The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-12-31

wanted to move back to Redwood Falls,
which he did, buying eighty acres, and
putting up a better house and build
ings than the size of the farm war
ranted. Ihen in February, 1905, they
moved to Lime township. this county
buying the Patrick McTighe farm, trad
ing some land in and assuming mort
gage. This farm was bought on a
contract, which was carried out. He
took the farm machinery, etc. Mr.
Ledbeter went back to Redwood Falls
to dispose of his farm machinery, etc.,
there. McTighe was employing Frank
Smith and Bill Garner, and Ledbeter
arranged for Smith to stay on the farm
and Smith stayed there during the
ten days that he was away. Smith was
hired for $25 month for eight months
After a while it got rumored about that
some of the property got intermingled,
and Smith told Ledbeter that Garner
had exchanged property that was
bought, including horse, farm ma
chinery, etc. The result was a law
suit between Ledbeter and McTighe.
1t was expected to show that it was
Smith who did this, while laying it up
on McTiehe and Garner. Smith told
Ledbeter that McTighe had offered him
$50 if he would decamp during the
trial. Smith also told Ledbeter that
McTighe would have him arrested for
stealing a harness. Ledbeter. thinking
Smith reliable. stood by him. Smith
claimed that McTighe actually offered
this, but that Smith claimed it to Mr..
and Mrs. Jedbeter. Different things
were occurring, footprints, etc., that
Smith always claimed were made by
others. 1t was proposed to show that
Smith made all these tracks, ETC., him
SELF
Mr.. Ledbeter still had 400 acres in
Wisconsin which he expected to trade
McIighe farm. A stock of goods in
Wisconsin was traded for, Mr. Ledbeter
getting two-thirds and August Schroe-
der, who traded in 200 acres, getting
third. VIM. Schwandt was engag-
ed to close out the Ledbeter share of
the stock, and it was decided to buy
more goods to fill out the stock; winch
was shipped to Winthrop. The ex-
penses were so high, that the stock could
not be disposed of as soon as expected,
os Mr. Ledbeter took the stock to Red
wood Falls and closed it out. The up
shot was that he got nothing out of
it to pay his mortgage on his land.
Ledbeter was worrying over his finances
the mortgage on his farmland the
Likelihood of lbs losing the accumula-
tions of lifetime. He naturally would
not tell these things to the neighbors.
This was the foundation that the de-
PENDANT had for thinking that her hus-
band had gone away, especially when
told that he had. He WIS not out of
his mind, or completely changed, but
worrying, as he had $4,000 mortgages
outstanding and heavy debts, and no
life insurance. He had talked it over
with his wife, who had tried to cheer
him as every good wife does when
confronted by adversely and discour-
aged. A proposition came up to buy
a smaller farm, and Mr. Schroeder was
consulted His father had been ad-
ministrator for Mr. Ledbeter' sfather's es-
tate and wa in the real estate business
Mrs. Ledbeter had once held position
in his office, and the families were
well acquainted. A deal was made for
an Eagle Lake property, which would
have cleared him of debt. This was
why Mr.. Ledbeter was happier and
more cheerful than for months before
This home that day was as happy a
one as the sun had ever shown upon
The deal was to have been consummat-
ed the day that the murder occurred.
Smith Plotted Cunningly.
Smith plotted to do away with Led
better, expecting to make Mrs. LeaDeter
believe that Garner and McTighe had
murdered him, if the murder got out,
and as to the public at large, to make
it believe that it was the Schwandts
who did it. If possible, he wanted it
to appear that Ledbeter had wandered
away and committed suicide Smith,
like other hired men, was made a
member of the family. Ledbeter had
800 acres in all and $4,000 mortgages
Smith laid trap to catch the holders
of the mortgage in case it was found
out that Ledbeter was murdered The
suicide story was cunningly planned
Mrs. Ledbeter knew nothing OF the
suicide story than what Smith had
told her. He had told her that if she
told Ledbeter he would probably kill
her and the children. This was why
she did not tell her husband, and was
laid to prepare her mind for the cloud
burst of trouble that was soon to over
take her. AS the troubles of her hus-
band were frightening, she naturally
thought that ne would get over his
brooding. The children knew nothing
of the cause of his troubles, and to
them he was the same, for he would
force a smile as they sat on his lap.
More Than Fifteen Minutes.
When the alarm came May 5 that
Mr., Ledbeter had disappeared, she
thought that only fifteen minutes had
elapsed, but it would be shown that
she was mistaken, and the time was
greater. The couple were tired the