Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-05-23
Wife and Children Watch Ac-
cnsed Man Led Into
Court Room.
PIER VICTIMS MOTHER
SEES PRISONER ARRAIGNED
Girls Father Tells of Her Leav-
ing Home With Brother
of Accused.
Especial to the newark star.l

Especial TO the Newark start
MAYS LANDING, May a3.-Charged
with having been responsible for the
death of Jane Adams. Is years old, at
the million dollar pier in Atlantic City
on the night of February 4. William
Seyler today was called to face jury
before Justice Thomas w. Trenchard,
in the Atlantic County Court Mrs.
Seyler, wife of the defendant, with her
two children, also Mrs. Chalmers
Adams, mother OF the dead GIRL were
in the courtroom when the accused was
led in.
With the courtroom filled to the door
by witnesses and curious spectators,
Seyler, clean shaven and neatly attired
in suit of dark blue serge, was
brought into court by Sheriff Enoch L.
johnson and Deputy Sheriff S. E. John
son. He shook hands with his counsel,
Edmund c. Gaskill, jr., and nodded to
his wife and several relatives in the
courtroom. A life-size model of that
portion OF the pier where Miss Adams
is supposed to have met her death has
been erected within the courtroom near
the jury box. A score of large photo
graphs and diagrams have been pro-
vided by Prosecutor g.. l.. Goldenberg.
Jane Adams met her death defend
ing her honor" was the statement
made by Prosecutor Goldenberg in his
opening address to the jury. In
brief statement Goldenberg outlined
two facts the State would prove. The
first witness to take the stand was
William Hemmell, motorman, who dis
covered the body. The testimony of
this witness with that of Police-Ser-
geant Holmes, was that the body and
clothing We're frozen when found, the
torn undergarments wrapped around
the ankles. M
Charles Adams, father of Jane, toalS
the stand. He stated that on the night
of February Orvis, brother of Will
lam Seyler, came to his house and took
the girls out about Z O'Clock. Alice
later returned alone. and said she left
Jane ON the pier with Seyler. Mrs.
Adams went to the latter's home, but
he disclaimed all knowledge OF James
disappearance. Asked whether William
Seyler ever came to his house to see
Jane. Mr. Adams answered. NO" de-
clsively.
Jane was II years old June II last"
said Mr.. Adams. "Orvis often came
to the house to take her and Alice OUT
The Adamses now reside at 124 North
Mississippi avenue, but formerly lived
across a narrow alley from Seylers,
and the two families were we'll ac-
quainted. Mr.. Adams testified that
James outer skirt of black mohair was
missing when the body was found. The
other skirts were in place and the
underclothing disarranged.
The disappearance OF the Adams girl
ND ha 6pd I'M nF N Ia r.
nine days later created a sensation in
this section OF New Jersey. Seyler. who
is young married man of Atlantic
City, accompanied Jane Adams to a
moving picture show on the pier. They
were accompanied by Seyler's brother,
Orvis H., Miss Adsmss sister Alice,
both younger than the principals in the
tragedy. Later in the evening Seyler
and Jane Adams went to the ocean end
of the pier and the younger pair re-
turned to their homes Jane Adams
never came home and the following
day the two Seylers disappeared. On
February 13 the, body of Jane was
found in the surf at Chelsea.
Suspicion having directed to the
Seylers, search was made for them,
and a week later they were found in
Petersburg. VI. William Seyler denied
all knowledge of the death of the girl,
but later confessed, declaring, it is
alleged, that Jane Adams met her
death accidentally while with him near
the end OF the pier. Reports of the
alleged methods used in wringing a
confession from William Seyler were
such as to prompt United States
senator to Introduce resolution in the
Senate inquiring into the third de-
gree" methods of police authorities
throughout the country.
No charges swere preferred against
Oris Seyler