The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-12-17

scrap of testimony in this case for the
use of the attorneys for Mrs. Ledbeter
and the Schwandts.
Judge Pfau yesterday afternoon
brought out from the witness, P. A.
Ledbeter, that Smith did not tell
about the false grave or tell where the
body was until after it had been
, found.
Smith to Go on Stand.
Attorney Arthur Schaub made the
statement today that his client, Frank
Smith, would. be placed on the stand
| when the defense has its inning.
What will be Smiths attitude?
That is the question that is being
asked by number OF persons. VIII
he tell the story that he told to The
Free Press on the evening following
the finding of the body of the muir
dered farmer, and which he repeated
at the cOroner's inquest; also retold at
the hearing of the application for bail
for Mrs. Ledbeter? Smith could re-
| fuse to answer any question put to
him by attorney for defense or prose
cution. That he will decline to an
swer questions is merely conjecture
on the part of those who discussed
the matter. Heretofore Smith has an
swered questions as freely as water
runs from ducks back. Maybe he
will continue to do so.
Plats and Clothing.
A. Anderson Of North Manl<ato was
called to establish maps and plats of
the Ledbeter house, barn and premises,
which the state wished to introduce in
evidence. He had made measurements
at the farm and prepared the plats
and drawings. The various places of
interest were shown to the jury. and
the proving up of these exhibits and
their explanation to the jury took up
most of the latter half of the after
noon. 1t was brought out on cross
examination that Il man could leave
the barn by the double doors and make
his way away by way of the creek
without being seen from the house
The defense objected successfully to a
plat of the barn because it showed a
ladder that does not now exist.
Charles Anderson, undertaken for
Landkamer Bros. & Davidson, was call
ed to identify the clothing taken from
the remains of the late Fl. j. Ledbeter.
He did the undertaking work on the
remains. The clothing was sealed in
a tin box inside of wooden box, and
as the tin box was soldered up he
could not open it. All of the cloth
ing left was in the box. The clothing
had been taken away by the firms
driver to be destroyed once, but was
returned. The articles taken from the
body were a white sheet, then rope,
then a blanket, then a duck coat, high
lDrpI hOOtc uorl-inn
drawers and undershirt The rope was
tied around the body under the arms,
outside of the blanket The sheet
looked as though put on after the
body was found.
1t was decided not to open the box
at this time. The defense thought
that it would offer no objections to
the admission of the clothing in evil
dence.
Proceedings This Forenoon.
Mr. Schaub addressed the court this
morning and said that he was alone
in the case and said that he would
have to begin to prepare for the argu-
ments, and asked whether the argu-
ments would be limited
Judge Pau said that he was not
inclined to limit the argument, as this
had not been the practice. 1t would
be definitely determined later
Ledbeter Children Called.
Hazel Ledbeter, a nice appearing
girl the thirteen year old daughter
of Mrs. Grace Ledbeter, was the first
witness called this forenoon. She an
swered the questions promptly She
said she has seven year old brother,
Howard, and nine year old brother
Charles, and twelve year old sister.
Mabel. Her fathers name was Holland
James Ledbeter, and her mothers name
Grace Emily Ledbeter. She was born
at Minnesota Lake, and had lived at
Redwood Falls and at Hayward, Wis,