The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-07-16
From MONDAYS Daily.

naunJS at Une LeuDeUeT larHl, ulScuos-
ing with the attorneys for the state
the points in his confession, and show
ing them just where everything hap
pened. In company with Sheriff Don
ahue and Deputy Sheriff Phillips, who
lowered about him, and County Attor-
ney Plymat, w. r. Geddes and C. L.
Benedict, he went through the bearn
from cellar to garnet and over the
farm to the potato patch and back,
and over the ground again. A Free
Press reporter joined the party soon
after its arrival at the farm.
When the party arrived in three
seated rig, it found Special Admins
traitor Schroeder and Attorney G. j.
Laurisch for the defense already on
the ground. In Mr. Laurisch's buggy
were the mop boards from Mr.. Led
beter's bedroom, which had just been
sawed and pried off. They were taken
from the four sides of the room, and
were stained with tobacco juice, but
had nothing looking like blood. 1t is
understood that the defense is to have
them examined by the physicians which
it has RETAINED" to see whether any
human blood can be found upon them.
Mr.. Laurisch stated that the carpet
from the bedroom was still in the
house. which caused great surprise to
the states attorneys.
No Objections Were Offered.
No objections were offered by either
Mr.. Schroeder or Mr.. Laurisch to the
neither undertook to follow or spy
upon the states representatives.. The
room where Ledbeter slept, and where
Smith says that he was murdered
was securely fastened, and the door
braced shut by a board, but every
thing else was open. Only people hav-
ing business on the farm can visit
it, for ''Keep Off, sign adorns the
front gate to warn the public in
general that it is not wanted
This was Smiths second visit to the
farm since his arrest, and he was
much interested and willing to lead the
party about, but showed feeling when
in the surroundings where ne had made
his home for nearly two years. He is
much more serious now than formerly
perhaps partly due to his illness. Act
ing, doubtless, according to the instruc-
tions of the states attorneys, he re-
fused to answer a single question pro-
pounded by the reporter, even about
cf, to- ~
said that he had told the same story
that he did at first, and did not re-
lieve Mrs. Ledbeter of any of the re-
sponsibility that he placed upon her il
his confession the Sunday that he was
arrested.
The potato patch was found to have
been plowed up since the farm came
into the possession of the defense, and
the grave from which Ledbeter's body
was taken has been filled up. The
on this, plainly. Mr.. Benedict raised
the point whether everything had been
removed from the grave when the body
was taken out, but no one present
knew, as it was stated that Chief
Pond had had charge of the grave
1t was presumed that everything was
taken out. but it was suggested that
possibly in the excitement the dig
ging ceased when the body had beer
removed. The reason given by the de
Tense for filling the grave is said to bt
That it attracted too many curiosity
seekers.
The stone pile where Smith had hid
den the cap that he said fell from
Ledbeter's head was found to have
been enlarged, according to the states
attorneys. They said that there were
a good many more stones there now
than on their first visit.
Shots in the Hen House
The shot marks on the hen house
are plainly visible, where Smith said
that he fired at a supposed chicken
thief. Mrs. Ledbeter, the day of her
arrest, stated that chicken thieves had
taken two hundred of her chickens and
that this was the reason for her send.
ing Smith out nights with the gun
and not to shoot neighbors or Others
VINO might be keeping track of their
movements. From the surroundings it
would appear that if any chickens
were stolen it was done by animals
coming up from the ravine that has
its start in the barnyard.
Speaking of the barnyard, its APP
pearance shows what a great improve
ment might nave been wrought years
ago by the use of little drain tile
and gravel. Now, one has to wade
through perfect swamp to go about
the barnyard, and even from the house
to the barn, where a few pIanks have
been laid down. This is due to a
tiny streamlet that runs through the
barnyard from the road to the ra-
vine. A few dollars spent in laying
tile and a few loads of gravel would
have rendered the place dry and bet
ter smelling, and also have improved
the quality of the well water. as tine
well goes down under this awful mire
consisting of several feet of water
soaked manure spread out over an acre
of ground, more or less,
The place in the barn chosen for
the burial of Ledbeter was the darkest
spot on the whole farm. No light pen
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