The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 1911.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3308, 29 August 1911, Page 4

The Gisborne Times . PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 1911.

The petition to his Excellency the Governor praying for the release of Lionel Terry hears, it is reported, over 4000 names. Under all the circumstances, the amount of support which the proposal has received at the hands of the public could not have been very gratifying to the promoter of the petition. First of all, it is only fair to assume, we think, that if there is any general desire to see Terry liberated it would have found expression in much bulkier lists of signatures. Then, again, it must be borne in mind, that about, half the number of signatures came from one city—Dunedin—where that easy method of swelling the total of names on lists of the kind, viz., canvassing, was employed. For our own part, we feel that the reasons which have been put forth in favor of the petition are totally inadequate. Terr}', it will be recalled, was convicted of the crime of deliberately and fatally shooting an unoffending Chinese, who was at the time in the Chinese quarter of the Empire City. His act was, doubtless, the result of an unusually strong hatred, amounting to a dangerous mania, against the Chinese luce, Now upon what grounds is it suggested that Terry who has suffered incarceration for some years should be set free? Mr. J. Liddell Kelly, of Ashburton, the promoter of the petition, declares that lie is satisfied that Terry has recovered his mental balance. This conclusion, he adds, is based partly upon personal observation and partly upon the testimony of persons who have had opportunities of observing the prisoner. As against assertions of this nature, it must be remembered that there have been made at various times official reports with reference to Terry’s mental condition which would seem to make his liberation quite out of the question. Terry’s release, it would appear, is urged chiefly on the ground that it is felt that he has already been sufficiently punished, and also on the ground that it is feared that further confinement will have the effect of making him a permanent charge on the community. What is sought on behalf or Terry is that at any rate a special inquiry should be conducted with reference to the following matters : —(1) Has Terry homicidal. tendencies ? (2) Has he'mania of any kind? (3) Is he suffering from any other form of insanity that makes it unsafe to release him? (4) Is his confinement tending to produce some form of mental failure, such as softening of the brain ? and (5) Assuming that he has sufficiently expiated his offence (and the opinion is expressed that he “has suffered more than a hundred deaths”) would tie not be more likely to have his mental vigor fully restored by being set at liberty? No one would raise any objection to the holding of an inquiry as to Terry’s mental state. Before his liberation could be considered compatible with public safety very strong reasons, we take it, would have to be firmly established. The whole question at issue hinges upon whether Terry is the permanent victim of, or is liable in a recurrent 'form to a dangerous form of insanity. Should it be proved that such is the case it would then be idle to consider the further question as to whether Terry has been sufficiently recovered or what may be the effect of continued incarceration. Unless it could be shown without the shadow of a doubt that Terry is fit to be at large it will be agreed that it would be a very unwise thing to release him. What would appear to diminish Terry’s chance of ever regaining his freedom is undoubtedly the fact that seemingly he is without relatives who would allow themselves to be held responsible for a proper watch being kept over him. In this connection, it may be mentioned, Mr. Kelly some six months ago wrote to Terry’s father in London with a view to arranging, if possible, for the prisoner’s removal from New Zealand in terms of statute under proper guarantees, but ho has received no reply, and is unaware whether Terry, senior, is still alive or received his letter.' For a man who is generally regarded to be sane on all subjocts except this one of race to be held a life-long prisoner may to some people seem hard. This, however, is not a matter in which such a sentiment should be allowed to hold sway.

The Case of Lionel Terry.