LIONEL TERRY AT LARGE.

Evening Star, Issue 12926, 24 September 1906, Page 5

LIONEL TERRY AT LARGE.

Lionel Terry, who had been sentenced to death for the murder of a Chinaman in Wellington in October, 1905, but who was deemed to be insane and removed to Sunnvside Asylum, near Christchurch, escaped from that institution between seven and eight o'clock on Saturday night. Terry had been working about the asylum grounds as usual during the day, and was with the other inmates when they were assembled in the building for tea. When the inmates were about to be locked in their cells Terry was missing, and has not been discovered since. All the windows were fastened and all the doors were locked at the time of the escape, and it is supposed that he either had a key to one of the doors or that his escape had been arranged for by his friends. [Special to the Stab,.] CHRISTCHURCH, September 24. Since his commitment' to Sunnyside Terry's conduct has been exemplary. He was regarded as the inmate most to be trusted; indeed, he was said to have prevented several escapes, and has been a free agent within tho usual bounds. On Saturday evening Terry was insido the building at a quarter past seven o'clock, the doors and windows being then all locked. Half an hour later, however, when bedtime arrived, h© was not to bo found, and a most curious circumstance was that the doors and windows were still all locked. This circumstance has given rise to the supposition, which, however, cannot be satisfactorily substantiated, that Terry was not working by himself in his attempt to escape. It is pointed out that no could, readily bave grasped more favorable opportunities to secure his liberty. Keys are very difficult to obtain, and each warder has a perfect system of checking the inmates under his charge, while the windows could not bo opened from the inside or outside without breaking the catch. The police are entirely in the dark. A striking figure, Terry, who is particularly tall, would attract attention among any number of persons. While at Sunnyside Terry was regarded generally as perfectly sane. Up to one o'clock the police had found no trace of Lionel Terry.