The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-05-23
CHARGE He KILLED
HIS SWEETHEART
William Seyfer Placed on
Trial for Murder of
Jane Adams
ALLEGED HE THREW
GIRL OFF OF PIER
Body of Victim Recovered from
Ocean Terribly Bruised as if
BY Blows-Accused is
Married.

MAYS LANDING, N. j., May %
murder OF Jane Adams, his alleged
sweetheart, at the Million Dollar Pier.
Atlantic City. on February 4, last, was
placed on trial before Justice Thomas
w. Trenchard In the court house here
to-day. Never before has murder
trial in this county attracted such
general attention. or caused 80 much
discussion. Owing to this fact. the
selection OF the jury will be one of
great difficulty.
District Attorney Clarence L
Goldenberg prosecuted Tyler In per-
son, while Edmond c. Gaskill, Jr., q
young criminal lawyer. acted as coun-
sci for the accused.
Special trains were run from ATTAIN
tic City to the court house and brought
hundreds OF interested and morbidly
curious spectators Early in the day
farmers from miles around began to
drive in, and automobiles started to
arrive from the shore in order to Sc
cure seats In the court room.
Story of Girls Death.
William T. Seyler was indicted for
last OF Jane Adams, an eighteen
year-old girl. whose bruised and
frozen body was N,ken from the
breakers on February Is. The evil
dence against SeyIer Is for the most
part circumstantiai, and In connec-
ton with the police. attempt to break
him down and force a connection.
there were developments which re-
suited In the United States Senate
ordering an investigation of the po-
lice third degree"
SeyIer, who fs married, had been
very friendly with Jane Adams. and
her mother forbade her having any
thing more to do with him On Feb
dance at Yeung's Pier. and orvis Sey-
Ter. brother Of the accused. took Jane
and her younger sister. Alice, to the
pier.
william r. Seyier was waiting at
the entrance TO the pier. and the
quartet paired off, Jane going witt
william. They listened to the mu-
sic and viewed moving pictures.
After about an hour they walk
10 the end of the pier near the wire
less station. This section is very
dimiiy lighted. and Alice ADAMS be-
came frightened She and orNis
started back. She called to Jane, ac-
ccrding to her story told at the in
quest. and the latter started. Wi
liam grabbed her arm and told her
to wait a minute and called to ~
others that they would be along pres
emily.
That was the last seen of Janc
Adams alive. When she failed to re-
turn home her mother went TO z
Seyler house, where she found WI
liam. his wife and their tvs chill
dren. She asked where Jane was
and Seyler declared he left her on
the pier The next day both the
Seyier boys disappeared. and. as Jane
was missing. Mrs. Adams swore out
warrant for William Seyler. charg-
ing abduction.
There was no thought OF foul play
until the body OF the missing girl.
clad In the white dress she had dom
ned to attend the dance. was recov-
cred from the ocean. There were
marks on the face and throat and
deep wound above the left eye He
clothing was torn and 1t was believe
sheghad been murdered while battling
for her honor.
Arrested In Petersburg.
Rewards were offered for the ap-
prehension OF the Seyiers, and they
were finally located In Petersburg.
Va. where they had formerly iir''
They were brought back to Atlantic
City and a strong guard Of police had
plenty OF work preventing mob vio-
lence, so intense was the feeling
against William Seyler.
Oryis Seyler was held as a ma
terial witness. His story that Jane
and his brother were left out on the
end of the dimly lit. abandoned pier,
confirming in every way the story
told by Alice Adams. William Sey-
Ter admitted he had been with the
girl. At frat he said he left her in
the dance hall. but under a strenu-
Gus application of the third degree,
during which he was kept without
food OF sleep for some time. ne final
~ said he had some words with the
girl. that she backed against the rail-
ing and fell into the water. He sa'
he went down a ladder to rescue her
when she appeared on the surface,
but she never came up. He declared
he would have told OF 1t at once.
but that the visit OF Mrs, Adams to
his house unnerved him and he fiec
In fright.