The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1910-01-07
MRS.LEDbETERFREE'
ONLY THREE BALLOTS TAKEN
AND VERDICT RENDERED
IN ONE HOUR.
ONLY THREE BALLOTS NECESSARY
Woman Will Spend Winter with Her
Father in Spooner, Wis.-Case
Against SchWandts Is Likely
to Be Quashed by Court.

Mankato. = Mrs. Grace Ledbeter,
who has for nearly three weeks
been on trial on charge of being impli-
Gated in the murder of her husband,
walked out of the courtroom a free
woman. At Ais the jury was brought
In. Its verdict was mot guilty"
Judge Pau thanked it for it's patience
and diligence, and discharged it.
When the verdict was announced
Mrs. Ledbeter's head dropped and she
covered her face with her hands, but
as the jurors filed out of the box she
arose and advanced and silently shook
each by the hand. Some wished her
a Happy New Year" and others just
pressed her hand feelingly. Later, the
jurors gathered about her and spent
a few moments in conversation. Her
relatives also congratulated her.
Among these were Mr.. and Mrs.
William l.. Schwandt of Sanborn, who
are under indictment on charge of be-
ing implicated in the Ledbeter murder,
and the verdict lifted load from their
minds. as it will result, no doubt, in
freeing them. 1t is likely that the in
dictment against them will be quashed
next week.
The jury took three ballots, the first
two standing IL for acquittal and one
blank. The third ballot was unani-
nous for acquittal.
To Her Fathers Home.
Mrs. Ledbeter declined, through her
attorneys, to make any statement
She has rented her farm for a year
and expects to accompany her father,
G. w. Harmon, to his home near
Spooner, Wis, to remain the rest of
the winter, at least, but her four chill
dren will REGAIN in Mankato, as there
are no schools near her fathers farm.
She has all along expected acquittal,
but still the trial has been a great
strain upon her, and she walked much
more sprightly after the verdict was
rendered. Her attorneys state that
she is absolutely innocent of the crime
of which she was charged, and that
They say that the state took Frank
Smiths story as gospel truth and
and worked the case up against her
on that foundation.
Smith was seen at the county jail
after the verdict was rendered, but on
advice of his attorney refused to say
anything. His attorney will next
week move for new trial of his case
on the ground that the jurors learned
of his prison record, and on other
grounds. He has kept Smith off the
stand, he says, in order that the pris-
on record might not come out.
The trials of Smith and Mrs. Led
better have been expensive for the
county, many thousands of dollars
having been spent. The verdict of
the jury was not unexpected by those
who have followed the case closely.
Judge Pfaus charge to the jury
lasted one hour. He said that much
cumstantial, and to convict on such
evidence it must be such as to be in
compatible with the innocence of the
defendant and exclude every other
reasonable hypothesis except her
guilt. 1t was the duty of the jury to
consider whether she could have
had a motive, and if there was one it
would be a circumstance against her,
to be considered with all other cir
cumstances in the case, and if there
was none it was similarly to be con-
sidered in her favor. Conversations
had with the defendant should be re-
ceived with great caution, for the wit
ness may have misunderstood or may
not have been able to report it exact
ly This was especially true where
only portions of the conversations
were heard. There was no such thing
under the present law as accessory be-
fore the fact, and person implicated
in crime was a principal. He in
structed the jury to bring in verdict
either of murder in the first degree or
of acOuittal