The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-02-04

this meeting were among the most law
> abiding and law respecting is the coun-
~. Nearly all were good, substantial
men, who own their farms and pay
taxes, and among them were some of
the best known men IF the county,
former members of the legislature, etc.
Taking up the story of this remark
able meeting. the like of which has
: probably never been held in the state,
flames Hodson, a member of the com
mittee on resolutions, said that it would
; he too bed to adjourn without taking
; action to let the world know how the
county stands. He said that he would
> like to hear from different persons in
he audience.
Ledbeter NeighbOrs Talk.
Henry Henzeman said that this was
The first time in his fifty years that
public meeting. He felt that justice
had miscarried. He lived in the neigh
borhood of where the brutal murder
was committed. He did not think it
fair that one man should take the
punishment for what somebody else
had done. cloud applause.) Mrs. Led
beter's case should be disposed of one
way or another. He would like to hear
from others.
Mr.. Borgmeier said that all know
where he stood He did not think
that they had had what was coming.
He pretty well knew how the public
stood, but wanted to hear from others.
William Budde said that his daugh-
ter thought that the fact that Mrs.
Ledbeter stayed in the house alone
with Smith proved that 'she done it,
loud applause.)
o. T. SeversOn of Medic likened the
present case TO a story that he told
where guilty party went free.
AID. Pass said that he considered the
case the most rank miscarriage of
Justice that he had seen in long
time, and the audience could show its
feeling by cheering for those who
spoke He was cheered.
Aid. IIampl said that he did not
feel that justice had been quite done,
Mrs. Ledbeter must be considered not
guilty until she is proven guilty, but
he would like to see fair trial.
Mr.. Watts said that it was not in
tended to try the case here, but if at
all in some court where it would be
possible to get justice. Applause and
cheers.) Until a charge in an indict-
ment is disproved, the defendant is UNI
der suspicion, at least.
Marcus Williamson of Medic said that
all felt that they had not been rightly
used-that they had not gotten justice.
The sentiment out his way was that
four persons were engaged in. the muir
der, and that if the rest all went free
Smith also ought to 60 Tree E'''...'
State Will Exert Itself.
) County Attorney Plymat said that
our little world would not long re-
member what we do here, but the
world would never forget what was
; done in Lime township last May. While
) it was true that one person had been
; found not guilty, he had his "darned
; opinion and was going to keep it.
; He had been asked what was to be
; done, but he was not going to tell it
; to this meeting, but he would say that
; he had it from the attorney generals
; office that everything in the power of
; the state of Minnesota would be done.
> (Applause.J He not only considered it
> Ia miscarriage of Justice, but q travesty
; on justice. Great applause.)
Frank Atcherson of Medic said that
he had known Mr.. I-edbeter forty or
fifty years and considered him good,
fair man, and all in Medic considered
that the right thing had not been done
by him. tj sEFV
G. G. Phillips said he would tell his
story when he got on the stand.
Mr.. Watts said that such big
flock of witnesses had not gotten on
the stand that it did not take those
who went on the stand long.
Mr. Phillips retortcd that if he told
all that he knew it would keep the
audience all night.
Ledbeter Renter Speaks Out.
| w. A. Wolcott said that he was up
in the gallery, but could not keep still.
He was the present renter of the Led
better farm, and would say without
fear of contradiction that man could
not be murdered and buried there by
one person. Justice had been insulted
and the county disgraced Great APP
Iplause.)
Mr.. Barker said that there was
someone responsible for the miscar-
riage of justice, that should not be
| forgotten.
: Hans Jorgenson said that he was
, deeply interested, and his soul was
!, with the movement. Justice, no more
, or 7ess, was what was wanted. 1t
: was tieklish business to say much and
keep out of trouble, or he would say
: more. '".
Ed. Austin said that what was want
cd was justice, accomplished through
| courts: Mrs. Ledbeter should be acquit-
ted or convicted, according to the evi.
, dence.
Mr.. Watts said that it was strange
that Frank Smith should have been
10 hlo n commit tb, nr;,,,o oIoro @hrox,,