The Washington times., 1910-05-23
Opening of Pier Mystery
Case Is Made Occasion
for Holiday.
CROWDS ATTRACTED
TO MAYS LANDING
Evidence Against Alleged Slayer of
Jane Adams Is Largely
CircumStantial.

MAYS LANDING, X. j., May 22-The
jury that is to try William T. Seyler,
accused Of numbering Jane Adams on
the 'Million-dollar pier in Atlantic
City on February last. was chosen
today In the record time Of one hour
and ten minutes.
The State then began its case showing
that the brother Of the prisoner and
the sister Of the victim are the chief
Instruments chosen to prove Seyler's
guilt
Brought by special train, auto, and
horse vehicles Of every type, hundreds
OF persons came here today from Allan
tic City and the surrounding country 70
attend the trial. The day was made
holiday. most Of the visitors bringing
their luncheons as If for picnic.
Sheriff Johnson had ruled that no
favoritisnn be shown, the frst-cOmers
securing the coveted places. All re-
quests for cards OF admission were
turned down.
The prisoner began the day with a
conference with his attorney. Edmund
c. Gaskil, and his parents.
In the crowd of officials, witnesses
and curious visitors about the court
room today were Seylers young wife
and Mrs. Charles Adar-s. mother of the
girl whose body was washed ashore
nearly four months ago. Since Seyler
and his srother were brought back from
Petersburg, Va, after q Sc arch, soon
af;cr ,hc tragedy, lie Defendants wife
has never wavered in her defense Of
the accused man.
Among the witnesses for the prosecu-
ton are Detective Malzed and Miller.
who traced the SeyIers to Petersburg
while tho woods about Atlantic City
were being beaten and Who trapped the
men IN bed.
Judge E. A Higbee IS presiding at
the trial.
The Alleged Crime.
The crime with which William seyler
is charged is the murder Of Jane Adams,
who. II is alleged, left her home in At
lantic City on the evening Of February
4, in company with the Seyler brothers
and her sister, Alice. and who was not
seen until February I3, when her frozen
body was found floating IN the surf by
small boys. who called on Horace Mum
roe and William Hammen, trolley en-
ployes. to help them carry it 10 the
board walk
On the evening Of February Orvis
SeyleT, Williams brother, went TO the
Adams home, in Missouri avenue. and
got Jane and Alice. William met them
on the board walk. The quartet went
10 the Mllion-Dollar Pier and watched
the moving pictures for while Then
they danced. Later William and Jane
walked far out on the pier. When they
got ready 70 leave, Orvis and Alice
called to the others and started away.
At the Adams home Orvis and Alice
waited some time for William and Jane
but they did not appear, and the young
couple parted
Warrants Sworn Out.
The next morning, when Mrs. Adams
found that her eldest daughter had not
returned home, she took Alice TO task.
Learning her daughters had been out
with the Seylers. Mrs. Adams went to
the Seyler home. a short distance away.
Getting no satisfaction from the Seyler
brothers. she went TO the police station
and swore out a warrant for their ar
rest. But when the officer went to serve
the warrant the Seyler boys had left ior
parts unknown.
For days the double search went on.
In every direction the police were look
ing for the SeyIers. The ocean was
watched for the body Of Jane Adams,
for il was the general opinion that she
either had fallen from the pier or had
been thrown from Il, and that in time
the sea would give her Up.
In the meantime the Seylers had gone
straight 70 Petersburg, Va, their old
home. They arrived there on the even
ing or February 8, and went 10 work in
a mating mill There they were found
and arrested by Detectives AIalseed and
Miller, Of Atlantic City, on February IS.
They waived extradition and arrived
in Atlantic City on the following day,
just a few hours after Jane Adams
funeral.
The evidence at the coroner's inquest
was conflicting. William seyler at first
denied 10 the detectives that he was
with the girl on the pier. Then he said
ehe must have committed suicide Orvis
SeyleT followed his brothers lead in
contradlctlng himself Both men made
statements 20 the police which have
been withheld from the publiC
The DeSSt important witnesses at the
trial will De Orvis Seyler. Alice Adams,
and a wireless telegraph operator,
the Seyle- brothers and TIE Adams sis
ters on he pier on the night Of Feb
ruary T.
William Sey,er is married and lived
with his parents Jane Adams was
quiet girl, the daughter Of Mr.. and
not welcome at the Adams Ea"'a and
their meetings with the girls were usual
- secret.