New-York tribune., 1910-05-25
SEYLER PROSECUTION IN
Attempt to Disprove Prisoners
Alleged Confession.
DEFENCE OUTLINES CASE
To Show That Jane Adams Fell
from Atlantic City Pier After >
Escort Had Gone.


Mays Landing, N. j., May 24-The pros
ecution in the trial of William Seyler. who
is accused of numbering Jane Adams on
the Million Dollar Pier at Atlantic City on
February 4. finished presenting it's evidence
to-day. and all the witnesses for the de-
fence. except Seyler. were examined before
| court adjourned. Seyier is expected to take
the stand tomorrow morning.
In opening the defences side Of the case
Edmund c. Gaskill. Seyler's counsel, denied
that the prisoner present when Jane
Adams met her death and. harshiy attacked
the alleged third degree methods by which
Seyler was forced to make his so-called
confession that the girl had backed OF the
pier while trying to avoid him.. The theory
outlined by the defence is that in trying TO
get out Of the wind after Seyler had left
her she stepped into a part of the pier
with which she was not familiar. tripped
and fell to narrow platform and then into
the ocean.
Orvis Seyler, the accused mans brother,
who accompanied him and the two Adams
girls to the pier on the night of the tragedy,
was placed on the stand by the defence
and told story which differed in many
important particulars from that told by
Alice Adams, the young sister of the dead
said.
I'VE walked to the pier with the girls
and went out the pier. Half way 10 the
end we stopped and talked awhile. Then
told VIII that wanted to talk with Alice
alone and she and I went to the back or
the mission house, where 1t was dark. We
heard jamie call Alice after bit, but Alice.
did not answer while after the third
bo
building and saw my bfother walking alone,
MY brother walked away and Alice and
/ went to the Hippodrome building, where
we sat on a log / could see the opening In
the pier fence and could have seen any
one falling through it. On the way home
Alice said I'm afraid to go home without
JAMIE Mamma will knock blazes out OF
me- Maybe the little fool has jumped over
board.
Other members Of the prisoners family
ard several other. witnesses testified re-
garding William Seyler's movements on the
night when Jane Adams net her death.
They corroborated his original statement
that he had been home on that night before
o'clock.
DIR. James Riley, an Atlantic City physi-
clan, was called by the defence to contra
diet the testimony of DR.. Souder and DR..
Marvel for the state. He said the wound
over the left eye of Jane Adams could have
been inflicted from one to three hours after
death.
Before the trial was resumed Seyler
fondled his three-year-old daughter Bessie
as he sat In his place beside a court con-
stable. His wife, who has been steadfast in
her devotion to him since the February day
when his trouble started, brought the little
girl to the courthouse early.
Prosecutor Goldenberg was sworn and
testified that he was present when Seyler
made his confession and that no force or
threats had been used to induce the prisoner
to make a statement.
Captain Richard Whalen told of taking
Seyler out on the Million Dollar Pier to
the Wave Water House.
He told US said the captain, where
Jane Adams backed off and where he was
standing at the time she fell. This place
was a narrow aperture between the railing
and motor house. Seyler said he ran down
the ladder, but could not see her. He then
went off the pier
Whalen said he stood on the spot where
Seyler asserted he was when Jane FELL and
said il was impossible to see a person fall
off in the manner the defendant designated
Captain Whalen said that at the examina-
ton of Seyler and his brother no weapons
of any kind We're exhibited, and that Chief
of Police Woodruff did not protest against
the treatment of the prisoner, as had been
alleged.
Chief Woodruff, the next witness. said
that the prisoners were not starved or i'll
treated, but that they were treated better
than most prisoners. Robert Miller. the de-
tective, refuted the intimation that drugged
cigarettes might have been given to Seyler
and said no weapons were in evidence while
the prisoner was being examined by the
police. James Malseed, another detective,
corroborated the other police witnesses.