MARTYR OR LUNATIC?

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13649, 17 January 1908, Page 6

MARTYR OR LUNATIC?

CASE OF LIONEL TERRY.

DETAILS OF HIS LAST ESCAPE.

HOW HE ELUDED HIS ATTENDANTS.

[BY TELEGRAPH.OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Dcnedix, Thursday. Lionel Terrt, who, by reason of th(* startling originality of his line of conduct, both prior and subsequent to his arrest oh. the charge of wilful murder, has made for himself a halo of notoriety—has even invested the sadly somnolent place of his captivity with a strong savour of almost dramatic interest. Those who know anything of Terry at all, know him for a. refined and courteous gentleman of prepossessing appearance. . His fourth attempt at escape from detention lias increased his notoriety and the interest manifested in his ease. Public sympathy is almost entirely with him.

In a letter to the press, Dr. Truby King, the medical superintendent of the SeaclilT Mental Asylum, affirms that Terry is neither a hero nor a criminal, but unfortunately is, and has been, irresponsible. On being replaced at Seaclif! last month after capture, he was indignant that the authorities had not sent him to gaol, because he resented being in an institution which implied insanity and irresponsibility. He said ho did not want comfort, but justice. He continues to insist that he would be happier in prison, and he becomes daily more and more resentful and bitter at being kept at Seacliff, and under these circumstances Dr. King is satisfied that the best thing for himself and for everyone concerned is to let him have his own way. s

In the meantime it would appear that Terry gives a great deal of trouble to both hospital authorities and the attendants. The fact that he has a particular antipathy to rice, and will only partake of food grown or produced in New Zealand, is common knowledge As he lias two special men constantly in attendance by day, and one outside his locked door all night, Lionel Terry cannot cost lite country much less than £400 a year. Terry and his two attendants had a yard all to themselves. Hatless, and clad in blue shirt and flannel trousers, Terry used to run round and round the palisade as though training for a race, and his keepers perforce had to do likewise. Terry is punctilious in matters of honour, and "his attendants know that if he passed his word not to attempt to escape their main responsibility would be removed, but instead of so doing their charge seems to have pretty clearly intimated that he will leave no stone unturned to regain his freedom. Therefore, as ho is a man of s resource and daring, lie imposes a responsibility upon those concerned which is, to say the least of it, burdensome. Not only this, but each time Terry gets away the mental hospital, for an obvious reason, loses the services of two perhaps valuable attendants. His escape on Tuesday afternoon was effected from the window of the recreation liaJl by means of a rope. Terry was painting among the scenery canvas used for the stage, the window, being narrow and directly above the main entrance, and being 011 the third storey his attendants deemed escape impossible, and were in no way concerned when Terry passed behind a " scene" and apparently remained there."' Judging by the length of the rope used ho must have had a, drop on to the gravel of at least 15ft. He then ran through the gardens and uphill past the cow byres into a patch of bush. An attendant with a party cutting thistles caught sight of the fugitive, but being unable to leave his charges had to march them back to the main building before reporting the matter. Preparations for recapture were effected with the greatest - despatch, and attendants were sent out in every likely direction. Terry, on entering the patch of bush, might easily have made his way under cover to the big bush beyond. Instead of doing this he lay down and waited on the outer edge of the scrub, and this proved his undoing. An attendant in .vaulting a fence alighted almost on top of him, a.nd another appearing from the other side Terry was caught-. Even then, had he thought fit to use' physical force, being a powerful man in splendid fettle, he could probably have; made good his escape, but he merely lay there and protested, aind stubbornly refused to move. When his captors endeavoured to raise him he lashed out violently with his feet. The attendants secured his wrists and ankles with their pocket handkerchiefs, and carried him every inch of the way back to the hospital. Depressed and disappointed, he was brought back to his room. A rumour is abroad that his constitution is breaking up under the strain that he has put upon it. On the last occasion on which Terry escaped from Seaoliff he hinted that lie would be ready to return after a fortnight's absence. Tho explanation of this is now apparent. It would appear that lie was under the delusion that after being absent from an asylum for over 14 days ho would have to t» re-examined for symptoms of insanity before being re-admitted, and that this examination would give him the long wished for opportunity of bringing his case once more prominently before his countrymen. This, however, does not apply to insane persons who have committed a criminal offence and are confined on that account. Careful analysis of Terry's conduct, letters, and utterances' gives an impression that a good deal of egotism is mingled with the alleged patriotism. He seems to have but one object in view, and to be ready to sacrifice everything and everybody to its attainment. There seems to be no reasonable doubt whatever that he is insane, and the fact that even his best friends regard him therefore as a wellmeaning but irresponsible person, seems to be filling his mind with bitterness. He evidently wishes to be a, martyr, and the country insists on treating him as a lunatic. SPECIAL INVESTIGATION ... STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CtiKisTCiirßCH, Thursday. In conversation with a newspaper representative to-day, Sir Joseph Ward said that lie had read Dr. Truby King's statements in regard to Lionel Terry, but he did not know if they had been submitted to the Minister in Charge of Asylums. Sir Joseph added, however, that on his return to Wellington he would have the whole case specially looked into. As to the proposal that the Government should establish an asylum for insane persons of criminal tendencies,, that was a subject upon which he. was not prepared to make any definite statement. It was true that Terry's case was quite exceptional, but there was 110 doubt that there were many others in the Dominion's asylums who should be specially considered.