The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-06-16
TO DEATH.
Son of a Wealthy Southern
Mine Owner and Planter
EnticeS an Intimate Friend In
to a Thicket.
ASSAULTAND ROBBERY
Beats His Unsuspecting Victim
With a Hammer
And Takes $4,000 in Bills
From His Pockets.
HAS A CONFEDERATE.
And to Him the Money Was
Hurriedly Given.
RObber Had Plausible Story
ES-a6 TIN
And Takes $4,000 in Bills
From His Pockets.
HAS A CONFEDERATE.
And to Him the Money Was
Hurriedly Given.
RObber Had a Plausible Story
Fixed Up.
But the Crime Was Witnessed
by Two Men.

St Louis, June &c. D. Collins.
wealthy Tennesseean, was lured to his
probable death Tuesday night by man
he had known since boyhood and with
whom he had been on intimate terms
of friendship for six years. His as
sailant is Martin Ensley of Memphis,
whose father, Colonel Enoch Ensley,
was one of the most prominent mine
owners and planters of the south.
Ensley induced his companion to visit
Meramec Highlands, a summer resort
fifteen miles from here. On the plea
of illness he led him to a clump of
bushes about 75 yards from the hotel.
There, stepping behind his victim, he
dealt him blow after blow on the head
with a hammer which he had purchas-
ed presumably for the purpose of COM
mitting the murder.
When the pounding with the piece of
steel had reduced Collins to a state of
insensibiIity, Ensley stopped over the
prostrate body and tore from vest
pocket q roll of bills that amounted to
Sc, 600. He darted up the hill and
passed the money to an accomplice, who
is believed to have escaped on a troll
ley car. Then the Would-be murderer
ran down a path leading to the Mera-
mec river
Two men saw the terrible assault and
the robbery and witnessed the transfer
of the money and the escape of the
principal and his accomplice-
Charles Feiter, baker employed at
the inn and a gardener who had been
engaged about the grounds for a fort
night were the witnesses. They ran
to the inn and notified nightwatchman
Busch and told him the story. When
nightwatchman Busch reached the
spot he found Collins lying fat on his
face, groaning but unconscious. Blood
was flowing from several wounds on
the scalp, the left ear was nearly torn
away. He was moved to KirkwOod,
where a physician dressed his wounds.
Ensley, after leaving his victim, had
run to the fence that skirts the Kirk
wood track and there passed the money
to his confederate. Ensley did not try
to board the car. Instead he ran along
the fence and darted down the hill
followed the stream for nearly a mile
until he reached a shanty occupied by
a bOatman. He pounded vigorously
upon the door, and when the old man
opened it he exclaimed: i've been
robbed and my friend has been muir
dered. Help! Look, I am covered
with blood" The old man hastily
dressed, and, answering the strangers
appeal for assistance, he accompanied
him up the river and then up the hill
toward the inn.
Ensley had evidently expected to find
the body where he had left it and
eVinced great surprise when he saw
people running around
Here is a man you want to tell your
story to- the old boatman said, as
someone came up. The arrival was
Nightwatchman Busch. To him Ems
ley repeated the story he had told on
the river bank.
What's your name?" asked Busch.
Martin Ensley," was the reply
''You are the man I am looking for
said Busch. Il want you for murder
and he seized his prisoner. Ensley pro-
tested his innocence, but was taken into
the inn and placed under guard.
All this occurred about midnight. At
2 o'clock this morning, two deputy SheI-
ifs from Clayton, the county seat ar
rived at Meramec Highlands. They
searched the grounds for a weapon and
discovered a new hammer covered with
blood On Ensley was found $500, which
al first was supposed to be part of the
stolen money.
At daybreak Ensley was driven over
to Kirkwood, and it was broad day
light when the prisoner was taken to
the room on the third floor of the North
Side inn and brought face to face with
the wounded man, who was tossing on
the bed. rs this the man who struck
you?" asked the deputy.
Collins looked at him steadily. Yes
said he. "Ensley how could you do it?''
he added.
The prisoner looked down, muttered
something about having been assaulted
as we'll and was led away. He was
then driven over to Clayton.
Collins, the wounded man has a sta
BILE here at the fair grounds but he runs
the horses under an assumed name. He
has always had a penchant for thor
oughbreds, but his parents who are
prominent in Nashville, objected to his
owning race horses and so did his wife,
who is from Cleveland, o.
This spring Collins decided to try his
luck on the track. He was offered a
good price for a hotel he owned in
Nashville .OeO-and closing the bar
gain. made arrangements for placing a
stable at one of the tracks
In order to be at perfect liberty he
sent his wife to her relatives in Cleve-
land and then unfolding his plans to
Martin EnsIey, his boon companion and
asking him to accompany him, he pur-
chased two horses which had run at
Memphis and which he fancied and left
with them for st. Louis. Ensley ac-
companied him. Collins had S15, 900 at
his command and Ensley 81 800 or so.
The arrangement entered into at
Nashville was that EnSley should fig
ure in all business transac ctiOns as Col
Inns did not wish his name to appear.
Martin Ensley-s father was Col