auburn prison. He was later tried for the murder of his child and was convicted and sent to Tompkins Co. jail. He was brilliant and charismatic. He persuaded the jailer to unlock his cell. He escaped and passed himself off as a faculty member of a Pa. School. He was involved in a series of robberies and fled to NYC where he was the leader of a mob of gangsters. He then returned to the area and with two accomplices broke into the Halpert Store near the Court St. bridge. They awakened 2 night clerks who were sleeping in the building. A fight ensued. Ruloff shot dead one of the night clerks. His two accomplices drowned in the river while trying to escape. Ruloff hid in a nearby building but was captured. In a sensational trial with many appeals he was convicted and sentenced to death. On May 18, 1871 Ruloff was hanged.

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