The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-01-07
MRS. GRACE LEDBETER IS NOT GUILTY

witness had asked whether she sus-
pected foul play, and had said she
would bet that Mr.. Ledbeter was alive
and would probably return. Mrs. Led
better had said that she did not think
that he would.
Chief Pond said that last Sunday
he was at the hole in the barn. Part
of the floor had been sawed out, but
subsequently had been replaced. Last
summer barley was kept in the bin by
the hole. The measurements were ruled
out as not proper rebuttal.
The state rested at 4:30 p. m, and
the defense also rested.
The state proposed to take the jury
out to view the Ledbeter premises,
but the defense which had first pro-
posed it, had changed position and did
not favor it. The court therefore, con-
Guided not to have the jury 60 there.
The court ordered recess until
10 a. M, today.
State Opens to the Jury.
The court room was filled this morn
my when court recOnNeHeu.
1t is said that the court will in
struct the jury that it can bring in
a verdict of murder in the first or
second degree OF of acquittal.
Assistant Attorney General George
w. Peterson made the closing argu-
ment TO the Jury for the state. lie is
an able, logical and forceful speaker,
and as he dealt with the evidence in
the case and endeavored to convince
the jury how the state claimed that
it had wound an inpenetrable net
about the defendant, he was listened
TO with the closest attention by all.
Mr.. Peterson said that closing scene
of the trial was drawing near. Since
the jury had been summoned the shor
test day of the year had passed, and
the sun was again turning its face
toward old mother earth. The spring
time would soon come, and the fruit
full and beautiful valley of the Mime
sofa would take on it's clothing of
verdure. The future was full of hope,
and it was to be hoped that the YER
dict to be arrived at would be Just
one. The defendant was charged with
the most serious crime known to the
law. The jury was the exclusive Judge
of the facts, and had to take the law
as it was given by the court. The
officials of the court all have their
duties to perform.
IN trin1 fxvo fhipnc CT md
out, the body of the crime, and the
connection of the defendant with it.
The fact of an ineXcusable murder
having been committed is the body of
the crime.
The most spectacular-the most
dramatic thing that ever happened on
the face of the universe, was the crust
fiction of Christ The next most dra-
matte thing that ever happened on the
face of the world was when Column
bus discovered America from the
PROV OF the Pintor in 1902. The
most dramatic thing that ever hap
pened in Blue Earth county was when
spear struck the body of Holland j..
Ledbeter on June 81 last. Ledbeter
was quiet, peaceabe farmer, and
the sudden striking out of his life
during the night or morning of May
4-5 was the foulest crime that ever
shocked the county. We know only
good about him-that he was a quiet
peaceable citizen. The sight of one eye
had been lost, and rheumatism had
turned out his right foot The in
terests of good government require
that his murder 60 not unrequited. The
good book says that the heavenly
Father observes even the fall of a
sparrow, and how much more i:npor-
tant it is that the murder of human
being should be punished.
The wound that killed Ledheter
could not have been suicidal. but must
have been inflicted by another and
with some blunt instrument, delivering
blow directly in front. The minor
injuries might have been inflicted be-
fore his death, according to the doe
tors. The stomach of the dead man
was found to be empty, indicating that
The process of digestion was complete.
A chew of tobacco was found in the
mouth. The dead body was identified
as that of H. J. Leedbeter, and the
doctors said that it had been dead
period long enough to date his death
as charged in the Indictment.
What evidences are there to connect
the defendant with the commission of
the crime? p. A. Ledbeter came from
Wisconsin about June Is to make in
quiries as to the disappearance of his
brother Mrs. Ledbeter's attitude to-
ward him was not friendly and helpful,
but one of hostility, when he first met
her. Before this the defendant, in
wrangle on the streets of Mankato,
had shown anger and resentment when
told that p. A. Ledbeter was coming.
Matt Sanger was doing what he could
to assist in the search. When he had
asked for a lantern, Mrs. Ledbeter had
said that if he wanted one he should
furnish his own and hereafter take his
orders from her, or words tending to
show her hostility toward the search
for the body. Feeling against Sanger
had been shown on the witness stand
because he had signed petition
against admitting Mrs. Ledbeter to
hail The rioht of netitiOn has hpan