New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1909-12-08
.LEDBETER MURDER CASE.
Opened Monday at Mankato. F
Smith Faces Trial, to be Fol-
lowed by Widow and
Relatives.


in the first degree of Holland J. Led
better. Some difficulty is experienced
in getting a jury in this case. The
taking of testimony is expected to oc-
cupy at least one week, as numerous
witnesses have been subpoened. This
trial, and that of Mrs. Grace Led better,
also that of Mr.. and Mrs. VIM.
Schwandt, which are to follow, will at
tract a great deal of attention., not
only on account of the horror of the
crime and the number of people impli-
Gated, but from the fact that the Led
beters have resided at several towns
in Minnesota from time to time and
have numerous acquaintance. The
murder of Holland J. Ledbeter was
surrounded by peculiarly atrocious
circumstances. He was well-to-do
farmer, inoffensive, and we'll liked by
| all who knew him. A couple of years
ago he moved. to the vicinity of Man
kato, purchasing the McTighe farm,
| four miles from that city in fine agri-
cultural section. This farm consisted
of 200 acres of excellent land, with
good buildings. He was industrious
and brought the farm to perfect state
of Guilty walton, and had the good will
of his neighbors. On the morning of
May 5th Mrs. Ledbeter informed her
neighbors that her husband had dis
| appeared and search, conducted by
Frank Smith, the hired hand, was at
once instigated.
Smith told stories that were calcula-
| ted to make the neighbors suspect that
his employer had been Respondent and
committed suicide, giving financial
losses and a heavy mortgage on the
farm as the reason.
Ledbeter disappeared on the morn
ing of May S, and on June 20 his
brother, Philip A. Ledbeter, arrived
from Hayward, Wis. In his opinion
his brothers. body was on the farm
and he proposed to institute search
for it. In this he was successful and
on June 9th neighbors found the body
buried in hole about three feet deep.
Previous to this, however, Smith was
taken into custody on the charge of
perjury and on being informed of the
finding of the body. he made confess
| sion duplicating Mrs. Ledbeter and
the Schwandts.
These wereimmediately placed under
arrest and locked up. He and Mrs.
Ledbeter were held to the grand jury
on the charge of murder in the first
degree, and the Schwandts on the
charge OF being accessories after the
fact. The Schwandts were later re-
leased on bail. Application to have
Mrs. Ledbeter released on bail was de-
MED by Judge J. Il. Quinn.
Mrs. Ledbeter and Smith have been
in Jail ever since. Smith has added a
few details. In his first confession be
said that Mrs. Ledbeter wanted to get
rid of her husband and tried to gel
him to buy poison for the purpose.
He said later that Mrs. Ledbeter haG
also tried to get him to throw her hus.
band from 30.foOt ladder while he
was fixing up something. He also
claimed that he had long been init
mate with Mrs. Ledbeter, and that he
had expected to marry her if she anc
her husband we're ever separated.
The grand jury in November indie
ted all four of the defendants on the
charge of murder in the first degree
The state will be represented in The
trial by County Atty. W. A. Plymat
Asst. Atty. Gen. George W. Peterson
and W. R. Geddes, the latter of Man
kato. Mrs. Ledbeter and the Schwandts
will be represented by s. B. Wilson
A. r. Pau, Jr., and c. J. Laurisch
and Smith will be defended by Arthur
Schaub. The trial Judge will be A
r. Pau, Sr.
| The county of Blue Earth has giver
the county attorney d free hand in t1s
procuring of evidence, and as result
some so witnesses are expected to ties
tify for the state in the trials. The &C
tions of Mrs. Ledbeter while resi-
dent of Redwood Falls will be testified
to by IL witnesses, if this is competent
Births.
Mrs. Aug. Kettner, Springfield, girl
Mrs. Fred Setback, Courtland, boy
Deaths.
Z Anton Vogel, Nicollet Co.
] Marriage License.
John Dalluge.... .....Blue ar th G Q
Minnie Mattke- Brown Co
! A new life insurance agent in th
shape of q bouncing boy arrived las
Sunday at the home Of Mr.. and Mrs
r. Fritsche.