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

: ton to the statements made by the de
{. PENDANT that morning and afterwards
as related by the states witnesses
: Heresay testimony is dangerous, AM
humanity is frail and people may no
i, intend to falsify, but forget or miscon
strue. Different witnesses had giveI
, the same conversation differently. Tn,
defendant then was not explaining
her own conduct; was not on Thu
defensive, as she was not accused then
Circumstantial evidence was the most
dangerous kind, and people have beer
wrongfully put to death on it.
When Smith was in Iowa, and there
was talk of having him come back
because her husband had injured his
back, the defendant had said 'Iet hin
bum it back" Did that look like
concert of action? She knew that that
was the way he usually travelled. When
Mrs. Randall told her of neighbor's
gossip about her and the hired man
the defendant said: eff you could see
him you would pay no attention tc
such talk" This was dignifed an
swer, besmirching nc one, spoken at
a time when she was filled with grief
She told neighbors how she and her
husband had gotten along nicely to-
gether, and how much she had to bear
with her husband gone. One witness
had said that she said that she would
spend the whole farm to find her hus-
band. When Watts told her that he
had a clue her face frightened up. He
also saw her standing with her arm
ssaffectionately on her husbands should
er.
Smith had plowed the potato patch
and dragged it in spite of the defend
ants instructions to the contrary
If Smith did cut some limbs, what did
they have to do with concealing the
murder? The present renter also wanted
trees cut. June 20, the defendant only
accused Smith of lying.
No Fermentation.
The state had offered no evidence of
generalization but the defense had Of
fered some against it, although not re-
quired to do so. If Mrs. Ledbeter
had been seeking the life of her hus-
band she would not have waited until
after the $1,000 of life insurance in the
A. O. Z. w. had lapsed. She consented
to its lapsing last winter, because of the
financial burdens of the family.
Louis Anderson, the defendants broth
in-law, was welcomed to her home,
but was fooled by Smith like all Of
the rest.
The Jail Talks.
The attorney took up the jail talks be-
tween the defendant and Smith. The
defendant was in the jail, without COM
panions, and talked with Smith, and
the state laid a trap to catch her.
Smith is taken into cabhoots, and
though he held the winning hand The
men who went and listened to the
talks put themselves on the level of
common detectives and common detec-
tives, are not to be believed But
not much was accomplished. Smith
had made another statement, accusing
Garner of striking the fatal blow at
the top of the ladder He had prob
ably told what he, himself, had done,
the defendant and she believed the
story, and wanted him to tell it and
stick to it. Smith had said that he,
Garner and Tom McTighe had done
lit. Was there anything wrong for
her to want to have her counsel see
him and other men to hear his story,
so as to proclaim her innocence. Smith
claimed that Garner and Tom Nc
Tighe were going to give him 81 900
to leave them out and put it upon her.
The state wanted the jury to under
stand that the defense was going to
put it upon himself, Garner and Nc
Tighe, and that he was to pay it back
to Mrs. Ledbeter. The defense has
no such money to spend. When Smith
said when we buried him, if we
had buried him little deeper he would
not have been found" eve referred
to himself, Garner and McTighe, in
her mind, for Smith had prepared her
mind, and she answered 'yes." Smith
looieu lHc SIdle representative Unere
to overhear the conversation Richter
heard her tell Smith to tell the truth
What was there in the talks to impli-
cate her, OF that is inconsistent with
her absolute innocence, considered in
the light that she understood it!
She threw candy to Smith to keep
him good natured. He had asked her
for candy and she did not want to
cross him. She knew that more flies
could be caught with sugar than with
vinegar.
No man ON the jury should give up
his convictions. To retry this case
would mean a great hardship to the
county, financially. The attorney APP
pealed to the jury not to disagree, but
to get together on verdict of acquit-
tai The case meant much to the de-
PENDANT and her family and relatives
The attorney made a strong and
touching appeal on behalf of the child
dren, for the vindication of the defend
ant. He asked for a righteous ver-
diet.
The argument for the defense was
closed at noon.
Charge to Jury.
Gentlemen of the Jury: You have
IL