Evening journal., 1910-05-23
SEYLER FACES
MURDER TRIAL
Charged With Killing His
Alleged Sweetheart on an
Atlantic City Pier
GREAT CROWD GATHERS
AT The COURT HOUSE

By United Press Leased Special Wire.
MAYS LANDING. n. j.. May 23.-Wn- !
liam Seyler, charged with the murder of
Jane Adams. his alleged sweetheart at the
Million Dollar pier, at Atlantic City, on
February 4 last, was placed on trial be-
fore Justice Thomas w. Trenchard in the
Court House here to-day Never before
has a murder trial in this county attract
ed such general attention or caused 80
much discussion. owing TO this fact the
selection of the jury Will he one Of the
great difficulties
District Attorney Clarence l.. Golden
berg, prosecuted Seyler In person, While
Edmund G.. Gaisidl, Jr, a young criminal
lawyer acted as counsel for the accused
Special trains were run from Atlantic
City to the Court House and brought hum
dreds of interested and murbidly curious
spectators.
Early in the day. farmers from miles
around began to drive an. and automobiles
started TO arrive from .he shore in order
TO secure seats in the court room.
William T. Seyler was Indicted for the
murder on the night Of February last of
Jane Adams. an lS-year-old girl whose
bruised and frozen body was taken from
the breakers on February 3. The evidence
against Seyler is for the most part crcum-
stantial and i'm connection with the police
attempt to break him down and force
confession. there We're developments which
resulted in the United states Senate or
/ dering an investigation of the police third
/ degree"
/ Seyler who Is married. had been very
/ friendly with Jane Adams and her mother
forbade her having anything more to do
with him. on February 2. there was a
concert and dance at Yo ing's Pier and
Orvjs Seyler, brother Of the accused, took
Jane and her younger siste-, Alice TO the
pier William T. Seyler was waiting AT the
entrance TO the pier and the quartette
paired of. Jane going with william. They
listened TO the music and viewed .he NOV
ms pictures.
After about an hour. thew walked TO the
end of the pier near the wireless station.
This section is very dun.y hg1ted and
Alice Adams became frightened. She and
Orvis started back She called 20 jare,
according to her story told at the in
quest. and the latter started.
, William grabbed her arm and told her
to wait minute and called to the others
3 that they would be along presently.
That was the last seen Of Jane Adams
alive. When she failed to return home
her mother went to the Seyler house.
where she found William. his wife and
their two children. She asked where
Jane was and Seyler declared he left
her on the pier. The next day both
Seyler boys disappeared and. as Jane
was missing. Mrs. Adams swore out
a warrant for William Seyler charging
abduction.
There was no thought of foul play
until the body of the missing girl clad
in the white dress she had donned "a
attend the dance, was recovered from
the ocean. There were marks on the
face and throat and a deep wound
, above the left eye. Her clothing was
torn and it was believed she had been
murdered while battling for her honor
Rewards were offered for the apre-
hension oof the Seylers and they were
finally located i'm Petersburg, Va
! where they had formerly lived. They
a We're brought back to Atlantic City
] and a strong guard of police had plenty
of work preventing mob violence so in
s tense was the feeling against William
Seyler.
Orvis Seyer was held as materia
witness, his story that Jane and hi,
brother were left out on the end of IN,
dimly lighted abandoned pier confirm.
ing in every way the story told by Alic,
Adams. William Seyler admitted n,
had been with the girl. At first h,
said he left her in the dance hall, bu
under a strenuous application of tn,
e third degree during which he was KEEP
e without food or sleep for some time
n he finally said he had some words Will
@ the girl, that she backed against tn,
a railing and fell into the water He sale
d he went down a ladder to rescue her
70 when she appeared on the surface bu
r. she never came up. He declared d,
would have told of it at once but tha
r the visit Of Mrs. Adams to his hous,
unnerved him and he fed in fright