The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1909-06-30

pearance. Schwandt was married
to Ledbeter's sister in October, 1908.
Mrs. Ledbeter said she did at one
time discuss the possibility of Led
better having been murdered. Smith
maintained that it was impossible
for anyone to "get away with him"
and get him out Of the barn,
Following her Painting speif Mrs.
Ledbeter was quite cool and gave
directions as to the care of the
house and was particular about hav-
ing her chickens fed. Her two boys
and two girls are being cared for by
neighbors. Mrs. Ledbeter was
married to Ledbeter fourteen years
ago on April s last. Her parents.
Mr.. and Mrs. C. w. Harmon. live at
Shell Lake, Wis.
Smith has been in the employ of
the family for more than a year.
He was given his discharge by Mrs.
Ledbeter on Saturday evening.
Mrs. Ledbeter claims that one day
last week when she threatened to
discharge Smith he made threats.
He said if he had to leave the farm
he would kill her and the rest of
the family.
TWO WATCHES MISSING.
When Mrs. Ledbeter started for
the county Jail last evening she
hunted high and low for two watch
es-one Hampden with her first
name, Grace. on the face. The other
was an Elgin and belonged to her
husband. She is of the opinion that
Smith had stolen these.
AFRAID TO SLEEP IN THE BARN.
Since Ledbeter's disappearance
Smith has slept in the barn but ex-
pressed dislike to do so. He said
he was afraid someone would poison
him or make away with him.
Mrs. Ledbeter told the newspaper
men that ever since Ledbeter's dis
appearance Smith talked a great
deal about the little tract Of land
where the body was found. He in
sisted that it should be planted to
potatoes, while she ordered him not
to plant potatoes there. But he
was so bull-headed that | could do
nothing with him." she said.
When the original searching party
went on the Ledbeter farm on the
morning Of Ledbeter's disappear
ance, they found this particular
piece of land covered with corn
stalks. These cornstalks are now
on the other side of the fence where
Smith had thrown them when the
hole was dug to receive Ledbeter's
body.
Mrs. Ledbeter expressed desire
that her husband be buried at Red
wood Falls. She wanted to know if
she would be permitted to attend
the funeral.
The discovery of the bloody NAL
let some distance from where the
body was found created some COM
ment among those who saw it. But
it is not believed that this mallet
had any connection with the MUIR
der.
THE CIPHER ON POSTAL CARD.
Among the effects found on Mrs.
Schwandt's person after she was
was lodged in Jail last evening was a
postal card which was addressed to
her husband. She had written that
her sister had requested her to re-
main with her awhile yet, and did
not know just when she would be
home. But the sensational feature
of the postal card was the message
at the close written in cipher. This
may have a significant bearing or
the murder of Ledbeter.
When P. A. Ledbeter arrived, Mrs
Ledbeter became alarmed. She
wanted Smith to pillow the GROUND
and plant potatoes. This he did
Mrs. Schwandt suggested that Smith
dig some holes and pile up the dir
so as to deceive the searchers. Mrs
Ledbeter ojected and thought il
would be better to make big hol.
near where the body was buried 81
that when the searchers investigated
and found nothing they would no.
look again in that vicinity. After