The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-07-02
Friday, July =. 1909

clothing
learned whether there further marks of violence ON
BODY cash the head which Smith the
ncng in his confession printed in another
column The dead wollen mttens in his pockets
spot body found btt about twenty
five that Smith dug Friday to foo the
searches.'
The dead BODY was and five o'clock
Posmotem examination over the body Ledbetr will be held
morning morgue of Landkamer Bros Davidson where
the body taken last night but only the officials Will be admitted
to the morgue
Coroner Kennedy will probably inquest sometime today al
though hourco could be learned late last night
Iedbeter body fairly good state of preservation consider
the occurred fhree days ago Decom-
position has set in of course being evident from the in
slant the body located underground
HOW MRS. LEDBETER RECEIVED THE NEWS
Deputy Phillips notified Mrs Ledbeter of the hndfpg
husbands she exclaimed: MY Cod N.Y. GodV
and tainted away A lady friend there to for her. Mrs
Schwand who has been stopping at the LIE dieter home
very much agiad When Mrs ledbeter
expressed desire to view the remains he and her
sister The sheet remove and Mrs
Iebee upon of her murdered husbarh although
advised do "Thats the rig he had
him." she said calmly "Where - his har
inquired there cap his head Not until Mrs led-
started did she give to apparent grief She
grew historical and cried Holey Eoey!
thought l would him again alive
When informed of the confession made by SIN and the
charge husband Mrs Ldbeter suty denied
accusation "Why would kill hm she asked OF the news
paper accompanied the searching party to the farm
believe he dead until his body found Why
couldn't this been done beoe? she asked 81 do not know
what object Smith would have in saying that killed my husband
unless would be % protect himself"
Mrs Ledbeer stated she last him her husband
undecothes. dark OF pants and blue
had she made and lined with outing
flannel She put n bed blanketing to make it
William Schwand, her sisters husband at
their place last September again Thursday Friday
night preceding the Saturday that Idbeter while
planting He left the house before o'clock in the morn
walked the junction catch train the Northwestern
road going west
Mrs Iedbeer stated that her husband Schwand
good Schwandt at her home he did not
advance theory to Iedbeters disappearance scwandt was
married to Ledbeers sister in October 1908.
that she did time discuss the posi-
biy having murdered Smith maintained that it
impossible anyone "g away with him. and get him out
of the barn.
Following fainting spell Mrs. Ldbee quite cool and
gave directions the of the house and particular about
having girls and boys being cared
for by nghbo Mrs Ledbe married to Ledbeer fourteen
years ago April s. last Her parents, Mr. and Mrs c. W. Har
mon, live at Shell Lake. Wis
Smith had been in the employ family than
He his discharge by Mrs Ledeter Saturday
Mrs Ledbee claims that one day last
discharge Smith he made threats He said if he had to leave the
farm he would kill her and the rest of the family.
TWO WATCHES MISSING.
Ledbeter started for the jail last evening, she
hunted high and low for two wachone Hampden with her first
the The other Egn and belonged to
of the opinion that Smith had stolen these
AFRAID TO SLEEP IN THE BARN
Ledbees disappearance Smith has slept the barn. but
expressed dislike He said he afraid would
poison him make away with him.
Mrs the newspaper ever
disappearance Smith talked great deal about the little tract OF land
where body should planted
potatoes, while she ordered him plant potatoes there "But he
could nothing with him." she said
When the original searching party went the ldbeter farm
morning Ledbees disappearance, they found this particular
piece land with cornstaks These conk
Smith had when the
hole dug to Ledbeter's body.
expressed desire that her husband be buried
Redwood She wanted to know if she would be permitted
to attend the funeral.
The discovery boddy distance from where the
body those But
not believed that this mlet had connection with the murder
THE CIPHER ON POSTAL CARD
the effects Schwandt person after she
lodged Jail last evening postal which addressed
husband She had written that her had requested her
TO with her awhile and did not know when she would