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


testify as to what the defendant claim.
ed, just after the disappearance OF
her husband, were the happenings OF
thar morning. 1t appeared that she
.al nd a number of parties practi.
lly III same story, that she saw hel
husband enter the barn as Smith
came out, and that Smith then went
directly to the we'll and to the house
and did not, 60 hack to the barn I'M
til she did. Two witnesses said that
the defendant had told her that after
Smith came to the house he went out
saying that he would go and look at
a hot bed that Mr. Ledbeter had just
made, and that he returned shortly
and that then she went to the barr
to look for Mr.. Ledbeter, that he was
gone and he gave the alarm. The pur-
pose of the state seems to be to eX-
clude the possibility of Smith having
committed the murder after Mrs. Led
better saw her husband, and before she
alarmed the neighbors.
The case grows in interest and the
attendance also grows.
Yesterday Afternoon.
Mrs. Sarah Kump was given a part
ing shot before she left the witness
stand by the defense, and gave it one.
you want the jury to know how
you feel about this matter, don't your"
was asked.
81 want it to know what everybody
wants it to know"
Charles Anderson, the undertaken
that took charge of Mr.. Ledbeter's re-
mains, testified to the clothing that
was on the body. The clothing was
all on and properly and completely
adjusted except that there was no cap.
There was a horse blanket and a rope
around the body. The clothing was
sealed in tin box.
The state offered the box of clothing
IN evidence, with the privilege of hav-
ing it opened if it seems to be neces-
sary at any stage of the case. The
defense objected unless the box was
opened, and the state withdrew the
offer at this time. If it is opened, it
will not be pleasant for delicate nos
trils, it is understood, which account
ed fer the hesitation of the state
about opening it.
The defense cross examined as to
the clothing. There was no money in
the pockets, OF chewing tobacco, and
nothing except a small file handle The
witness felt of the outside of the
pockets, and unless he fe.t something
he did not look inside.
At the request of tn state, the
plats and drawings of t. Ledbeter
farm and buildings were withdrawn
from the case Of the state vs.. Smith,
for use in the present case, by order of
the court, written stipulations to be
filed by the attorneys in the Smith
case.
a. Anderson, the engraver, testified
that he had made these plats and
drawings after due measurements and
observations. A birdseye view of the
farm was excluded on objections by
the state, because elevations were not
shown, etc.
Conversation Overheard.
Amos n. Riley, guard at the county
Jail, said that the defendant has been
locked up since June q, occupying a
cell and corridor on the second floor
The only other woman prisoner was
her sister, who remained several weeks.
Frank Smith is also confined on the
second floor, and has access to the
mems corridor. Frank Franciscus was
in the Jail one morning, when Mrs
Ledbeter was the only woman prisoner
Cross examined, the witness said
that hallway separates the mems
and women's corridor, the doors to the
two corridors being about ten feet
apart. Smith is the man convicted
last week of murder in the first de.
gree. He did not remember the day
when MIR. Franciscus was in the Jail.
did he take his shoes off? 2"
"Yes, sir"
did he sneak upstairs in his stock.
ing feet?"
eyes, sir"
did you take your shoes 2"
mo, SIR"
did you go up without taking your
shoes OFF,"
eyes, sir.'
"Do you let everybody inn"
"Not without ORDERS"
did you have orders in this casc?'
"Yes, sir"
"Who gave you the orders?"
Sheriff Donahue."
'Was he there?"
"No, sir.''
On redirect, the witness stated tina,
the doors are barredand the woman.
door has an opening to put food
through. The line of vision was sucl
that person can see from Smiths
door to the woman's.
On second cross examination, the wit
ness said that he left the blind doc,
of Smiths door open and the barred
door shut.
Frank Franciscus was called and saiC
that he was the reporter OF The Daily
Review. On Monday morning, July 26
he went to the jail office, and thence
to Smiths corridor, and overheard a
conversation. He had known Smith
apd tho 1afanJo,@ C;uoo J,,..o Oe