The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-12-17
TERRISS IS ASSASSINATED
THE ACT0E WHO FOR MANY YEARS
 SUPPORTED IRYING.

Was Entering tho Stage Door for the
 Performance of Secret Service" When
 Man Known as "NIad'' Archer Plunged
 Knife Into His Heart-Terriss Known
 in New Haven.
 London, Dec 16.-William Terriss, the well known actor, who for many years supported Henry Irving as leading man, was assassinated tonight by being stabbed with knife as he was enter ing the stage door of the Adelphi the ater for the performance of Secret Ser vice." The assassin had the appear ance of foreigner and wore a long cloak. He is supposed to be former super. He rushed at the actor as the latter was stepping across the pave ment from his cab and stabbed him just below the heart. Terriss fell cry ing: My God, he's stabbed me; don't let him escape" The assassin with drew the dagger and made a second plunge at his victim, but he was seized by the spectators.
 MT. Terriss was placed on the landing of the stairway just inside the theater, where he lay groaning. Once or twice he feebly attempted to speak, but it was impossible. He quickly succumbed, while surrounded by the theater staff, including Miss Millward. The murderer was taken to the Bow street police sta ton, followed by an angry crowd. His name was given as Archer. It is said that he had been a super at the Adelphi theater several years ago and for some days past he has haunted the theater. The motive for the crime is not yet known. A large audience had already assembled for the evening performance l and the manager came to the footlights and announced that as MT. Terriss had met with an accident, no performance would be given tonight.
 The scenes along the Strand at the hour when the theaters closed this eve- ming were remarkable By that time the special editions of the evening pa- pers were out and the newsboys were shouting around the theater exits that 1 MT. 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 that it was true, horror and | indignation were painted on every face.
 When the murderer arrived at the police station he still had the weapon, apparently big butchers knife, con- cealed beneath his inverness cape. On l being charged with murder he is re- ported to have replied: Hes done me out of the Benevolent Fund this morn ing and I am out of it for life" The l murderer was placed in cell and is under special watch for the night. The understudy of the deceased actor tells curious story of how last night he dreamed that he saw MT. Terrss lying on a landing surrounded by a | crowd.
 He says: 1T told my colleagues this morning, and could not get the horrible dream off my mind the whole day. Judge of my horror on arriving at the theater tonight as the deed was perpe- trated. I believe that but for the crowd the police would have lynched | Archer"
 Another member of the company says the assassin was known at the theater as Mad Archer" and was ordered off the premises last night. Others say that Archer nursed grievance against Mir, Terriss even before he left his em- ployment at the theater More than once he stood in the wings and indulged in sarcastic comments on MT. Terriss' acting, such as fools often succeed in life where men of genius fail" The as- sassin made no attempt to escape. When seized he offered to go quietly to the police station Miss Millward, when | hot jv
 completely broke down with grief.