The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-14
But Ordered Imprisoned as a Criminal
Lunatic on the Ground that He
Was irresponsible.
SIR Triton SYKES CRAZY
HE CHARGED HIS WIFE WITH FORG-
ING HIS NAME TO NOTES.
but witnesses Yesterday Swore the
Signatures Were Genuine-PrOf.
Schneck's Discovery.

LONDON. jan 19-The trial of Richard
Arthur Prince, the super who killed William
Terriss. the actor, began and ended to-day
at the Old Bailey. Justice Channel pre-
sided The audience included many theatre
cal people. There were about a dozen Ia
dies in court. At the witness table sat
Tom Terriss, son of the deceased. An
swering the usual question of the clerk,
Prince declared that he was guilty with
great provocation." The prisoner demand
ed the assistance of Queens counsel. The
Judge explained that this was impossible
without special license, but added that the
prisoner was entitled to counsel and adj
vised him to take the advice of the lawyer
who appeared for him at the instance of his
friends. Prince finally consented to have
counsel After consultation with counsel
Prince said that, being advised to do so,
he would plead not guilty.
The prosecution then opened its case. AS
the murder was being described Prince fire.
uuently smiled and wrote a number of notes
to his counsel, apparently to correct abso-
lutely unirnportant details The testimony
presented was the same was taken at
Bow-street Police Court when the prisoner
was arraigned. Tom Terriss was the first
witness The defense alleged that Prince
suffered in his youth from a sunstroke and
that more recently he had had decisions.
The mother and brother of the prisoner
testified regarding the sunstroke. 1t de-
veloped that Prince had claimed that he
was Christ and that his mother was the
Virgin Mary. 1t was also asserted in court
that Prince had once attacked one of his
brothers with knife.
The Judge summed up, favoring Princes
insanity, and the jury was out half an hour.
The prisoner was pale and careworn as he
faced the jury. The jury returned verdict
that Prince was guilty, that he was aware
medical testimony, declares him to be ire
sponsibie." After hearing the verdict Prince
attempted to, make a speech, but was
thanked all concerned, at which some APP
plause was started, which was Immediately
suppressed by the judge. The judgment OF
the court was that Prince be detained as
criminal lunatic during her MaJesty's pleas
ure
On the night of Dec. Is, 1897, as William
Terriss, a well-known English actor, was
entering the stage door OF the Adelphi
Theater, London, he was stabbed with
knife in the hands of a super" named
Prince. Terriss fell, shouting MY God!
He's stabbed me! Don't let him escape!'
The assassin withdrew the dagger and made
a second lunge at his victim, but was seized
by the spectators. Terriss died in a few
minutes. The murderer was taken to Bow
street police station, followed by an angry
crowd He had been a super" at the
Adelphi Theater several years ago, and for
some days previously he had haunted the
theater where he was known as Mad
Arthur. 1t was said that he had griev-
ance against Mr.. Terriss even before he
lea of hn
than once he stood in the wings and in
duiged in sarcastic comments on Mr. Ter
risS acting, such as Fools often succeed
in life where men Of genius fail" When
Arthur arrived at the police Stauon he still
held the weapon, apparently a big butcher
knife, concealed beneath his cape. On being
charged with murder he is reported to have
replied: He's done me out of the benevo-
lent fund this morning and 1 am out for
life"
Mr.. Terriss had been staying at the Ho-
tel Cecil, and a few hours before he was
killed he attended a meeting of the
Theatrical Benevolent Fund. Arthur, who
is well educated and good singer, had been
living in mean lodgings in the neighborhood
of buckingham Palace. He had often been
assisted financially by Terriss and other
members of the Adelphi company, but
shortly before the tragedy he had become so
Unfortunate that Mr. TerTiss had referred
him to the Actors Benevolent Fund. When
arraigned in Police Court the next day
Prince presented a bold front and endeav-
ored to make light of his crime.
Policeman Bragg testified that the pris-
oner had said that he had stabbed Mr.. Ter
risS for revenge, as the actor had debarred
him from employment for ten years past,
ard had forced him either, to die in the
street or be revenged upon him. The pris-
oner also accused Mr.. TerrlsS of blacklist
ing him in connection with the theatrical
fund At the close of the examination Prince
was held for trial. He was regarded as
insane, but tried for murder, with the
result given above
William Terriss, the victim, was promi-
nent in English theatrical circles and well
known in the larger cities of the United
States He was born in London Oct. Is,
1860 When he had grown to manhood be
became an actor succeeding the position
that had been occupied by Harry Montague
as the society lover Of the English stage.
He soon forsook the footlights, and in 1873
sail in horse breeding, but there he was
stranded, and he was forced to make his
way back to England where he returned TO
the stage. W hen Henry Irving, in 1880,
made his memorable presentation OF "Ro-
meo and Juliet" at the Lyceum Theater,
he invited Mr.. Terriss to play Mercutio. 1t
was during Irving's first American tour
that Mr.. TerrisS appeared on the stage
in this country. After leaving the Ly
ceum company he played Romeo 20 the
Juliet of Miss Mary Anderson at the
Lyceum Theater for two hundred nights.
He then entered upon the career of star,
and save for occasional provincial and for
eign tours had since reiSned supreme at
the Adelphi Theater, the leading dramatic
house in London.
ally as Miss Jessie Melward. Both of
them played with Henry Irving when he
first visited Indianapolis. Ellalaine Ter
Kiss, who BIAS frequently appeared in this
country in light opera and buresQue, is a
daughter of the dead actor.
a.