Bio

Edward Lionel Terry was born on January 6, 1873, in Sandwich, Kent, England. He was the son of Edward Terry and Frances Thompson. His father was a successful corn merchant and later managed a real estate firm in London. Growing up, Lionel attended Merton College in Wimbledon. However, he found this life unsatisfying.

In 1892, he enlisted in the Royal Regiment of Artillery. A year later, he transferred to the Royal Horse Guards. His father paid for his discharge in 1895. Soon after, Terry traveled to South Africa, where he joined the mounted police in Bulawayo and took part in the Jameson Raid from December 29, 1895, to January 2, 1896. After returning to London, he briefly worked in the family business before deciding to explore further.

Between 1895 and 1896, he traveled to British Columbia and the United States. During these travels, he encountered Chinese immigrants and developed strong negative feelings toward them and other non-European races. By the time he arrived in New Zealand in 1901, these views had become deeply ingrained in his beliefs.

In New Zealand, Terry began working for the Department of Lands and Survey in Auckland. He also attempted to start a horticultural market garden in the area. Later, he moved north of Palmerston North to work as a bush feller in Taihape. By 1905, he had returned to his job as a surveyor with the Lands and Survey Department in Mangonui, Northland.

Terry became more vocal about his views during his time in New Zealand. He wrote and published a work titled The Shadow, which expressed his opposition to Chinese and East Asian immigration. In July 1905, he undertook a long walk from Mangonui to Wellington, almost 900 kilometers. Along the way, he distributed copies of his book and spoke about his beliefs.

After arriving in Wellington on September 14, 1905, he attempted to share his views with lawmakers, seeking to ban further immigration of non-Europeans. He found little success in his efforts.

Murder Story

On September 24, 1905, Edward Lionel Terry committed a murder in Wellington, New Zealand. He shot Joe Kum Yung, a 70-year-old Chinese immigrant, in Haring Street. Joe Kum Yung was an elderly gold prospector who had a limp due to an old mining accident. Terry targeted him because of this infirmity.

After the shooting, Terry did not flee the scene. He went straight to the police station and admitted to the crime. He presented his revolver as evidence and gave a copy of his publication, *The Shadow*, to the police. In this pamphlet, he expressed his views against Chinese immigration.

Terry was arrested and faced trial. He conducted his own defense during the trial, where he discussed his motivations for the murder. On November 21, 1905, he was found guilty and sentenced to death. However, this sentence was later reduced to life imprisonment due to concerns about his mental health. He was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.

Terry spent many years in several mental institutions, including Sunnyside and Seacliff. Throughout his time in confinement, he escaped from Sunnyside twice and had numerous incidents of violent behavior. Despite being incarcerated, he continued to attract attention for his actions and beliefs.

He died at Seacliff Mental Hospital on August 20, 1952, at the age of 79. His life and actions became part of public interest, leading to discussions about his views and the crime he committed.