The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-12-17
A STAGE DOOR MURDER
Popular London Actor Stabbed by
an Ex- Super"
UNEXPLAINED ASSASSINATION.

william Terriss was walking From
His Cab to the stage Door When the
Murderer Pounced Upon Him and
stabbed Him Three Times.
London. Dec. 17.-william Terriss,
the well known actor, was assassinated
last night as he was entering the stage
door of the Adelphi theater, being
stabbed with a knife Terriss has been
playing in London in the English YER
sion Of william Gllettes American
drama, Secret Service" The muir
derer rushed at the actor as he was
stepping across the pavement from his
cab and stabbed him three times.
As the actor fell his murderer
was seized by the people who were
outside the theater. The wounded man
was carried into the theater and doc
tors were called from the Charing
Cross hospital but Terriss expired in
Is minutes. The murderer, whose name
is Archer, was a super" at the theater
several years ago. No motive for the
crime is known.
When Archer arrived at the police
station he still had the weapon, ap-
parently big butchers knife, conceal
ed beneath his cape on being charged
with murder he is reported to have re-
piled:
He's done me out Of the benevolent
fund this morning, and I am out of 1t
for life"
The murderer was placed in a cell,
and under a special watch.
The murderer gave the name Richard
Arthur Prince, but he was known at
the theater as Archer. His wife is en-
ployed there as dresser. Since he left
the Adelphi Archer has several time
begged aid from the different theatrical
funds, Of whose committees Mr.. Ter
riss was a member.
1t appears that the assassin on Wed
nesday evening asked the keeper of
the ordinary stage entrance as to the
whereabouts of Mr.. Terriss, and his
behavior was then so obnoxious that
Harry Nichols, one of the principal
colleagues Of Mr.. Terriss, was obliged
to demonstrate and to order him to
leave the premises.
The scenes along the Strand at the
hour when the theater closed last night
were remarkable. By that time the
special editions of the evening papers
were out, and the newsboys were
shouting around the theater exits that
Mr.. Terriss had been murdered. At
first the people refused to place any
credence in the report, believing such
an event impossible but when they
found it was true horror and indigna-
tion were painted on every face.
Members of the Adelphi company
say the assassin was known at the
theater as Mad Archer" They say
that Archer nursed a grievance against
Mr.. Terrlss even before he left his en-
ployment at the theater. More than
once he stood in the wings and in
dulged in sarcastic comments on Mr.
Terriss' acting, such as fools often
succeed in life where men of genius
fail"
A large audience had already as
sembled for the evening performance
| lights and announced that as Mr.. Ter
riss had met with an accident no per
formance would be given.
1t was during Henry Irving's first
! American tour that Terriss appeared
on the stage in the United States
After leaving the Lyceum company he
| played Romeo to the Juliet of Miss
Mary Anderson at the Lyceum theatel
for 200 nights. He then entered upon
the career of a star. and, save for oc-
casional provincial and foreign tours
had since reigned supreme at the
Adelphi theater the leading melodra-
matte house in London. He was the
idol of the Adelphi pit, and long en-
deared himself to the great mass OF
London playgoers by his sterling quail.
ties as actor and man.