The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-23
THE NEW MADRID TRAGEDY.
The AssRasinRtlon Of u. =. Marshal Jenkins
shot Through the Window Of HOtel-Bleody
Close of an Eventual and Exciting Life.
Tho 81 1 nnin Ron,hIinnn of AInndnr, hnn a, o

Tho AssRasInatlon Of u. 3. Marshal JenItIns-
shot ThrouGh the Window OF n HOtel-Bleody
Close of an EYentfnI and Exciting Life.
The st. Louis Republican of Monday has the
following:-
Yesterday startling piece of news reached
here respecting a tragedy at New Madrid,
Missouri, on Wednesday night. On the night
mentioned, Ellis T. Jenkins, deputy collector
for the Second Revenue district, and also
United States deputy marshal for the Eastern
district Of Missouri under Judge Newcomb was
assassinated in the sitting-room of the hotel at
New Madrid, being shot dead through the win
dow, there being at the time several other peo-
pie in the room.
Last week some revenue business took him to
New Madrid, and he remained there several
DAYS. On Wednesday he had some angry words
with the son of the present Sheriff of New Mad
rid county, who was accompanied by several
other parties, and it is said revolvers were
drawn but no shots were fired, and the party
finally separated without any person being hurt.
That night between and o'clock, as Jenkins
was stBnding in the stting-room talking to some
other parties, pistol or gun shot was heard
Immediately outside the window, and he fell to
the ground fatally wounded aud soon after ex-
pired. The tragedy created q wild excitement
at the time, but up to the present there is no
report OF any person being arrested for the
crime.
There is reason to believe that the motive for
this cold-blooded murder is not of recent origin,
but dates back to events and feelings connected
with the war. Deputy jenkins was a bold and
Tesolute man, somewhat reckless and of great
personal daring. During the early years of the
war he identified himself with the Confederate
cause. He was captured in Dunklin county, and
subsequently joined the Union army and acted
as a spy throughout the southeastern counties
and in other parts, and this action of his natu-
his former associates. At the close of the war
he remained in Government service as Deputy
Marshal, and served in that capacity under the
late Colonel Rogers. His courageous and reck-
of country where his war record had made him
enemies, and he shrank from no enterprise, no
matter how great the danger.
About two years ago, in the prosecution of his
duty he was assailed by party of men, but
escaped without serious injury, having shot and
1t is believed, killed two of mis- assailants He
went to Dunklin county last year to make some
seizures, and came across a man who had an old
grudge against him. His life was again in ex-
treme jeopardy, and he only escaped by driving
his horse at furious rate over the rough coun-
try roads. So terribly did he press the animal
that it fell dead on the road, having, however,
carried its master beyond the reach of danger.
These perils and hair breadth escapes made him
more careless, and his career is now closed by
assassination in the night. He was twenty
eight wears of ace, and unmarried, COmDara-
lively recently he made seizures of property for
violations of the revenue law in Bolinger, st.
Francois, and Cape Girardeau counties, but in
several instances the property was stolen by un-
known parties from the places where it was de-
posted, and from this and other indications it
was evident that he was working among men
reckless and daring, and many of whom were
his personal enemies.
Arrest of the supposed Assassin.
The Republican of Tuesday has the following
additional information:-
At l o'clock this morning Sergeant Burrel
and Officer Wagner of the police department
brought into the Central Police Station a man
answering to the description of the assassin OF
United States Marshal Ellis T. Jenkins, at New
Madrid. The suspected person arrived in the
road, and had taken lodgings at Barhum
Hotel, where the officials, by the assistance OF
the United States Marshal, found the man safely
ensconced in bed, and thus easily captured. Or
arriving at the police station he gave his name
as Benjamin Boyce, and said that he had lived
in New Madrid for the last thirty years.
He is q man about forty-fye years of age, o.
| nnprepossessing appearance The case will bC
| promptly investigated.