Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-05-24
SEYlER DENIES
ALL KNOWLEDGE
OF GIRLS DEATH
Jane Adams's Accused Slayer's
Counsel C0ntradicts AL
legged Confession.
THIRD DEGREE METHODS
ARE BITTERLY ASSAILED
Sad Scene in Court Room as
Prisoners Little Child
Rushes to Him.
Especial to the Newark start

MAYS LANDING, May 24.-Absolute
denial of all knowledge of Jane Adams
death is the feature of William Seyler's
defense. which opened after the State
rested. In his opening address Gaskill
said:
William and orvis left home together
on the night of February 4. They met
the Adams girls on the street at Orvis's
suggestion, and then went to the pier
Jane and Orvis walked together. The
boys shared the cost of admission, Will
paying tbirty-five cents out of money
he borrowed at a saloon.
"falice and Orvis went out on the dark
= end of the pier first. They walked near
the wave motor building. William
wanted to go in but Jane would not
and said she would wait until Alice re-
turned. Alice and Orvis had gone into
q deserted building. Orvis lifting her
through window. Jane called 'Alcei'
three times, and Orvis answered
Alice and Ofvis remained on the pier
until 10 o'clock. On the way home
Alice said: Il wonder where Jane is?'
Orvis answered: Maybe the little fool
took a bath Alice was left at her
house and Orvis went to Wills house.
Will was home and said he left Jane on
the pier
Mrs. Adams came to the house and
raised Il disturbance when her daughter
did not return. William and Orvis left
Atlantic City to hunt for work. They
went TO Petersburg, Va, and, failing to
secure work had MANNED to return,
when they were arrested. The defend
ant denies absolutely that he saw Jane
Adams fall overheard.
HE left her near the wave. motor,
and, hearing her CALL, walked back
When he got to the place where he had
left her he did not see Jane. and he
has not seen her since. Supposing she
had Joined the others, he left the pier
and went to the engine-room of the
Hotel Chelsea to look for a position
and then went home"
The defenses theory is that Jane
Adams, after William left her, stood
behind the wave motor to get out of
the wind She was not familiar with
the pier, and, stepping back of the
motor, tripped and fell to the narrow
platform. below and then into the ocean.
An effort is being made by Mr. Gas
kill to finish the case this afternoon,
and it is probable that Seyler's fate
will be in the hands of the jury by sun
set.
William Paxson, electrician at the
pier. was called to the stand Il testify
to the conditions of limits on the night
of the tragedy He said the outer end
Of the pier was in total darkness.
Mary Mcdonald, Rose Dockerty and
Jasper Seyler, brother of the defend
ant, testified that Will came home the
night Jane met her death shortly after
O'Clock, and that he went out again
later. hut did not return. The Seylers
at that time had their household goods
packed ready to move.
Charles Young, hotel-keeper, testi-
lied to loanins Seyler so cents on the
night of February 4.
An affecting scene took place in the
courtroom today when Seyler was
brought in. His wife and little girl
Bessie were in the room. Bessie recog
nized her father. and, running, jumped
70 the prisoners lap, and. throwing her
arms around his neck kissed Dada,
as she called him.
She was permitted to remain there
until Justice Trenchard took his place
on the bench in company with Judge
Higbee. The little tot played about
her fathers side for some time and
then went back to her mothers side
with her little sisters.
The third degree methods were scored
by Attorney Edmund G. Gaskill. coun-
sci for Seyler, when the police offi-
GERS, including Captain of Detectives
Richard WhaIen, Chief of Police NAL
com Woodruff and Detective Robert
Miller were called, to the stand by
Prosecutor Goldenberg to testify as to
the voluntary nature of a confession
made by Seyler to the authorities after
he had been brought back from Peters
burg, Va. to Atlantic City.
Ibid you give the defendant drugged
cigarettes?" asked Gaskil].
Miller replied that he had given him
cigarettes from his own pack.
was Seyler given anything to smoke
that was drugged?''l Gaskill querried
TO Captain Woodruff.
II gave him some of my own cigars
answered Woodruff.
Prosecutor Goldenberg was sworn
and testified that he was present when
SeyIer made his confession: that no
force or threats had been used to in
duce the prisoner to make statement.
"Oryis told u.s." said the prosecutor,
..that William couldn't sleep the first
night in Virginia. He told Orvis that
he saw Jane Adams back off the pier.
fau down to the platform and roll off
INTO the sea; that he climbed down TO
rescue her but she never came up
captain Whalen told of taking Sey-
,er out on the million dollar" pier to
the Wavewater House.
"He told us where Jane Adams
hacked off," he said. "and where he
was standing at the time she fell. This
snace was a narrow opening between
the railing and motorhouse Seyler said
he ran down the ladder but couldn't
SEQ her. then went off the pier"
Whalen said he stood on the spot
where Seyler asserted he was when
lane fell, and said 1t was impossible
N see person fall off in the manner
the defendant designated.
Gaskill fought hard to have the state
ments kept out, but Justice Trenchard
overruled his objections.