Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-25
DIDN'T SEE GIRL FALL
SeyIer Told Police Where He
Last Saw Jane Adams.
DENIES C0NFESSING MORE
Accused Takes Witness Stand in
His Own Defense.
HE TELLS OF NIGHT ON PIER
Thought Girl Had Joined Sister
When he Left Her for Moment
as She Disappeared.

MAYS LANDING. n. j.. May 25.-1n
anticipation of William Seyler taking the
stand in his own behalf the courtroom
was crowded to it's capacity when his
trial opened today. Many Of the spec
tatorS were women.
Before nightfall Seyler of Atlantic City
probably will know whether he is doomed
to die in the electric chair for numbering
Jane Adams, the seventeen-year-old girl.
whom, the commonwealth charges, he
threw from the mfllion-dollar pier or At
lantic City into the sea.
Entering the courtroom in charge OF Of
ficers, Seyler greeted his wife, who has
stood loyalty by him during his trouble
He looked worried. but when he spoke to
Mrs. Seyler. who had with her her young
daughter Bessie, he smiled.
seyler's Story Of Tragedy.
After a brief consultation with his at
torney Seyler took the stand. His story,
told in composed manner, was as fol-
lows:
81 knew Jane Adams in her lifetime. 1
am twenty-eight years old.
II remember the night Of February 4.
I had not been working that day. About
O'Clock I went after some coal.
''The Adamses lived a short distance
from me and we frequently visited each
other Coming back with the coal 1
passed the Adams house with OrVis Sey-
ier and Tommy Adams.
when l reached the house a child ran
out and said to Orvis, Alice wants you
Orvis stopped and 1 went directly home.
II had an engagement with man after
o'clock. Before 1 went out ! asked my
for nfc hut al 10 give
me. I went to YOungs saloon and Dor
rowed the money.
Met Girls by Accident.
"Orvis and 1 afterward went out to-
gether." continued Seyler. when we
reached Missouri avenue we accidentally
met Jane and Alice, who spoke to Orvls.
1 walked to the curb and waited for him.
"Orvis called to me. Let's go to the
moving pictures / replied that we hadn't
time, but he coaxed me to go.
"Orvis suggested that we 90 to the
million-dol pier. did not want TO CO.
but finally consented.
"Orvis suggested having a drink. but
the girls refused. He shared the expense
of going on the pier
''The lights on the pier were not all
turned on. Orvis. Jane and Alice walked
ahead, and I followed.
eve went out to the dark end OF the
nier said: Come on Orvis, let's go in.
it's cold l did not have an overcoat.
Thought Jane Adams Joined Sister.
"Orvis asked me to stay with Jane while
he walked around with her sister Alice.
After he left I said to Jane: Come on;
let's go in
I'VE we're near the wave motor "a pier
attraction. She said no, standing ten feet
from the motor.
II did not tell the police saw her fall
overheard. 1 said that was where she
stood when I last saw her.
"When l left Jane I started in toward
the hall. Jane called then three times for
Alice in a natural way. / turned around
to look back. but could not see her
II returned to the motor. She was not
II swear to Almighty God did not see
her fall over the pier into The sea-"
Had No Quarrel With Girl.
did you have any trouble with Jane
that night?"
mo, sir
Il thought Jane had joined Alice and
Orvis," he continued. II went on the pier
the same way I came. I went on up the
Boardwalk to Missouri avenue and Pa
cific avenue and on to the Chelsea Hotel.
II saw the engineer in the engine room
and asked for a job. He spoke gruff1y
and said there was not much chance OF
getting a job.
The witness said he went directly home,
where he found his wife His father and
Mary McDonough came in late.
Story Agrees With Testimony.
seyler went on to testify to his move
ments after reaching home. his testimony
agreeing with that Of his parents and
Rose Dougherty as to trips between his
home. his fathers house and to saloons
for beer He described his meeting with
Orvis at his fathers house.
"Up to that time did you know Jane
Adams had not returned home?" his
counsel asked.
"No, Orvis asked me where I had left
Jane. / told him ] thought she had re-
joined him and Alice on the pier"
The witness described the coming of
Mrs Adams to the house, and her ques-
ton as to James wherea bouts.
Repudiates Statement he Signed.
seyler fatty denied the truth of the
statement he signed for the police in
Petersburg, Va, and asserted he signed
it after Robert Miller, the detective, wrote
1t. because the police promised that II he
put his signature to the paper he would
be taken back to Atlantic City and re-