The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-07-09


Deputy Sheriff G. G. Phillips returned
on the 1880 a. m. train yesterday
from Mandan, N. d., accompanied by
William Garner, whom the state de-
sired as witness in the Ledbeter muir
der case. Garner, it is understood, had
written to sweetheart in this city
that he was willing to come and tes-
tify for the state, and in this way
the officers learned of his whereabouts,
and it was thought because of his past
association with Frank Smith he might
be able to throw some light upon the
murder, or at least upon Smiths
record of criminality. He made no OBJ
lection to accompanying the officer
to Mankato, and Mr. Phillips had no
papers whatever.
Possessed of No information.
After Gamers arrival he was in
terviewed by w. r. Geddes, one of the
states attorneys, but it developed that
he is possessed of little or no informa-
ton of much value to the state. He
promised to appear whenever he should
be wanted, and was allowed to go
without any bond for his appearance.
Garner is said to have denied any
knowledge of the murder either before
or after it was committed. He was
not in Smiths confidence, and knew
nothing that would throw any light
on the case, although he had been of
the opinion, it is said, that Smith was
the man who committed the murder.
He had known Smith for two years,
but know of no serious trouble that
the latter had ever gotten into before
When shown reports that he was
suspected of being implicated in the
on account of an alleged sec
ond confession by Smith, Garner broke
down and shed tears.
The second confession rumored to
have been made by Smith, is de-
clared by attorneys for the prosecution
to be fake pure and simple. They
insist that he has not changed his
story in which he charged Mrs. Led
better with having struck the blow
that killed her husband and implicat-
ing the Schwandts as accessories after
the fact.
Baxter Is Discharged.
William Baxter, who has been work
ing as detective for the state, was
discharged Saturday afternoon, accord
ing to the statement of several off
Gals. Judge Geddes remarked Satur-
day forenoon that he intended to see
that Baxter was discharged at noon,
because he had talked too much
William Garner is farm hand, and
worked for Patrick AIcTighe at the
time that Smith was employed by Led
better. The two men are said to have
been chums for a long time past, and
to have come to this city from Iowa.
Garner left for Mandan after the trial
of the damage suit of Frank Smith
against Patrick McTighe in the district
court last month, and was working
there. He was witness in the dam
age suit, and told few things about
Smiths past that were not very cred
liable.
Sheriff Was Not Notified.
Sheriff. Donahue made the statement
today that his first information regard
ing the disappearance of Ledbeter was
received on Saturday, May 6. Three
days had elapsed He was notified by
Mr.. Borgmier, a neighbor of the Led
beters. On Monday Sheriff Donahue and
at least twenty-five men went to the
Ledbeter farm and made search. Mrs
Ledbeter suggested that the men make
a more thorough search of the woods.
Descriptive cards were sent out by the
sheriff on May 10, five days after Led
beter's disappearance. Several times
Mrs. Ledbeter called at the Jail and dis
cussed with the sheriff the disappear
ance of her husband and seemed anx-
ious that he be found, but the sheriff
was not urged to make an investiga-
ton. That was the statement made
today by that official. After the de-
scriptive cards We're sent out Mrs. Led
better called up the sheriff a number
of times and asked him if he had heard
anything concerning her husband
Deputy Sheriff Klugherz read of Led
beter's disappearance in the newspapers
ON May 6. The following day-Friday
he went to the Ledbeter farm and
made inquiries and assisted in the
search that was being made on that
day Sheriff Donahue was out of the
city on Thursday and Friday.
After the mysterious note which
stated that Ledbeter's body would be
found in the lake, was received by
Chief of Police Pond, Mrs. Ledbeter
called on Sheriff Donahue and requested
that the lakes be dragged. The sheriff
informed her that Shafer lake could be
dragged and that was done by Chief of
Police Pond, assisted by newspaper
reporter.
She Did Notify Chief Pond.
Instead of notifying the sheriff's of
flee of her husbands disappearance, Mrs.
Ledbeter informed Chief of Police Pond.
This she did during the afternoon of
Wednesday, May s. He disappeared
that morning. Chief Pond stated to-
day that Mrs. Ledbeter consulted him
once or twice in regard to her missing
husband.
Farm in Possession of Defense.
The Ledbeter farm is in the posses
Nf ft,A Il ,,,I not