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

AHONtu OH IHe III l-lllS lOWuSulp
in February, 1908. She remembered
the morning that her father disap-
peared, May 5, 1909. She saw her
father and mother the day before
Frank Smith was working for her
February. 1908. Saw him the day be-
fore her father disappeared That
evening the entire family sat down
to supper except Mabel, who was at
home, but playing with the Culp chill
dren. Saw Smith between eight and
nine o'clock, when he left for bed.
Smith always MIXED the cows in the
evening, and her father in the morn
ing. Smith slept upstairs in one room,
and the four children also upstairs
There were four bedrooms and a
store room upstairs. Smith occupied
one bedroom, the two girls one, the
two boys one, and there was spare
bedroom. Smith, going from his room,
passed the door of the girls room.
His room was over the dining room,
and the girls room over the sitting
room. Mr.. and Mrs. Ledbeter slept
together in a bedroom downstairs. The
girls went to bed between nine and
ten o'clock, leaving the parents sit
ting there. Witness kissed her mother
goodnight.
May f. witness saw her father after
coming home from school and spoke to
him and her mother. Got up be-
tween seven and eight o'clock the
morning of May 5, and ate breakfast
with her mother. Mother, the four
children and Mrs. Culp ate breakfast
together. Saw Smith before breakfast,
as he was coming up from the barn,
in working clothes. Heard no noise or
disturbance during the night Mother
called us girls and we got up and
dressed. We went into mothers room
that morning. 1t contained bed,
dresser, bureau, one chair and trunk.
There was no stove, there being but
one heating stove downstairs, in the
dining room. The kitchen stove was
in the kitchen.
Did you notice anything different
from usual in the bedroom?"
NO, sir"
Everything was as usual?"
"Yes, sir"
This completed the examination, and
Mr. Schaub cross examined.
Did your papa and William
Schwandt nave quarrel while you
were at Redwood Falls?" asked the
attorney.
I'VE object on the ground that it
is not proper cross examination" said
Mr.. Peterson.
objection is sustained said the
court.
Did Not See the Shaping.
Witness said she did not see her
mother come out ana slap her father
~. L. IL L.
dog because it had bitten MIN on the
finger the evening of May 4, when
the Culp children were playing. Her
father and watched the children play,
but she did not see the dog bite her
father, or her father kick the dog.
Frank Smith MIXED the cows that
evening, and came in the house with
the milk between eight and nine
boys went to bed when the girls
did The girls kept the door of their
room closed. Did not hear Smith go
down stairs after he went to bed.
"What did your mamma say when
she awoke You the next morning?"
''She said that we should hurry up
and come down as they could not find
papa"
The witness did not see Smith wnen
she got up, but thought that he was
hunting for her father. She said that
she helped search and went behind the
barn to look.
Mr. Peterson: 'Did you hear any
thing else that morning besides your
mother calling your"
Il heard papa come up and call
Frank"
'Did he awaken your"
Il was awake then and went to
sleep again.
'What time was that?"
ut was between four and five
o'clock"
''Are you sure it was not some one
else calling Frank" asked Mr.. Schaub.
Eyes, sir"
Witness said that she mad been liv
ing lately with her grandparents at
Shell Lake, Wis.
Mabel Ledbeter Testifes.
Mabel Ledbeter, a little brown eyed
girl, with a pretty face and sweet
expression, was called and answered
up promptly. He has a much darker
complexion than his sister. She said
that the family moved to the farm in
Lime township from Redwood Falls.
Frank Smith worked for her father
all the time they were on the farm.
The witness told of the events of
the evening of May 4, and it was the
same as her sister had said.
"What did mamma say when she
called you the next morning?" asked
Mr.. Peterson.
''She said, Come, children, get up,
and come down stairs, because we can't
find papa"
"What did you do them"
1--WE got up and dressed and went
down stairs
Did you hear any noise or disturb
ance during the nights"
NO, SIR
Did you sleep all through the
night?'
Eyes, sir"
Inquired Into Dog Incident.
Mr.. Schaub, cross examining, in
quired in regard to the dog incident.
She said that the smaller of the two
dogs bit her father on the finger, but
she did not see him kick the dog,
or her mother slap her father.
"Would you swear that your man.
ma didn't slap your father?''
Eyes, sir, but L saw her tie up mis-
finger afterwards"
The witness said that the hoys were