Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1910-05-24
SAY DRUGGED
CIGARETTES
GIVEN SEYLER
Defsnse of Man Accused Of
Numbering lane Adams at
Atlantic City Begins.
PARENTS OF DEAD GIRL
ON THE STAND


liam Seyler, on trial here for the
murder of Jane Adams, to force
from him confession, and that he
was put through SO vigorous a third
degree that even Chief Of Police
Woodruff called halt, was the
charge made by the defense in open
ing its case shortly before noon to-
Eday.
The defense will show, 1t is al
legged, that three cigarettes from a
box that had already been opened,
were given the accused by Detective
Miller before his statement was
made, and that the cigarettes were
drugged.
After following the movement Of
William and Orvis Seyler and Jane
and Alice Adams on the pier, At
torney Gaskill outlined his defense
as follows: ''The defendant denies
he saw Jane Adams fall overheard
The state has proved nothing The
defense says that Jane Adams, af-
ter William Seyler left her, stepped
behind the wave power machine,
then, walking backwards, she
bumped into railing only foot
high and fell overheard.
Up to recess, eleven witnesses for
the defense had been examined and
Attorney Gaskill expects to call fif-
teen more. The indications were
that the defense will succeed in plac-
ing all of its evidence before the
jury by tonight.
The defense's witnesses testified
that Seyler left Atlantic City look
ing for work, and that he was seen
after the girls death and displayed
no nervousness.
Prior to the opening of court, Bes-
sic, the three and one-half year old
daughter Of the accused, broke away
from her mother and ran to the pris-
oner's dock to her father. Seylcr,
while the jurors and spectators
watched curiously, picked up the
child, kissed her, and placed her on
his knee.
Richard Whalen, captain. of detec-
tives In Atlantic City, was today's
witness. The defense scored an Inn
portant point when Judge Trench
ard sustained Attorney Gaskills' OBJ
| lection to Whalen testifylng about
an important statement made to him
by Orvis Seyler, brother of the ac-
cused. All that Whalen was per-
mitted to say was that Orvis had
been in his Office February 20 and
made statement which he repeated
later before number of officials.
The dead girls mother, father and
sister were among the witnesses
called to the stand by the prosecu-
ton in the effort to fasten the
strange crime upon the accused man.
Mrs. Charles Adams, mother of the
dead girl, told Of the disappearance of
her daughter and the subsequent
search for her at the house of Seyler
and later on the beach front. When
Alice, her other daughter, returned
alone, Mrs. Adams said, she went to
the home of Seyler and demanded to
know what he done with Jane, II
don't know where she is" he replied
A statement made at Petersburg by
Seyler after his arrest was admitted
after a legal battle In the statement
Seyler denied having left his home on
the evening Of Feb. 4; that he never
saw Jane Adams that fatal night; that
he went to Virginia to find work.
This is looked upon as important.
1t is believed to show that Seyler had
strong reasons to make 1t appear that
he was not with Jane Adams on the
night Of the tragedy.
But the falsity Of his statement, the
prosecution claims, is shown in the
fact that Alice Adams has testified
that she left her sister with Seyler on
the million dollar pier"
Prosecutor Goldenberg proposes to
prove that Jane Adams died while de-
Tending her honor.
The trial is one of the most spectacu-
lar ever held In the old courthouse,
the scene of many tragedic homicide
cases. Long before the court bell
tolled the courtroom was filled to the
doors, the aisles being filed with
chairs and people standing on every
available inch Of floor.
When the defendant, well groomed
and dressed in neat blue serge suit,
entered the courtroom between Sheriff
Il. l.. johnson and a constable, the Of
ficers were unable to restrain the peo-
pie, who stood on the chairs to get
view Of the young man. His young
wife and children In the audience at
tracted considerable attention.
Seyler's demeanor was perfectly cool
and collected as he shook hands with
his counsel, Edmund @. Gaskill, Jr.,
and nodded to friends and relatives In
the courtroom. During short inter-
val previous to the opening Of court he
conversed with one of the constables
and appeared in cheerful mood.
Charles Adams, father Of the dead
girl, told of Alice's return home with
out Jane and of the subsequent dis
coyery and Identification Of the body.
He identified the garments taken from
the body soiIed and torn.
DIR. Marvel in his testimony said:
"Miss Adams died from a blow
struck on her left eye, which was in
ficted with some soft instrument. like
a fist, before she entered the water. l
found blood on her face, which must
have been there from an injury more
than ten minutes before her body
reached the ocean, and she could not
have received such an injury falling
from the pier"
Alice. Adams, sister OF Jane, told to
the minntest detail the incidents of the
evening on which Jane met her death.