The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-12-24

-IldC IdoG DIT NdllOuo COH-
versations, Mrs. LeuDeter had said that
her husband had not been acting right
for couple of weeks. She had point
ed to the gun in connection with the
attempted suicide story. She had told
of the reappes rance of Ledbeter.
The morning of June 81, Mrs. Led
better had said that there was to be
another searching party that after
noon and that they would not let her
rest at all. Witness had read of a
body found in the river at st. Paul,
and she had suggested that it might
be Ledbeter's and Mrs. Ledbeter said
10, that she did not think that he was
dead Mrs. Ledbeter had mentioned a
story that she said she had heard
about a party offering William Garner
500 to kill Ledbeter. The witness had
expressed strong disbelief, and had re-
marked that Mrs. Ledbeter had not
before suspected foul play, but Mrs.
Ledbeter had replied that there was
SO much talk on this line that she
had of late begun to think about it.
Mrs Ledbeter Was Crying.
Cross examined, the witness said
that Mrs. Ledbeter was crying when
she saw her the morning of May 5.
Mrs. Ledbeter had pointed to a pan of
biscuits and remarked that there was
no noll there to eat them. She had
said that she was very tired and worn
out. The witness had presumed that
this was because of running around 80
much, searching. -4rs. Ledbeter had
laid her condition partly to running
across the plowed ground to Schafer's
being unwell, and to the big day
work done the previous day. The even
ing of May 6, the witness went to the
Ledbeter house and found Mrs. Ledbeter
shouting: "Holl, Holl, why did you
leave us? Why don't you come back p
and carrying on, and the witness ha
sent her to bed. She appeared to
have nervous prostration. Inc witness
would not say that her face had the
was the doctor called, and the witness
had told the doctor of the nature OF
Mrs. Ledbeter's sickness.
On redirect, the witness said thai
Mrs. Ledbeter appeared more hysterica
than nervous. Mrs. Ledbeter did no;
send for a doctor, but the children
SAID to get one. On the Sunday morn
ing that the body was found, she APP
peared to be worried and much excited
Some Unkind Remarks.
Mrs. Catherine Randall of West Man.
kato told of seeing Mrs. Ledbeter ii
Mankato the last Wednesday before
the body was found. Mrs. Ledbetel
had said that she had no clue except
what the hired man had said. The
witness had asked whether she knew
that 2. \. Ledbeter had come to search
She had replied: LET him stay a;
home and mind his own business.
teh officers say that that is enough"
Cross examined, the witness said tina,
George w. Sugden was present at The
conversation. She had said that she
had come to the city to hunt up p A
Ledbeter and see what he would dc
about paying note that he owed. She
had inquired as to his ability, to pay
Mrs. Ledbeter had said that Smith
was such a liar that she couldn't be
pend on what he SAID
On redirect, the witness said thai
she nd said to Mrs. Ledbeter: "Out O.
kindness to you, | will inform YOU
that the neighbors are gossping about
you and your hired man." She had re
piled: eff you could see him yo,
would not pay heed to any such tall
as that
Sister Testifes for State.
Mrs. Myrtle Miller, sister of the
late II. j. Ledbeter, living four miles
south of Mapleton, testified that Mrs
Ledbeter did not notify her of Hol
lands disappearance. She learned of il
from her sister, Mrs Anderson who
lives fourteen miles from here Friday
morning after the disappearance. Mrs
Ledbeter had telephoned to Mrs. An
derson. The witness had come to Man
kato that same day returning that
night and told of conversation with
Mrs. Ledbeter when the latter had told
of her husbands financial trouble will
Schwandt. The witness had suggested
that Mr.. Schwandt be notified, and she
started to telephone, but did not, and
said ''let Schwandt take care of him.
SELF" That evening, at the farm, Mrs
Ledbeter had related the events of the
morning of May 5. This was the same
as other witnesses had given it, except
that when Mr.. Ledbeter did not come
Smith had said that he would 90 out
to the hot bed, and when he got back
asked if spa" had not come yet. They
had then gone to the barn to look fol
him. On the way to the farm, the
witness had asked what kind of hired
man they had and whether he could
not have made way with her brother
Mrs. Ledbeter had replied that this
was not so, and that Hollnd thought
everything of Smith, and that Smith
had been a good employee, helping Hol
land, whose back was weak. Smith
was at the farm and was feeling very
badly and crying a great deal, Mrs
Ledbeter had said that Smith mad nos
eaten anything since Holland had left
Smith had stood up at meal time, and
I 4.