The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-12-17

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close to the hole in the floor at the
top of the ladder. The tracks were
made by about an eight or nine shoe
Mrs. Ledbeter came out to the field
and witness had walked back to the
house with her and she told what Smith
had told her that morning. She had got
breakfast and Smith came in with a
little milk, and said he COW had tip
ped it over, and when she asked where
Ledbeter was he had replied that he
would be in shortly. The state moved
to strike this out because Smith was
not present at the conversation. The
witness could not remember whether
Smith was present. The court denied
the motion, remarking that he did not
think it good policy for one side to
let in testimony that it wants stricken
out, in cases of this character.
Mrs. Ledbeter at Neighbors.
Smith had told. the witness that on
the Sunday before the disappearance
Mrs Ledbeter and the children were at
neighbors. Smith had said that Led
better had thought that Schwandt had
beat him out of lot of trouble, and
for this reason Smith said he thought
that Ledbeter might have gotten out
of his head. This was said while driv-
ing to Kasota. The evening of May
5, witness had suggested to Mrs. Led
better and Mrs. A. H. Schroeder that
Ledbeter might have gone to Kasota
to take the trains to Redwood Falls.
because of his trouble with Schwandt
NTH had started to say something
an
at Smith and had told him to keep
still Witness did not remember what
else was said then. Matt Sanger was
there then.
The witness said that he was called
to by telephone to Mrs. Led
beter's at about nine o'clock one even
ing five or six weeks after the disap-
pearance, to help catch chicken thieves
He went into the house and Mrs. Led
better gave him revolver. Goldie
Schwandt was there then. Witness took
the gun and went to the barn, but the
dog would not let him in, and he cal
led to Frank, who was inside. He had
been told to protect the property from
chicken thieves who might be prowling
about. Mrs. Ledbeter came down to
the barn later, and said: 81 thought
l sent you fellows down to watch and
prevent anybody stealing chickens, and
here YOU are talking to each other Sc
loud that we can hear you block
away, clear to the house. That is
no way to catch chicken thieves"
The noon recess was taken here.
Defense Subpoenas Witnesses.
The defense this forenoon had the
court issued a subpoena for six or eight
witnesses, including the two Ledbetel
girls.
Mrs Myrtle Miller of Napoleon, sis
ter of the late Holland j. Ledbeter
was in the court room today.
Mr.. Borgmeier's cross examination
continued this afternoon. One time
witness saw Mrs. Ledbeter act very
angry toward Smith and heard hel
order him from the place. She had a
gun and thought she would shoot him
but handed the shells to the witness
The witness had gone to the barr
with Smith and the latter had SAID
that he had to take much such treat
ment, but did not want to leave fol
fear that he would be arrested before
he had gone ten miles. Smith had told
of Mr.. Ledbeter being angry at one
time when Mrs. Ledbeter drove in.
On redirect, witness said that as he
had understood Smith that within five
or ten minutes after seeing Ledbetel
the morning of the disappearance he
had gone to the house. Ledbeter was
then going up the ladder to get the
pail of chicken feed.
Answering Mr.. Schaub, Mr.. Borgmeiel
said that the potatoes planted the day
before the search party came were
planted in another field than the one
where the remains were found.
Other Man Responded.
An Interesting incident occurred wher
Lawrence Hump was called. Another
man also thought that his name had
been called, and presented himself al
the witness box the instant that Mr.
hump did. Both held up their right
hands to be sworn, when the mistake
was rectified.
Lawrence Kump testified that Smith
had come to him last summer and
wanted to hire his Oldest boy to work
on the farm, cultivating corn, and said
he would give witness a job cutting
wood in winter. Witness lived half a
mile from the Ledbeter farm.
E. T. Soaring was called and testi
fed to certain statements made by
Smith at the county Jail June 81 last
and the defense wanted to get in the
entire statement, which led to an eX
tended argument over objections raised
by the state, which desired to cOnfine
the statement to lines that it had en-
tered into. The jury was finally ex
cused in order that teh court might as
certain just what it was sought tc
bring in.
Mr.. Soaring testified on direct to
statements of Smith as to illicit rela
tions that he claimed to have had with
Mrs. Ledbeter to his stating question
to Mrs. Ledbeter this way: "Now, Mrs
Ledbeter, when you helped me xiii Mr.
Ledbeter," which he had corrected by
saying he meant "bury" instead OF
"kill," and in relation to Mrs Ledbetel
wishing to purchase poison of Red
wood Falls doctor, which Mrs. Ledbetel
said was to take a stain from hel
dress.
rrom SATURDAYS DaIiv