The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-03-01
WELCOMES PROBE
Shore Police Deny They
IOrmented SeyIer.
THEY DID NOT USE VIOLENCE
Atlantic City Police Are Angry at
Proposed Federal Investigation
Of Third Degree Method Of
Exacting Confession.
THEY DID NOT USE VIOLENCE

Atlantic City. Feb 26.-Police ofi-
cials here are angry over the proposal
OF United States Senator Hepburn. of
Idaho. TO force federal investigation Of
alleged third degree methods used to
secure a confession from William Sey-
Ter that he was with Jane Adams at
the end of the Million Dollar pier on
the night she met her death
Declaring that nothing but the regu-
lar course of questioning was en-
ployed. and that the man was per-
suaded TO give his version of the af-
fair and not bounded into a confes
sion, the officials declare they will
welcome any investigation. They say
they can prove that no violence was
offered the prisoners.
Edmund C. Gaskill. lawyer for VII.
liam Seyler. has refused openly to de
clare that the police used violence on
his client. but he declares his inten-
tion Of attacking tho evidence obtain
ed from Scylor under constitutional
rulings against I,cing a man TO in.
| criminatc himself Bitter attack will
be made on Seyler's alleged confession
Il II is presented in court during the
trial, and Nj Gaskill believes he will
be able to prevent its being told to
the jury.
Both William and Orvis Seylcr are
cheerful in their cell al the county
jail. where they will be kept IN close
confinement until the opening OF the
May term OF court. Mr.. Gaskul will
make formal application for William
Seyler's release or admission to bail
under habeas corpus procee iings. but
the police say they will be able TO pre-
sent enough evidence to satisfy the
court that the man should he held
Bail for Orvis Seyler has been fixed
at $1,000. As Yet no bondsmen have Of
fered security.
Plans for the disinterment of the
body Of Jane Adams for examination
| by surgeons retained by Seyler's de
tet sc may be abandoned because tn,
use OF embalming fluid by the under
taker after the formal autopsy woult
destroy any chances TO make new dis
covories that might throw light OF
the manner in which the girl met he
l death.
1 ,<ned that the case agains
50. - was ieaF 20 Fed on a direc
Seyler would be rers~-..,-,..r c,oIde,
charge OF murder. ProsecifrS'
berg declared that no attempt WI
be made 10 convict the man of man
slaughter or lesser degree than ont
right murder and that he would be
CHARGED with having been directly re-
sponsible for Jane Adams death.
Seyler's official prosecutors are in
possession OF the statements of County
Physician SOuder and OF DIR. Emery
Marvel. who assisted at the autopsy.
that the girls death was caused by n
blow which left her face badly bruis
ed. with a deep cut running TO the
brain over the left eve. This knowl-
edge will lead to an attempt to prove
that Seyler struck the girl before she
fell or was thrown over the pier. The
police may decide to make an en-
deavor to prove their case by direct
circumstantial evidence, using only
that portion of Seyler's asserted con
fession in which he is said to have adj
mitted having been alone on the pier
with the girl on the night of Feb
when she disappeared.