The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-24
PROGRESS IS RAPID
IN MURDER TRIAL
Young Married Man Charged
With Murder of Girl
TWO BROTHERS HELD
Miss Jane Adams Was Found Dead at
Atlantic City Last February and
William Seyler Is on Trial
for Her Murder

Mays Landing, n. j., May 23.-Rapid
progress was made today in the trial of
William Seyler, the young married man
accused of numbering Jane Adams on the
million-dollar pier in Atlantic City last
February. A jury was chosen within an
hour and % minutes after the prisoner
was arraigned at the opening of the court
Prosecutor Denberg said in his opening
address that James Adams met her death
defending her honor.
The first witnesses called were the mo-
torman and the policeman who found the
girls bruised body with the torn clothes
frozen to it lying on the beach where 1t
had been cast by the waves several days
after the girl had disappeared.
| Charles Adams, the girls father; was
| then placed the stand. He stated
that on the night of February Orvis, a
brother of the defendant. came to his
house and took Jane and her sister Alice
/ out about I o'clock. Alice later returned
alone and said she left Jane on the pier
with William Seyler.
! Mrs. Adams went to Seyler's home but
he disclaimed all knowledge of James
disappearance, 1t was testified. Asked
whether William Seyler ever came to his
house to see Jane. Mr.. Adams answered,
mo, decidedly no.
Jane was II years old June Il last
| said Mr.. Adams. "Orvis often came to
| the house to take her and Alice out"
DR.. Lewis r. Souders, county physi-
clan, who made the autopsy on the body
| of Jane Adams, on direct examination
said the autopsy had shown Commissions of
the head about the eyes and congestion
of the lungs. There was no evidence that
the girl had been attacked. DIR. Gaskill,
| CA.-1a rotc 70 on
whether the conditions described could
have been caused by drowning to which
| Dr. Souder replied II think not
| DR.. Emery Marvel surgical expert,
testified that the bruise found on the
| girls face must have been caused before
| death had ensued.
Alice Aadms, the 15-year-old sister of
| the dead girl. told of visiting the pier
with Jane and the two Seyler boys on
the night her sister disappeared and of
leaving her on the pier with William Sey-
| Ter.
Mrs. Adams told of her search for her
daughter on the night she disappeared
and of swearing out warrant for Sey-
lers arrest on the charge of abduction.
A signed statement given to the detec-
tives by the prisoner when he was ar
rested in Petersburg, Va, was also placed
in evidence by the prosecution In 1t
Seyler denied that he had been out of his
home or seen the girl on the night in
question.
The prosecution will continue the pres
entation of it's case tomorrow, when 1t Is
expected Orvis Seyler will be placed on
the stand to give evidence against his
brother.
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
A IT, CT
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 returned home, and the following
day the two Seylers disappeared. on
February 10 the body of Jane Adams was
found in the surf at Chelsea.
Suspicion having been directed to the
SEWERS. search was made for them and
a week later they were found in Peters
burg. Va William Seyler denied all
KNOWLEDGE of the death of the girl, but
later confessed, declaring, it is alleged
that Jane met her death accidentally
while with him near the. end of the pier
Reports of the alleged methods in
wringing a confession from William
Seyler were such as to prompt United
States senator to introduce a resolution
inuuiring into the third degree" meth
DDS of police authorities throughout the
country.
No charges were preferred against Or
Wis Seyler.