Omaha daily bee., 1897-06-17
ROBBED BY AN OLD FRIEND
O. u. Collins of Tennessee Assaulted by
Martin Ensley.
VICTIM is BEATEN ALMOST TO DEATH
Both Parties Have Bcen Prominent
I'm Southern Business and social
Life-TNo Men witness
the Crime.


of Memphis. Ensley induced his companion
to visit Meramac Heights, a summer resort
fifteen miles from here. On the plea of i'll
ness he led him to clump of bushes about
seventy-fve yards from the hotel. There
stepping behind his victim, he dealt him
blow after blow on the head with hammer
which he had purchased, presumably for the
purpose of committing the murder. When
the pounding with the piece of steel had re-
duced Collins to state of insensibility, Ems
ley stopped over the PROSTATE body and tore
from vest pocket a roll of bills that
amounted to $4,000. He darted up the hill
and passed the money to an accomplice, VINO
is believed to have escaped on a trolley car.
Then the would-be murderer ran down the
path leading to the Meramac river.
Two men saw the assault and robbery
and witnessed the transfer of the money and
the escape of he principal and his accom-
plice. Charles Feiter. a baker employed a.
the inn, and gardner who had been engaged
about the grounds for fortnight were the
witnesses. They ran to the inn and notified
Night Watchmin Busch and told him the
story. When Night Watchman Busch reached
the spot he found Collins lying fiat on his
face grsan!ng. but unconscious. Blood was
flowing from several wounds on the scalp
He was removed to Kirkwood, where
physician dressed his wounds.
CONFEDERATE IN WAITING.
Ensley, after leaving his victim, had run
to the fence that skirts the Kirkwood track
and then passed the money to his confed-
crate. Ensey did not try to board the car
Instead he ran along the fence and darte'
down the hill leading to the river. Mti'ed
there he followed the stream for nearly
mile until he reached a shanty occupied By
a bcatman He pounded vigorously upon he
door md when the old man opened II ne tX-
claimed:
i've been robbed and my friend has been
murdered. Help! Look, 'am covered
with blood
The old man hastily dressed, and answer
ing the strangers appeal for assistance he
accompanied him up the river and then up
the hill toward the inn. Ensley evidently
expected to find the body where he had left
it and evinced great surprise when he saw
people running around.
Here is man you want to tell your
story to- the old boatman said, as some
one came up. The arrival was Night Watch
man Busch. To him Ensley repeated the
story he had told on the river bank.
Whats your name|
Martin Ensley,' was the reply.
''You are the man l am looking for said
Busch 81 want you for murder" and he
seized his prisoner.
Ensley protested his innocence, but was
taken into the inn and placed under guard.
All this occurred ABOUT midnight. At 2
o'clock this morning two deputy sherifs
from Clayton the county seat, arrived at
Meramac Heights. They searched the
grounds for weapon ana discovered a new
hammer, covered with blood. On EnSley
was found 5000 what first was supposed to be
part of the stolen money.
IDENTIFIED BY HIS VICTIM.
At daybreak Ensley was driven over to
Kirkwood, and it was broad daylight when
the prisoner was taken to the room on the
third floor Of the North Side inn and brought
face to face with the wounded man, who
was tossing on the bed
rs this the man who struck you?" aske
deputy.
collins looked at him steadily yes
oaid he. "Ensley, how could you do it?" he
added
The prisoner looked down, muttered some
thing about having been assaulted as we'll
and wao led away. He was then driven
over to Clayton.
Collins, the wounded man, has stable
here at the fair grounds, but he runs the
horses under an assumed name. He has
always had penchant for thoroughbreds
but his parents, who prominent in
Nashville objected to his owning race horses,
and so did his wife, who is from Cleveland
o. This spring Collins decided to try his
luck on the track. He was offered a good
price for hotel he owned in Nashville
S25,00-and closing the bargain made
arrangements for putting in stable at one
of the tracks. In order to be at perfect
liberty, he sent his wife 20 her relatives in
Cleveland, and then unfolding his plans to
Martin Ensley, his boon companion, and ask
ing him to accompany him, he purchased
two horses which had ran at Memphis and
which he fancied aGl left with them for ST.
Louis. Ensley accompanied him. Collins had
$4,000 at his command and Ensey 81 900 or
so. The arrangement entered into ar Nash
vile that Ensley should figure in all
business transactions, as Collins did not wish
his name to appear.
HIS FATHER WAS NOTED.
Martin Ensley's father was Colonel Enoch
Ensley, a man of something more than ma
tional fame, and regarded until his death
three or four years ago, as the richest in
dividual in the south. Colonel Ensley was a
leading spirit In the development of the
mineral resources of the south. He was
largely interested in the Tennessee Coal and
Iron company. established the steel works
at Bessemer, Ala. helped make Sheffield,
Ala. a great mining place, founded several
towns, one Of which bears his name, owned
several big cotton plantations ana was an
intimate friend of Andrew Carnegie. He
had two children, Martin, who is almost 49,
and daughter year or two years younger
after whom later he named the Lady Ensley
mine, one Of the largest in Alabama.
Martin occupied high position in the So
cial circles of Memphis, Nashville, Brming-
ham and other southern cities during his
fathers life. He was married to Bette Il.
Selden, daughter of NJ. l.. Se.den, a wealthy
Memphis man. Miss Selden was regarded as
the handsomest woman in the state. WheA
Colonel Ensley died, it developed that his
estate was encountered so heavily that it was
doubtful il anything would be saved About
two yeats ago southern society was startled
by the announcement that Martin Ensley's
wife vas suing him for divorce, on the
ground of non-support. Since the divorce,
Martin has divided his time between Mem
phs. Nashville, Birmingham and other cities
where his family had interests
DR.. Pittmann, who attended Mr.. Collins,
said his wounds which are ten in number,
viii not prove fatal unless blood poisoning
follows.
ENSLEY'S STORY.
Martin Ensley was locked up in the county
Jail at Clayton and soon after Prosecuting
Attorney +. A. Hedorn listened to the
prisoners story. The latter said:
II came here two weeks ago from Memphis
and went TO the Southern hotel. My bust
ness has been of late racing and betting on
races. | have lost and won. | have lost
| 50 600 in two weeks, but have made enough
more than that to have this money uhe 5000
in my possession
For the past two or three days Mr.. Col
lins Mr.. Guthrie OF Lexington, Ky. and
have been together great deal. We have
been at Forest park and Forest Park high
lands, aud during the recent hot days have
taken many street car rides. Tuesday night
Guthrie was not with us, but Mr.. Collins pro-
posed about s;l5 In the evening that we ride
| out to Meremac Highlands We rode out