The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-06-17
ROBBED HIS FRIEND.
Martha Ensley, Me0beP Of . Proal-
aent SS0fAern Family, L0ReD c.
Assaias Hin with . Maaner-
. Beats Hin Inte Uneonseiousness
and Leaves Hin Ter Dead, Ta1king
. Roll - Bills Aneant1ns - 5000
From HIS Pocket


Tins. wealthy Tennesseean, was lured
TO hts probable death Tuesday night by
a man he had known since boyhood. His
assailanf II Martin Ensiey, OF Memphis.
whose father. Col. Ensley, was one IF
the most prominent owners and planters
OF the South.
EnsIey induced his companion to visit
Msrrfrnac Highlands. summer resort
fifteen miles from here, on q plea Of Ill
ness. He went to a ciump OF bushes sew
enty-five yards from the hotel. There.
stepping behind his victim. ne dealt him
blow after blow on the head with ham,
mer which he had purchased presumably
for the purpose Of committing the muir
der.
When the pounding had reduced Col
Inns to state of insensibility. Ensley
stopped over the PROSTATE body and took
from his vest pocket a roll OF bills
amounting 10 $500. He darted up the
hill and passed the money TO an &C
complete. Then the wGuld-be murderer
ran down a path leading to the MerriEac
river. Two men had seen the terrible
assault and robbery. and witnessed the
transfer of the money and the escape Of
the principal and his aceomplice- Charles
Feiter. a baker employed at the inn. and
a gardener who had been engaged about
the grounds were witnesses
Collins was removed 10 kirkwood and
put under the care of physicians. Ensley
ran down the river. and followed the
stream nearly a mile until he reached q
shanty occupied by a boatman. He
pounded vigorously upon the door and
when the old man opened II he exclaimed
I've been robbed and my friend murder
ed. Help look. / am covered with blood
The old man accompanied him up the
river TO the inn. Ensley evidently ex-
pected to find the body where ne had left
IL. and avinced great surprise when he
saw people running around. Here is the
man, you want to tell your story to-" the
The arrival was night Waterman Busch.
To him Ensley repeated the story he had
told on the river bank.
What's your manner" asked Busch.
Martin Ensley," was the reply.
You are the man / am looking for
said Busch. 81 want you for murder" and
he seized the prisoner. Enslsy protested
his innocence. but was taken into the
Inn and placed under arrest.
All this occurred about midnight. A.
O'Clock this morning two deputy sher-
IFS from Clayton county arrived at Merri-
mac Heights. They searched the ground
fer the weapon snd discovered new ham,
mer covered with blood. At de- break
Ensley was driven to kirkwood inn and
brought face to face with the wounded
man.
lis this the man who struck your ask
ed the deputy.
Collins locked at him steadily. Eyes
said he.
''Ensiey. how could you do it," he add
ed.
The prisoner looked down, and mutter-
ed something about having been assaulted
He was then driven to Clayton. Collins.
the wounded man. has a stable here at
the fair grounds. but runs his horses un-
der an assumed name. This spring Col
Inns decided to try his luck on the track,
and sold his hotel at Nashville for SIS 900
and started for ST. Louis with about
$4,000. accompanied by Ensley. the ar
rangement being that Ensley should fig-
ure in all his business transactions rs
Collins did not want his name to ap-
pear.
DR.. Pittman. who attended Mr.. Collins.
said his wounds. ten In number, will not
prove fatal unless blood poisoning sets in.
Martin Ensley was locked up In the
county jail at Clayton and Prosecuting At
torney Heidorn listened to the prisoners
story. The latter said:
II came here two weeks ago from Men,
phis and went to the Southern hotel. My
business OF late has been racing and bet
ting on races. / have lost and won. I
have lost s2e0 In two weeks, but have
made enough more than that TO have this
money. SEQ, In my possession.
For the past two or three days Mr.. Col
Inns, Mr.. Guthrie. of Lexington. KY. and
have been together a great deal. We
have been at Forest park and Forest Park
Highlands. and during the recent holidays
have taken many street car rides.
Tuesday night Guthrie was not with us,
but Mr.. Collins proposed about Sis o'clock
I'm the evening that we ride to Merrir,ac
Highlands. We rode out there. About II
o'clock Collins said we ought to be going.
and assentrd We left the hotel and be-
gan climbing the steps that Lead TO the
electric car loop or pavilion. When about
half way up somebody struck Collins on
the right side of the head. i was on his
left side and he fell against me. Then an
other man came up and aimed blow at
me. but missed me. / saw that the man
who struck Collins had an implement in
his hand. which / afterwards found 10 be
"A hammer. The man had q black mus
tache flannel shirt, black trousers and
common white hat with no band. After
hitting Collins twice the man dropped the
hammer ard cinched with Collins.
picked up the hammer ana began 10 lay
about me to defend Collins and myself.
IL is possible In the darkness and confu-
sion may have struck Collins. / know
l hit somebody hard lick.
Then I felt hand IN my pocket and
l dropped the hammer 10 seize the hand.
but the hand held nv watch. Quick as
a fash. | was struck In the face with the
watch and nearly Knocked aenselezs
WIS dazet for second or two and when
recovered saw the men running around
the hotel. and | took after them. I was
met by LOT Of hotel servants bat I KEPT
on after the two men. calling For help
They escaped among fae trees and shrub
berry.
~ searched for some time. but could md
no trace. Then began to realize The hor-
ror Of the situation. and | made a search
for the sheTiffS officers. / was so daxed
and excited that / don't recall where /
wandered for the next half hour. know
| tore my trousers getting through barb
ed-wtre fence. At last / found a house
There ! was told how 20 find the hotel
Waterman ard I gave myself up TO him
Tnsiey MED esnaHRtjesliy shat re knew
anything about Collins tinancss ard In
sisted that Is vas Collins who prapGSg.t
TIRE ride 20 the highlands. II could have
no purpose IN rolblng him. ssid the pf!s-