New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-17
ATTACKED BY HIS FRIEND
c. D. COLLINS NEARLY MURDERED BY
MARTIN ENSLEY.
BOTH MEN WELL KNOWN IN THE soUTH-THE
VICTIM LURED INTO A CLCMP OF
BUSHES AND POUNDED WITH

BOTH MEN WELL KNOWN IN THE SOUIH-i
VICTIM LURED INTO cLuMP OF
BUSHES AND FOUNDED WITH
HAMMER.
St Louis. June &c D. Collins a wealthy
Tennesseean, was lured to his probable death
last night by a man he had known since boy
hood, and with whom he had been on terms OF
intimate friendship for six years. His assailant
Is Martin Ensley. of Memphis, whose father
Colonel Enoch Ensley one of the most
prominent mineowners and planters OF the
South
Ensley induced his companion to visit Mera-
nee Highlands, a summer resort fifteen miles
from here. On the plea Of illness he led him 10
clump OF bushes about seventy five yards
from the hotel There stepping behind his vic
tim, he dealt him blow after blow on the head
with hammer he had purchased presumably
for the purpose Of committing the murder
When the pounding had reduced Collins to a
state of insensibillty, Ensley tore from Collins
pocket roll of bills amounting to $4,000 He
went up the hill and passed the money to an
accomplice, who is believed to have escaped on
troey-car
Two men saw the assault and the robbery
and witnessed ;he transfer Of the money and
the flight Of the principal and his Sccomplice
Charles Feter, a baker. employed at the Inn,
and a gardener. who had been engaged about
the grounds fortnight, were the witnesses
They ran to the inn and reused Night Watch
man Busch Busch found Collins lying fiat on
his face groanng, but unconscious He was
removed to KirkwoDd, where physician dressed
his wounds.
Enslev after passing the money to his con-
federate ran down the hill leading to the river
Following the stream for nearly mile he
reached shanty occupied by a boatman. He
pounded the door. and when the old man
opened II ne exclaimed: i've been robbed and
my friend has been murdered. Look, am COW
cred with blood" The old man hastily dressed
and, answering the strangers appeal for as
sistance, accompanied him up the river and
then up the hill toward the inn. Ensley evil
IDENTIFY expected to find the body where he had
left IT, and evinced great surprise when he saw
people running around. Busch came up. and to
him Ensley repeated the story he had told on
the river bank. EnsIey was at once arrested. al
though protesting mis- innocence.
All this occurred about midnight. At
o'clock this morning two deputy sheriffs from
Clayton the county seat, arrived at Meramec
Highlands. At daybreak Ensley was brought
face 10 face with the wounded man.
"Is this the man who struck you?" asked a
deputy.
Collins looked at Ensey steadily. Yes" said
he. "Ensley how could you do t?" he added.
The prisoner looked down, muttered something
about being assaulted well, and was led away.
He was then driven over to Clayton, and locked
up in the County Jail. Soon afterward Prose-
cutting Attorney F. a. Hedorn listened to the
prisoners story Ensey said In part: Il came
here two weeks ago from Memphis and went
to the Southern Hotel. Ny BUSINESS has been
OF late racing and betting races. For the last
two or three days Mr.. Collins, Mr.. Guthrie OF
Lexington Ky, and l have been together a
great deal. On Tuesday night Guthrie was not
with us. but Mr.. Collins proposed about SID in
the evening that we ride out to Meramee High
lands We rode out there. About II o'clock
Collins said ought to be going in. and / as
sented. We left the hotel and began climbing
the steps that lead up to the electrician loop
or pavilion When about halfway up somebody
struck Collins on the right side OF the head L
was on his left side. and he fell against me
Then another man came up and aimed Dlow
at me but missed me- I saw that the man who
struck Collins had an implement in his hand
which afterward found to be hammer The
man had a black mustache flannel shirt, black
trousers and a common white felt hat with no
dropped the hammer and cnched with Collins
"I picked up the hammer and began tolay about
me to defend Collins and myself. 1t is possible
in the darkness and confusion that too may
have struck Collins. l know hit somebody
hard lick. Then I felt a hand in my pocket and
dripped the hammer TO seize the hand but the
hand had my watch a valuable gold one that
bought in Memphis. Quick as flash | was
struck in the face with the watch and nearly
knocked senseess. dazed for a second or
two. and when I recovered SAW the men run
ming around the hotel, and took after them.
I was met by a lot Of hotel servants, but kept
on after the two men, calling for help. They es-
caped among the trees and shrubbery. l
searched for them but could find no trace. Then
I began to realize the horror OF the situation.
and made a search for the Sherf's officers l
was so dazed and excited that | don't recall
where I wandered for the next half hour.
know | tore my trousers getting through parp-
wire fence At last | found a house. There |
was told how to find the hotel watchman, Busch.
and gave myself up to him"
Enslev denies emphaticay that he knew any
thing about Coin5's finances, and r sisted that
It was Collins who proposed the ride i couid
have no purpose in robbng him. said the prls-
Oner. -.
DIR. Pittman, who attended Collins. said that
his wounds which are ten In number. VIII not
prove fatal unless blood poisoning follows.
Collins has a stable he.'e at the fair grounds.
lut he runs his horses under an assumed name
He has always had penchant for thorough
breds but his parents who are prominent In
Nashville. objected to his owning racehorseS
and so did hi, wife. who Is from Cleveland. ONO
This spring Collins decided to try his luck on
the track He had an offer OF a good price-SZo-
ODO-for a hotel he owned in Nashville, and, clos
ing the bargain. made arrangements for placing
q stable at one OF the tracks Unfolding his
plans TO Martin Ensley. his boon companion
and asking him to accompany him, he purchased
two horses which had run at Memphis and
started with them for 81. Louis Ensley accom-
panied him Collins had $1,000 at his command
and Ensley 81 900 or so. The arrangement en-
tered into at Nashville was that Ensley should
figure In all business transactions, as Collins
did not wish his name To- appear
Martin Ensley's father was Colonel Enoch