A PUBLIC NUISANCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 299, 14 December 1908, Page 4

A PUBLIC NUISANCE.

LIONEL TEKUY DISXIRBS THE XEIGHI3OKUOOD. WILD YELLS AXD SCKEAMS. C'hristchurch, Saturday. Lionel Terry is becoming a public nuisance. For some weeks past people living in the neighborhood of Lyttelton Gaol have been disturbed nearly every night by a series of wild shrieks null screams. The blood-curdling noise usually commences between lu o'clock and midnight, and is generally accompanied by a loud and fur.oiis hammering. On a quiet night the din can be heard many blocks of streets away. Women and children are frightened by the incessant screaming and yelling, whilst sick persons are continually being disturbed by the extraordinary noi«c, which the gaol authorities are powerless to stop. The cause of the trouble is the notorious Lionel Terry, whose history is too well known to'need recounting. He has been confined in Lyttelton Gaol for a considerable time past.

I'p till a few months ago he lived, in specially furnished quarter* hi th.; hospital wing, and was accorded many privileges, lie was always arrogant in his behaviour towards the warders in charge, though he did not cause lm-u, .1 great deal of worry. Strangely enough some people evidently regarded Terry'as a hero, and were in the habit of sending him gifts of flowers and delicacies from various parts of the Dominion. The man considered himself much in the same light, and became more arrogant and overbearing than ever. A i v ; months ago he made a deliberate attempt to burn down the gaol buildhgs by setting tire to a. i|uantily of paper and other inllainmnble material under a wooden stairway in the hospital w-iug. Two wiird'.-rs. one on night rutv , ml Ihe other on day duly, had ail anxious, lime in keeping watch over Terry, win ga\e them continual worry and l'vii|iieiitly 11-ed insulting expressions towards them. He made another attempt to -ft lire to the gaol buildings, ami after that Mr. Cleary, governor of the gaol, confined him in a cell and toolc away his privileges. Then Teirv , ■ nieneed to sulk, and finally a few weeks ago refused to fake anv food. Since then the medical ollicers from Simnvsido Mental Hospital nave been visiting Terry in the gaol even- da v. and have had to feed him by means' of a tube. The man i- proving a great nuisance to the gaol authorities, who have done 11 in their power for him, and have been snubbed and insulted by him for their trouble.

Mr. Clean- has for some time past been in communi-ation willi thn authorities willi a view of bavin" Terry transferred from the fraol to the Mental Hospital. His unseemly conduct in fcreaminjr and yelling all' niedit is caus-in-r annoyance to those in the «aol itself, and is lmrmful to thn discipline, ot the jraol. liesides causing the -nolers much worry and anxiety. "Those livin" m the vicinity „f the <rao] are eoniWainimr strongly of Terry's noisy behaviour, which disturbs 'tbem almost' •■wry ni-lit. His refusal to take food has resulted in his becoming -weak Tin body, though, oddly enoii ? b, not in lim" power, and this it is urged is another frood reason why he slionhl be removed without further delay to the Mental Hospital, where he would be under (Indirect supervision of the doctors. Mr. Clean- informed a reporter that he thought matters would he satisfactorily arranged in a day ni - two. and that lorry wonhl be transferred to Sunnyside and would no longer annoy the people of f.vttcHm,

Since he shot a Chinaman in Wc11i,,,,. (on some years arro Terry has aiven the •vt lonties end!e-s Iroi.hl,. nm ] appe „,. s likely to do so for. as long „s he is ~„ dev 1 hoi,- charge.