Murder of Mr William Terriss.

Thames Star, Volume XXX, Issue 8981, 1 February 1898, Page 2

Murder of Mr William Terriss.

. London, January 26. FATALLY STABBED AT THE ADELPHI

STAGE DOOR,

Mr William Terriss, tne well known actor, was on Thursday night stabbed to death as he was about to enter the private stage door of the Adelphi Theatre in Maiden lane, Strand. His assailant was a man named Prince, living off the Buckingham Palace road, and supposed to be a former super at the theatre. The weapon used was a sharp broad bladed knife. Three blows were struck—one in the region of the heart, and two in the back. Mr Terriss sank moaning and bleeding, and was conveyed to his dressing room, medical aid being summoned from Charing Cross Hospital. Despite all the doctor could do, he gradually lost consciousness, and died from internal hemorrhage.

MISS MILLWARD' KISS.

The dying actor was attended by Miss Millward, his old friend James Bevendge, and other members of the Adelphi corps. Just before his death he was not quite unconscious, bufc writhed once or twice, and tried to brush Miss "Millward away. She kissed him, and said," Don't you know me. ?' but no reply came further than air ejaculation of " Oh, my God!'* with a convulsive movement of the lower 1 limbs. Then he lay still until he gasped once and died. Miss Millward bore up bravely to the end. Then, however, she and her companions quite broke down.

AN BYE-WITNESS 18 NARRATIVE.

A journalist who was in Maiden- ! lane^ nearly opposite the exact spot where tne tragic event occurred, and who was present on the scene a few seconds afterwards, states that Mr Terriss had just alighted from his cab opposite the private stage door, which was used only by himself and one or two of the principles. This door adjoined the Royal stage door, over which are the Eoyal arms, the ordinary stage door beiug in the Nell Gwynnepassage, leading from Maiden-lane to the £strand. Mr Terriss was met by

Mr Gilbert Tate, the theatrical agent,

and was in conversation with him when his assailant walked up de-

liberately and stabbed the unfortunate man three times in the breast. Mr Terriss exclaimed as he fell. "My God, I am stabbed !" and those were the last words he uttered. Two or three persons, including a member of the company, who were standing about, immediately seized the assassin, while Mr Tate occupied himself by lifting up the body of Mr Terriss and calling for assistance.

AX OTTOER-STUDY's FATEFUL DKEAAt.^

There were three stabs, but death was caused by internal hemorrhage from a wound over the heart. Mr Frederick Lane, who " understudies " Mr Terries in the part of Captain Thome in " Secret Service," had a peculiar story to tell. He said : "I dreamt about this very thing last night, and when I came to the theatre this morning for the rehearsal I told all the boys about it. I dreamt I saw Mr Terms lying in the landing, surrounded by a crowd, and that he was raving. I seemed to see it all, and then it all seemed to fade away. It was a horrible dream, and I could noi tell what it meant. I tried to forget it during the day, but to-night again, when I came to the theatre, I was going down Bedford street when something seemed to say, 'Do not go there.' I then went round to Maiden Lane, and there I saw this villain. I had heard of him as being an old super, and I knew he was asking for jrfr Terriss last night. His appearance struck me as peculiar. He wore a big cloak and a slouch hat. I, however, do not know him, and he said nothing to me. I walked on, and then a few minutes afterwards I heard a great noise, and found that he had stabbed Mr Terriss." Mr Lane told his dream many hours before the deed was committed. This is vouched for by one of the Messrs Gatti, who assured a news-

man on Friday morning that the dream had been described to several

I members of the company, and to others | as well. HOW MR TOM TEKRIBS HEARD THE NEWS.

Mr Tom Terriss, the dead actor's son, was, it seems, riding in a hansom to the Adelphi, when he heard the boys in the Strand shouting " Terrible Murder." "I never thought for a moment that it was the 'dad,'" he said. " But when I got to the Adelphi I saw Mr Marry Nicholls. J thought it was curious that he shoul 1 be there, as he was not playing that night. Ho said, " Hullo, don't you know ?' I replied, ' I don't know anything at all. What's the matter ?' Then Nicholls blurted out the terrible news, 'My poor fellow,' he said, • your fatheris dead.'" ".I know the man Prince well," continued Mr Terriss. "It is a strange thing that we were together at Drury Lane, and I got him an engagement in the pantomime there. I used to give him odd shilliags now and again, and he used to feay, ' I would do anything for you.' My father—one of the best and most kind-hearted men who ever breathed—used to help him, too, with money, and he used to prof ess himself very greatf ul. But he was a drunken, worthless fellow, all the same. 1' Mr Tom Terriss added that they had only just been able to break the news, to his mother. Mrs Terriss, who was in ill health.

TRIBUTES FROM EMINENT PLAYERS. Sir Henry Irving was amongst tl visitors on Friday to the Adelp] Theatre, and left messages of cordii sympathy with relatives, friends, an dramatic colleagues of Mr Terries. Si Henry Irving said to a Press represei tative :—"I fell sure the whoj theatrical profession join with me i mourning over the tragic and untimel end of our dear friend, who was 1 universal favorite. Among his mor intimate professional friends he wa known as 'Breezy Bill' because o his biisk, cheerful, lively manner. H< was a most capable actor and a kindly genial friend; manly, good-looking and.full of energy. He was an old and valued friend of mine. We had been associated in many plays, and often met even when we were no longer immediate colleagues—in fact, Terriss called upon me on Wednesday last, when I arranged to lend him from the Lyceum some stage properties for 'The Corsican Brothers,', which he intended producing. He was beloved in the profession, and our hearts bleed for the sadness and terrible suddenness of his loss." Miss Ellen Terry, who was affected to tears when a reporter called on her at Wolverhampton, spoke of Mr Terns as a " good, kind fellow" and a " grand actor." Mr George Alexander described the dead actor as " a man to his finger tips." Mr Forbes Robertson expressed himself as very much upset ' by the tragic death of Mr Terris, of whom he was very fond, Mr and Mrs Tree also spoke feelingly of Mr Temas, THE FUNERAL, . The funeral cortege was an immense one, Near the grave stood Mine I Autoinette Sterling. She proposed to Mrs Terriss that she should sing the bymn, * h*tf gentle Sbq»li«d,"

But at the lust moment this intention was abandoned. There wiu a danger of Miss Millward breaking down if the service at the graveside was prolonged.