The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-12-24
him out. Mrs. Ledbeter did not par
ticipate in the search.
Mrs. Ledbeter's Secret.

| ticipate in the search.
Mrs Ledbeter's Secret.
In the ravine the morning of May
5, the witness had seen fresh tracks
in the ravine. Mrs. Ledbeter some
| days later had asked the witness
whether he could keep a secret. When
the witness said that he could, she
said that Smith had come in all
worked up, without coat or Jacket,
and he would not tell at first what
the trouble was, but later had said
that he mad seen Ledbeter in the
field She asked what the witness
thought of it, and he had told her he
did not believe that Ledbeter had been
there, that he could not live on grass
or water, and that he was sure that
none of the neighbors would conceal
him when everybody was searching for
him. he thought that Ledbeter had
been in the barn and taken Smiths
fur lined jacket. She said at another
time that the witness ought not to
chew tobacco, as Mr.. Ledbeter had
chewed so heavily of late that he was
not as bright as he had been, and
she thought that this was the reason
for it. She had never expressed any
suspicious of foul play.
Mr.. Borgmeier Cross-examined.
Cross examined, the witness said that
| it did not take him more than three
minutes to 90 from his place to the
Ledbeter place on the morning of -nay
! 5. He thought the seven o'clock whistle
bew while he was talking with Smith
| by the Ledbeter barn. He did not no.
| tice any spilled milk in the cow barn,
and had not looked for any, as he had
not heard of any being spilled. Before
he had gone home to dinner that day,
Mrs. Ledbeter had asked what she
ought to do. When he suggested a
drive in the afternoon she had offered
| to 90, but Ell had told her that it
was not necessary. Mrs. Schroeder,
| that evening, had said that the Led
better phone was not working, and
asked him when he returned home, to
notify Chief Pond. Mrs. Ledbeter and
the witness wife had driven around
with horse and buggy and asked
neighbors to search for Ledbeter. Ma
bel was crying quite hard when he
saw the girls on the porch when he
first arrived at the house May 5. The
witness had told Mrs. Ledbeter once
that he had once thought that her
husband had not acted as usual.
did Mrs. Ledbeter or your wife in
her presence tell you that Deputy
Sheriff Klu2herz had said that William
Garner had said that he could find
the body in the basement of the barn
in fifteen minutes, and did they ask
you tc 90 and make another search? %
asked the defense.
This question was allowed over the
objection of the state. The witness
said that he had gone to the barn
again, because of report by Mr.
Klughertz that Billy Garner had said
that there was pit in the barn. His
wife and asked him to 90.
On redirect, the witness explained
twhat he meant by saying that he
| tlldC AtuUcltl dCJCu quSSi
| ly. 1t was because Ledbeter did not
speak once. and he had asked Mrs.
Ledbeter whether he was mad because
the witness had not testified in his
lawsuit. and Mrs. Ledbeter had said
no that it was his way. 1t developed
that Garner was reported as saying
that there had been pit in the barn
while Mr.. McTigh was on the place
Events of Fatal Morning
! Mrs. Theresa Borgmeier was called.
She is the wife of Matt Borgmeer.
she said that she and Mrs. Ledbeter
had called on each other from time to
time. Mrs. Ledbeter had told her May
5 that Ledbeter had not been acting
Just right of late. Mrs. Ledbeter had
! telephoned to her that morning, ask
ing whether she had seen Ledbeter, and
when the witness had said no.. she
| had asked that Mr.. Borgmeier come
at once. The four Ledbeter children
came to the witness house that morn
ing. prepared to 90 to school. They
said that their mamma had sent them
there so they would not be at home
alone in case Their papa should come
home and do with them as MIR. Yorke
had done with his children. Three of
the children had gone to school, Hazel
remaining at the house. The witnes )
went to the Ledbeter house between
10 and 10 a. m. and Mrs. Ledbeter had
said that Will Scnwandt would have
| to pay for all this, that he was to
blame for it all, he had made so much
trouble, ne had caused Mr. Ledbeter
so much trouble in his business deal
mgs. The witness had advised Mrs.
Ledbeter to lie down and rest, but
Mrs. Ledbeter had said that she could
not rest. She said she had one a big
| ironing into the evening and could not
sleep, and Ledbeter was also very
tired and did not fall asleep soon, but
| did before she did. He had intended to
60 to town and got up early so as to
| get his work done, and she had got up
iearlier than usual to have Breakfast
READY. Mrs Ledbeter has showed the wit
ness the milk pail with only a little in it,
She had said that the COW had kicked
| the milk over and Ledbeter had pound
ed the cow until she beloved. Smith
H. al of odh 4