The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-01-07

IQShS Ntu W thio uCiSHuphSs "a
lyou please, on Inference, assertion and
suspicion. He makes you Fourth
of July Grafton or political speech, but
1--WE have case of more Importance
than that. The public prosecutor is
lsworn to protect the innocent as well
as prosecute the guilty. Not much
evidence has been referred to by the
prosecutor. You were chosen as jur-
ors with absolute confidence that YOU
would weigh the evidence. Let it &C
out over America that a jury in Blue
Earth county can be depended upon to
!, protect the innocent.
1t was the duty of the state to
prove defendant guilty beyond rea-
sonable doubt before the jury could
monvict The defendant to start with
was presumed to be innocent, until
proof tore down that presumption. If
there is any reasonable hypothesis
upon which Ledbeter's death can be
accounted for, you must acquit the
defendant. 1t is claimed by the de-
Tense that the evidence shows Frank
EoulllH thS lIil lHclC 10
no possibility of the guilt of the de-
PENDANT. There is nothing but circum
stantial evidence in this case, on the
part of the state-a weak and flimsy
kind upon which to ask that death
be inflicted. In this case, in the words
of Patrick Henry, "Gice me liberty
or give me DEATH" Recommendations
for clemency have no standing in a
case of this kind.
| This case has some very peculiar
features about it. The state, in open
ing, claimed number of things that
| it did not put in evidence. 1t was
stated that there was long standing
desire on the part of Mrs. Ledbeter TO
be separated from her husband, that
she never loved her husband-was there
any evidence to sustain this! Mrs.
Dank's testimony that she was sorry
she married him is Offset by evidence
that she had the greatest affection
and regard for her husband. The
state claimed it would show that she
married him for his money, but it has
not done so. 1t is said that it would
prove a motive, but there is not a
scintilla of evidence to show that Mrs.
Ledbeter had reason for killing her
husband. She had good home, nice
family, she would have every reason
to stand by her home and family. The
defense could not show all the mo-
tives that Frank Smith mad for COM
hitting the murder, out he had one,
undoubtedly. 1t took heavy work, as
the state said, to commit this murder,
and it was heavier than a small frail
woman could do.
1t is claimed that Mrs. Ledbeter
should, have notified Mrs. Miller of the
disappearance, but why should she, for
Mrs. Miller had not visited her broth
er for years and had never seen any
of his children, although the Oldest
was thirteen. The state claimed that
the dog was sent away because it re-
manned at its masters grave, but
where is its evidence about this? 1t
claimed that Ledbeter was killed the
night of May 4, but it has not shown
it.
Roast for Smith.
The speaker referred to the litiga
tion in which Ledbeter. Smith and Nc
Tighe were involved. Bill Garner had
never made the offer that Smith claim
ed that he did Smiths true name is
Lavendoski-born on the other side of the
world, drifting with the spirit of pro-
gress toward the setting sun. He is
treacherous individual, with criminal
countenance, and sailing under false
colors, veritable hyena in the form
of a man. He started in by besmirch
ing the name of McTighe, and wound
up by trying to put charge on Gar
ner, the only friend that he had in
the whole community. Mr.. Ledbeter
wanted to borrow money and Smith
claimed he had some and gave him
the bogus check. He deceived all sides;
but Mr.. Ledbeter, who was an easy
going man, learned only of the bogus
check, and brushed that aside. Mr..
Ledbeter owed $4,000, and you know
how hard it would be to pay the interest
from 200 acre farm. Ledbeter was
good man-always ready to meet his
maker, he did not have to get ready
TO. He was in a melancholy, unhap-
Ply condition, meeting life as best he
could. Borgmeier said that on one
occasion he had thought Ledbeter was
not right.
The Sunday evening before the dis
appearance, Smith told the alleged sui
eide story. He is one of the smooth
est crooks in the country, who always
has the details to substantiate his lies.
He had put shells in the gun and
moved it, and spilled some water on
the floor to make a showing of a
struggle. Smith had reputation in
the neighborhood for being untruth-
full. His suicide story was lie, and
he led Mrs. Ledbeter not to speak to
her husband, and she thought of the
fate of the York children and did
not speak to him. She thought he
was losing is mind and might murder
her and the children, and did not know
what to do. The next day he was
brighter, it was decided to sell the
farm, and in three days he was gone
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