Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-05-26
LEAVES COURT ROOM IN
COMPANY OF BROTHER
After Deliberating Five Hours. the
Jury Returns a Verdict OF Not
Guilty. Ending Last Chapter IN
Tragic Occurrence OFF Milton Dol
lar Pier at the Famous Resort.
rsy Associated Press,

MAYS LANDING, N. j., May 2o.--
William Seyler, charged with the muir
der Of Jane Adams, on the million
dollar pier at Atlantic City last Feb
ruary. vas tonight acquitted. The
Jury was out little more than i've
hours.
The court room was crowded wheh
the jury returned at 10 o'clock ana
rendered It's verdict. hundreds OF peo-
pie from Atlantic City and other
parts of the county, having waited ali
evening for news from the jury room.
When the verdict was announced
there was cheer from portion OF
the crowd, which was quickly silehc-
cd by Judge Trenchard.
Brothers Leave Together.
Sey!er fairly leaped at his counsel
when he realized that he was again
free man. After greeting his coun-
sci. he walked over to the jurymen and
shook hands with each OF them, at
the same time warmly expressing his
thanks. The crowd In the court room
pressed forward and the acquitted
man held an impromptu reception.
After the stir was over Orvis Seyier,
williams brother who had been helu
as a witness. was fgTniatiy disc1z1B
ed, and the two brothers immediate
| ~ left the court house and took
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.
| II was reported about the court
house that the jury considered only
two verdicts, first degree murder ana
acquittal
The jury retired at 4:45 o'clock this
afternoon.
Prisoner on Stand.
| The feature of the closing day OF
the trial was the testimony oil the
prisoner himself. His story was q
complete denial of the charge of kill
1 ing the girl.
Edmund C. GaskiIl, Seyler's counsel,
arraigned the third degree" methods
OF the police and made plea for the
acquittai of his client on the ground
that no murder had been proven, and
/ if there was murder done, no evil
dence had been acduccd to connect
Seyier with the crime
Child Causes Scene.
As he was closing his argument, the
attendants two-year-old daughter.
bessie, ran to her father, crying: Il
want TO be with papa
Prosecutor Go,denburg was on his
feet in an instant Directing to what
lie said was an attempt to influences
the jury improperly. The prosecutor.
urged a finding of guilty OF murder N
the first degree, asserting vehemeEt-
/ ly that the state had proved its case
Judges Charge.
Judge Trenchard, in his charge, re-
viewed the case from the moment that
Jane Adams left her home in company
with Orvis Seyler and later me; VIII
liam Seyler, who joined them and
walked with them TO the pier. He tod
them that after listening 70 The ses-
iimony of the physicians .cE both
sides, the wound on Jane Adams
head. that they must determine
whether IL had been inflicted by
blow before or after death
/ The defendant is corroborated in
his narrative by the testimony OF his
brother. Orvis lie is also corrb0rate@
by Walters. the engineer of the hotel.
where he applied for work stated the
court Continuing. Judge Trenchsrd
said That IL remained for the jury TO
decide upon the credibility OF the Wit
ness. He Informed the juryncn that
deliberate taking OF life- no ditfer-
tnce how short the time for del:oera-
ton. made Il murder in the first de-
gree. " SeyIer attacked the girl and
caused her death. be said II was muir
I Ger IN the first degree lie told the
! jurymcr that he could recall no eri-
dsnce % show that the alleged crime
was manslanehtcr. Tie warned the
jury that a reasonable doubt Of the
defendants Euilt entitled him TO free
DOM