Birmingham state herald., 1897-06-17
MARTIN ENSLEY MURDERER Kills and RobS His Boyhood
 Friend of $6,OOO. UWT1 PLEA OF ILLNESS En- s Him Into Clump of Bushes and < Deals Him Blow From the Rear 2 With Hammer. isI = 

>st. Louis, June 16-C. D. Collins, a wealthy Tennesseean, was lured to his probable death Tuesday by a man he had known since his boyhood and with whom he had been on terms of intimate friend ship for six years. His assailant is Mar tin Ensley, of Memphis, whose father, Colonel Enoch Ensley, was one of the most prominent planters of the south. Ensley induced his companion to visit Merimas Highlands, 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 ham,. mer he had purchased presumably for the purpose of comitting the murder When the pounding had reduced Collins to a state of insenSibility, Ensley StoCp- cd over the prostrate body and tore from a vest pocket a roll of bills that amounted to $6,000. He started up the hill and pass ed the money to an accOmpliee, who Is be- lieved to have escaped on a street car. Then the murderer ran down the path leading to the Merrimac river. Two men saw the assault and robbery and witness ed the transfer of the money and the es- cape of the principal and his accomplice. Charles Feiter, baker employed at the inn, and a gardener who had been en- gagged about the grounds a. fortnight, were the witnesses. They ran to the inn and notified Night Watchman Bush. and told him the story. Collins was removed to Kirkwood, where physician dressed his wounds.
 Ensley when arrested protested his in- tldcence, claiming that he. too, had been assaulted. All this occurred ab-ut mid light. At o'clock this morning two detectives from kirkwOod, the county seat, arrived at the Meramic Highlands. FTlopN cf3171hp1 thp orr for a a and discovered new hammer covered with blood. On Ensley was found $500 to $700 which at first was thought to be part of the stolen money. About day. break Ersley was driZen over to H.rk- wood and identified by Collins as his ass e1ilart
 Gel. Enoch Ensiey was regard Id at h's death three or four years ago as the richest individual in the south. He was a Isading spirit in the development of the mineral resources of the south, and was largely interested in the Tenlas ssee Coal, Iron and Railway company, establish d iron works around Birmingham, Ala, helped make Sheffield. Ala. great in- dustrian place, founded several towns, one of which near Birmingham bears his name, owriei several big cotton planta- tions and was an animate friend of An drew Carnegie.
 He had two children. Martin who Is almost 32, and Lady, who is year or two younger. For the latter he named the Lady Ensley mine, one of .he largest in Alabama.
 Martin occupied high position in the social circles of Memphis, Nashville, Bir- mfngham and other southern cities dur ing his fathers life. He was married to Bettie E. Selden, daughter of N L. Ssl- den, wealthy Memphis man. When Col. Enlsley died t developed that his estate was encumhered so heavily that it was doubtful if any would be saved.
 About two years ago southern society was startled by the announcement that Martin Ensley's wife was suing him for a divorce on the ground of non-support. Since the divorce Martin has divided his time between Memphis, Nashville and Birmingham.