LIONEL TERRY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8987, 23 November 1907, Page 4

LIONEL TERRY.

In our yesterday's issue we published a telegram reporting the third escape of Lionel Terry from the Seacliffe AsyluT). Terry is a remarkable man, but he suffers from a mental kink. To mention the word "Chinaman" to him is as dangerous as flaunting a red rag before a bull. Two years ago list month he set out to enter a practical protest against the admission of Chinese into the dominion, by shooting a Chinaman who was innocently strolling in the neighbourhood of Haining Street, the quarters of the Flowery landers in Wel'ington. He was sentenced to death, and viewed the sentence with equanimity, believing he had done some good for the land of his adoption. The sentence was commuted to penal servitude for life, but subsequently Terry was removed from the Lyttelton goal to the Sunnyside asylum. Twice, by ingenious methods, he escaped, and on each occasion he enjoyed a couple of days' liberty. On his recapture he submitted quietly, stating- that he would escape again when.opportu.nity offered, but, having emphasised his hatred for the Chinese race, he would show no further active hostility'to it. There are few-who do not believe his sincerity in this matter, and there are maiiy irho would gladly welcome the liberation of Terry. The object of his persistent attempts to escape, according to his statement, is to enter a protest against being pent up with insane persons. He prefers the imwisonment to which he was sentenced to the treatment he is receiving, and considers that his committal to an insane asylum has neither justification nor excuse. So far as we know to the contrary, Terry is still at liberty, but he cannot hope for more than a few days' airing. However long he is at liberty there is little reason to fear that he will commit any offence against the public peace.