The herald., 1897-06-17
TWO STORIES
OF a Brutal Attempt at
Murder
COLLINS HEAD IS BROKEN
AND HIS BIG ROLL OF BILLS rs
GONE
COLLINS HEAD IS BROKEN
His Friend Accused of the Ofense
Tells Not Unlikely Tale in His
Own Defense
Associated Press Special Wire.

ASSCCidtSO iSoS ORSNAUA w
ST. LOUIS, June 16.-C. D. Collins, q
wealthy Tennesseean. was lured to his
probable death Tuesday night by man
he had known since boyhood, and with
whom he had been on terms of intimata
friendship for six years. The assailant
is Martin Ensley, of Memphis, whose
father, Colonel Ensley, was one Of the
most prominent mine owners and plant
ers of the South.
Ensley induced his companion to visit
Meramec Highlands, summer resort IL
miles from here. On the plea of illness
| he went to a clump Of bushes about rs
yards from the hotel. and there stepping
behind his victim, dealt him blow after
blow on the head with hammer which
he had purchased, presumably for the
purpose of committing murder
When Collins was insensible, Ensley
stopped over the PROSTATE body and tore
from the vest pocket roll of bills which
amounted to s6o0O He darted UP the hill
and passed the money to an accomplice,
who is believed to have escaped on a
trolley car. The would-be murderer ran
QOW luS PAIN dioiiS iiO IAci oihSN hfNSi
about mile to the shanty of a boatman
to whom he told story about being
robbed and having his friend killed. The
latter, seeing him covered with blood,
accompanied him back to the hotel.
Meanwhile two men who had wit
messed the whole transaction, had given
the alarm, and Collins had been removed
to Kirkwood, where a surgeon dressed
his wounds. Ens.ey repeated the story
tonight to Watchman Busch, who
promptly arrested him. This was at mid
night and at daybreak Ensley was taken
before his victim, who identified his as
sailant. Ensley was then taken to Clay
ton and charged with assault to murder.
DR.. Pitman, 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
Attorney Heidorn listened to the pris-
oner's story. The latter said: Il came
here two weeks ago from Memphis and
went to the Southern hotel My busi-
ness of late has been racing and betting
on races. I have lost and won. lost
| $4,000 in two weeks, but have made
enough more than that to have this
money $780, in my possession.
"For the past two or three days Mr..
Collins. Mr. Guthrie of Lexington, KY,
and I have been together a great deal.
We have been at Forest park and For
est Park highlands and during the re-
cent holidays have taken many street
car rides.
Tuesday night Guthrie was not with
us, but Mr.. Collins proposed, about S:15
in the evening, that we ride to Meramec
highlands. We rode out there. About
II o'clock Collins said we ought to be
going, and I assented. We left the hotel
and began climbing the steps that led
to the electric car loop or pavilion. When
about half way up somebody struck Col
Inns on the right side of the head. I was
on his left and he fell against me- Then
another man came up and aimed a blow
at me, but missed me. I saw that the
man who struck Collins had an imple-
ment in his hand. which afterwards
found to be hammer. The man had a
black mustache. flannel shirt, black
trousers and a common white hat with
no band. After hitting Collins twice the
man dropped the hammer and clinched
WltH COlllllS plCheu up the udLlIleI
and began to lay about me to defend
Collins and myself. 1t is possible in the
darkness and confusion l may have
struck Collins. l know hit somebody
a hard lick Then 1 felt hand in my
pocket and 1 dropped the hammer to
seize the hand, but the hand held my
watch. Quick as a flash was struck in
the face with the watch and nearly
knocked senseless. I was dazed for a
second or two, and when I recovered 1
saw the men running around the hotel
and 1 took after them. / was met by a
lot of hotel servants, but kept on after
the two men, calling for help. They es
capped among the trees and shrubbery.
II searched for some time, but could
find no trace. Then I began to realize
the horror of the situation and / made a
search for the sheriff's officers. was so
dazed and excited that l don't recall
where l wandered for the next half
hour. I know tore my trousers getting
through a barbed wire fence AT last l
found a house. There 1 was told how to
find the hotel watchman, Susch, and
gave myself up to him."
Ensley denied emphatically that he
knew anything about Collins finances.
and insisted that it was Collins who
proposed the ride to the Highlands.
II could have no purpose in robbing
him." said the prisoner.
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