The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-06-17
DEED Of A CRUEL TRAITOR
A Supposed Friend Proves to Be
a Murderer.
TO PROBABLE DEATH
Martin Ensley Deals Terrific Blows to
&. d. Collins and Then Robs the
Victim OF Misplaced
Confidence.

wealthy Tennesscean. was lurxd 10 his
probable death Tuesday night by a man
he had known since boyhood. His as
sailant is Martin Enslcy Of Memphis
whose brother. Colonel Ensley, was one
of the most prominent mine owners and
planters OF the South. Ensley induced
his companion to visit Meramec High
lands, summer resort 10 miles from
here.
ON plea Of Illness he went to
clump of bushes, % yards from him
Then stepping behind his victim he
dealt blow after blow on the head with
a hammer which he had purchased
presumably FOR the purpose Of commit
ting murder, When the pounding had
reduced Collins To state of insensibil-
body and took from the vest pocket "A
roll Of bills amounting to $500. He
darted up the Hill and passed the
money To an accomplicc.
The wouldbe murderer ran down
path leading 10 the Meramec river.
Two men saw the terrible assault and
robbery and witnessed the transfer of
the money and escape Of the principal
and accomplice. Charles Feiter
baker, employed at the inn. and a gar
dener who had been engaged about the
ground were the witnesses. Collins was
removed tn kirkwood and put under
the care OF a physician.
Ensley ran down to the river and fol-
lowed the stream nearly mile until he
reached shanty occupied by a boat
man. He pounded vigorously upon the
door and when the old man opened II
he exclaimed: I've been robbed ana my
friend has been murdered 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 he had
left IL and evinced grea, surprise when
he saw the people running around.
Here is the man you want to tell
your story TO-" the old boatman said,
as some one came up.
The arrival was Night Watchman
Busch. To him Ensley 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 | am looking for"
said Busch. Il want you for murder"
and he seized the prisoner.
Ensley protested his innocence, but
was taken into the inn and placed un-
der guard. All this occurred about mid
night. AT 2 O'Clock this morning two
deputy sheriffs from Clayton county
arrived at Meramec Highlands. They
r,ah h.h h.. f.s.. a..
and discovered new hammer covered
with blood. Al daybreak t.nsley was
driven To kirkwood Inn and brought
face To face with the wounded man
rs this the man who struck you?''
asked n deputy. Collins looked at him
steadily. Yes" said he "Enslcy. how
could you do it?' ne asked.
The prisoner looked down and NUT .
tered something about having been as
saultcd. He was then driven to Clay
ton. Collins. the wounded man. has a
stable here at the fair grounds. but
runs his horses under an assumed
name.
This spring Collins decided to try his
luck ON the track and sold his hotel ut
Nashville for $500 and started for st.
Louis with about Si.5O0 and. accompa-
MED by Ensley. the arrangement being
that Ensley should figure in all bust
ness transactions. as Collins did not
want his name To appear.
DIR. Pittman, who attended Collins.
said his wounds. 10 in number. Will not
prove fatal unless blood poisoning sets
In. Martin Ensley was locked mp in
the county Jail at Clayton and Prose
cutting Attorney Heideron listened "a
I the nFiganaffs Frh.. LAT saAI Il
Il came here two weeks ago from
Memphis and went TO the Southern ho-
/ tel My business has been racing and
betting on races, | have lost and won
| have lost s2,O01 In Two weeks. but
have made enough more than that Ia
have this money 't6OUD in my posses
sion. For the past two or three days
MIR Collins. MIR. Guthrie of Lexington
Ky, and | have been together a great
I deal Tuesday night Guthrie was moi
with us. but Collins proposed that even.
ing that We ride To Meramcc High
lands. w. rode out there. About II
O'Clock Collins said We ought to be GO
ing and ! assented. We left the hote
and began climbing the steps that lead
/ up Ia the electric car loop OF pavilion
When about halfway up somebody
struck Collins ON the right side of I'll,
head. | was un his left side and he fe
against me. Then another man cams
up and aimed u blow at me- hut missed
me. I saw that the man who strucl
Collins had an implement In his hand
which ! afterwards found To be a ham
mer. The man had a black musiache
flannel shirt. black trousers and com
mon white felt hat with no band. Aftel
hitting Collins twice the mau dropped
the hammer and clinched with collins
picked up the hammer and began I,
lay about me to defend Collins and my
self. II Is possible. In the darkness an,
confusion. | may. too. have struck Col
lins. ! know ! bit somebody "A har,
lick. Then | felt a hand in ms poke
and dropped the hammer to seize tn
hand. hut the hand held my watch. !
valuable gold one Quick as Nash
was struck In the face with the watcl
ana nearly kuUc ked ssus'lcss ] Wa
dazsd for a second OF two and when
recovered | saw the men RUNNING
around the hotel and took after them
was met by lot Of hotel servants
but | kept on after thu two men. callini
FOR help. They escaped among the tree
and shrubbery. ! searched Tor som
time. but could find no traces. Then
began tn realize the horror of the Fttua
iion and ! made q search Tor the sher
IT'S officers ! vas So duzcd ana ~
cited that | don't recall Wher, ! wan
dered Tor thu next half hour. Know
tore my trouser1 getting through
barb,d wire f,nrr. At last ! i"rnd