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

! Mrs. Ledbeter told to say that I Led
better in the woods month ago, her object being to
cause the search for him to cease. After Mrs Led
better killed her husband dressed him before TAX
ing the body to the barn.
! Smith states that he was born in Pittsburg, Pa,
in 1879, and is German. He lived there until six
teen years ago. when he moved to Cleveland, Ohio
with his parents, and resided there for four years
Then the family moved to Muscatine, Iowa, and he
lived with them the farm until two years ago,
when he went to work a railroad Minneapo-
lis in August, and worked there until late in the
fall. Then he went to Patrick McTighe's farm and
worked for him for three months and stayed the
farm when Mr.. Ledbeter purchased it of Mr.. McTighc
and has been there ever since He says that his
father is Still living the farm Muscatine,
Iowa, but that his mother is dead. He has brother
lat Mason City, Iowa. and a sister in Ohio He
neither read nor write
Smith said that he felt that if Ledbeter should
die that Mrs. Ledbeter would marry him. He said
that while drunk he might have made statement
that he expected to marry Mrs Ledbeter and get
her 200
Mrs Ledbeter and her sister, Mrs. Schwandt were
larrested Immediately after Smiths confession, and
were given cells in the county Jail. Deputy Sheriff
Phillips dispatched to Sanbcrn for Mr.. Schwandt.
County Attorney Plymat stated that he would is
sue complaints against Frank Smith and Mrs. H. j.
Ledbeter, charging murder in the first degree and
against Mr. and Mrs William Schwandt charging
them with being accessories to the murder
BROUGHT FACE TO FACE.
Last evening Smith and Mrs Ledbeter brought
face to face in the county jail, in the presence of
County Attorney Pymat Deputy Sheriff Phillips and
Special Deputy Anton Osten and the newspaper men,
and an hour was spent in the parley that was most
dramatic Both of the prisoners nerved themselves
for the meeting and faced it without a twitching
of the muscles. Deputy Sheriff Phillips drew from
Smith his story, in which he accused the woman of
the murder
Mrs. Ledbeter pronounced the statement tissue
Iof lies, and absolutely denied that she knew anything
of the murder had hand in it, Smith then
subjected her to searching cross examination, ask
ing her if she did not do this that say this
that and she uniformly denied everything except that
something that did not implicate her. Guilty in
nocent, she showed that she possessed complete
mastery herself
Smith said that Ledbeters hat and jacket were bur-
led in the timber under rock. He threw the cap
into the creek about week ago, by the bridge after
tearing it up 1t lost from Ledbeter's head when
the body being carried to its burying place. but
he found it next day and put it under the rock.
week ago Mrs. Ledbeter spoke about it and wanted
Smith to bring it to the house and destroy it, but
he had said that this needless.
Smith, who was put through exam
nation by the officials and newspaper men, said that
he only shot once with the shot gun. This not
very long ago, and he thought he somebody then
prowling about
Mrs. Ledbeer was also carefully cross examined by
those present.
Smith said that Mrs. Ledbeter told him not to
own up until trr body found, and that he could
then 60 ahead and tell his story.
WANTED TO KNOW THE MANS NAME.
Mrs. Ledbeter after Smith was finished WITH was
informed that she could have her say as she had
attempted to speak while he talking, but had
been stopped. She opened by saying that Smith had
told many lies that she did not know where to
begin. She denied that she had said that she
wanted to poison her husband "Why should 1
want to do that?' she asked "IIe the best
on earth She denied having any other ring except
her engagement and marriage rings which given
to her by her husband. She demanded of Smith to
know the of the that he said wanted to
marry her, but Smith admitted that he did know
the name.
Smith asked Mrs. Ledbetcr something about whether
she had not told him to make up the story about
Lcdbeter coming to him in the field but she declared