The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-12-24
Matt Sanger Insists In
Telling The Whole
Truth
Others Go On Stand;
New Evidence Is
Out

The trial of Mrs. Grace Ledbeter de-
veloped some new testimony yester-
day afternoon that had not previously
been brought out. The sensation OF
the afternoon was the request of Matt
Sanger to be allowed to tell all that
he knew of the case, after the attor-
neys had finished with him and sup
posed that they had drawn his while
story from him. The testimony that
he gave after receiving permission to tell
all that he knew was the most i'm
portant that he gave. 1t threw a
sIdelight upon the attitude of Mrs. Led
better toward the searching parties, and
this was corroborated by other witness
ses, showing that she was not at all
pleased 10 have them overrunning the
farm.
The testimony of George Hussey
was new, and showed that Mrs. Led
better defended Frank Smith from any
suspicion of murder Just before the
body was found. She saw her hus
band enter the barn door Just as Smith
was coming out and saw Smith come
Up to the well and thence to the house
Smith did not follow him back into the
barn. Others also testified to her max
ing this statement. but Mr.. Hussey,
an old friend of the family, made it
stronger, for according to his testimony
lie had asked her directly whether she
did not think it possible that Smith
might not have struck Ledbeter down
in the barn and quickly covered him
up, and she had replied that it was not
possible, that she saw her husband
and Smith pass-each other in the barn
door and that Smith came almost di-
rectly to the house and remained there
until they went to the barn to search
for her husband. She had given the
alarm as soon as she saw that Mr..
Ledbeter was not in the barn, and had
summoned the neigGhors 20 search for
him, because of his previous alleged
queer actions and attempted suicide.
Mrs. Lena Daug, lady of pleasing
appearance who lives in the neighbour
hcoi. told of conversations with Mrs.
Lcdbeter before the disappearance OF.
her husband in which the defendant
expressed dissatisfaction with Mr.. Led
better and regret that she had married
him? The Sunday after the murder
she and Mrs. Schwandt had driven
to her place and said that they had
been searching for way to drive to
the river and had failed to find one
and had asked whether the Dauks
knew of one. The state will undoubt-
edIy seek to show that she was seek
ing & road to the river for the pur-
pose Of taking the body there, thus
corroborating Smiths statement. The
defense will doubtless seek to show
that it was part of her search for her
husband, thinking that might have
drowned himself in the river. The de-
Tense will also undoubtedly have an
eXplation fer the other testimony
brought out yesterday afternoon.
Good progress is being made by
the state, and the proceedings today
were full of interest. The case is
fascinating to the crowds who pack
the court room.
Mrs. B. F. Westinghouse of st. Paul,
sister of Mrs. Ledbeter, arrived yester
day afternoon, and will remain with
her during the trial. Her presence
seems 10 cheer the defendant up. Yes
terday afternoon Mrs. Ledbeter seemed
almost overwhelmed by her "ituation,
as she sat motionless, with paliid
countenanee and averted eyes, listening
to the testimony of ncighbors against
her. Occasionally she would heavc IL
sigh. and at all times she was most
serious. She seems to realize to the
full extent the gravity of her situation.
Yesterday Afternoon
p. A. LedDeter, under cross eXami
ration yesterday afternoon, said that
he last saw his brother aliya two
years ago this winter, when p. Nc
Tighc was up making a trade for the
land. 1t was year and half or
two years before that that he saw
him the next to the last time. Witness
Falls about four times. His brother
was on the farm south of Redwood
Falls six or seven. years.
On redirect, the witness said that
their homes were 200 miles apart,
and he was busy with his farm and
taking care of his family.
second cross examination again
failed to shake the witness, who an
swered with evident care and honesty
Matt Sanger said that he lived three
quarters of mile from the Ledbeter
fam. He saw the deceased seeding oats
two weeks before his death and be then
acted natural. The witness WAS at the
Ledbeter house the night of May 5.
Continued On Page Four.