The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-26
They Free Man Accused
of Numbering Jane
Adams.
CROWDS CHEERS
GREET VERDICT
Defendant overjoyed When He
Finds Himself Again Free,
Shakes Jurors Hands and
Holds Inpromptu Recep-
ton in Courtroom.
Jury Out Five Hours.
Jury Out Five Hours.

Mays Landing, n. j.. May 25.--Wil-
liam Seyler. charged with the murder
of Jane Adams on the Million Dollar
Pier al Atlantic city last February, was
acquitted tonight The jury was.out a
little more than five hours.
The. courtroom was crowded when
the Jury returned at 10 O'Clock and
rendered its verdict, hundreds OF peo-
pie from Atlantic City and other parts
of the county having waited all even
ing for news from the juryroom.
When the verdict was announced
there was a cheer from a portion OF
the crowd, which was quickly silenced
by Judge Trenchard Seyler fairly
leaped at his counsel when he realized
that he was again free man. After
greeting his counsel, he walked over to
the jurymen and shook hands with each
OF them. at the same time warmly ex-
pressing his thanks. The crowd in the
courtroom pressed forward. and the
acquitted man held an impromptu re-
ception.
Leave for Their Homes.
After the stir was over Orvis Sey-
Ter. Williams brother. who had been
held as a witness, was formally dis
charged. and the two brothers imme-
diatelv left the courthouse and took a
train for Atlantic City.
William Seyler's wife returned to
Atlantic City before the jury came In.
Seyler said he was never. in doubt
that the Jury would free him.
1t was reported about the court
house that the jury considered only
two verdicts-first degree murder and
acquittal.
The feature of the closing day OF
the trial was the testimony of the
prisoner himself His story was a
complete denial of the charge of kill-
ing the girl.
The afternoon session of the court
was taken up with the arguments OF
counsel and Judge Trenchard's charge.
Edmund c. Gaskill, Sey1er's counsel.
arraigned the third degree" methods
of the police and made a plea for the
acdulttal OF his client on the ground
that no murder had been proved. and
II there was murder done no evidence
had been adduced to connect Seyler
with the crime.
AS he was closing his argument the
defendants two-year-old daughter,
Bessie. ran to her father crying. II
want to be with papa
Prosecutor Goldenburg was on his
feet in an instant, objectins to what
he said was an attempt to influence
the jury improperly.
The prosecutor urged a finding of
guilty of murder in the first degree,
asserting vehemently that the State
had proved its case.
Court Reviews Case.
Judge Trenchard, in his charge. re-
viewed the case from the moment that
Jane and Alice Adams left their home
in company with Orvis Seyler and later
met William Seyler, who Joined them
and walked with them to the pier He
told them that after listening to the
testimony of the physicians on both
sides regarding the wound on Jane
Adams's head that they must deter
mine whether 1t had been inflicted
by blow before OF after death.
''The defendant is corroborated in
his narrative by the testimony of his
brother, Orvis. He Is also corroborated
by Walters, the engineer of the hotel
where he applied for work." stated
the court Continuing. Judge Trench
ard said that it remained for the jury
to decide upon the credibility of the
witnesses.
He Informed the jurymen that a
deliberate taking OF life, no difference
how short the time for deliberation.
made it murder in the first degree. If
he attacked the girl and If he caused
her death, he said, it was murder in
the first degree.
He told the 1urymen that he could
recall no evidence to show that the
alleged crime was manslaughter. He
warned the Jury that reasonable
doubt OF the DEFENDANTS guilt entitled
him to freedom