The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-06-24
A COLD.BL0OD[D AFFAIR
AN ASSAULT AND ROBBERY THAT
WILL STARTLE TENNESSEE
SOCIETY CIRCLES.
D. c. COLLINS WAS The VICTIM
Ensley, Robbed and Nearly Killed
His Lifetime Acquaintance-A
Carefully Planned Affair.

st. Louis, June 16.-C. d. Collins, n |
to his death Wednesday night by man
he had known since boyhood and with |
whom he had been on terms Of intimate
friendship for six years. His assailant
is Martin Ensley of Memphis, whose
father, Col. Enoch Ensley, was one of
the most prominent mine owners and
planters of the south. Ensley induced
his companion to visit Meremac Heights,
a summer resort, fifteen miles from here,
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 he had
purchased, presumably for the purpose
of committing the murder.
When the pounding with the piece of
steel had reduced Collins to state of
insensibility, Ensley stopped over the
PROSTATE body and took from vest
pocket a roll of bills that amounted to
$4,000.
He darted up the hill and passed the
money to an accomplice, who is believed
to have escaped on trolley car. Then
| the would-be murderer ran down path
| leading to the Meremac river.
Two men saw the terrible assault and
robbery and witnessed the transfer of
the money and the escape of the princi-
pal and his accomplice. Charles Feiler,
a baker employed at the inn, and gar
dener who had been engaged about the
grounds, were the witnesses. They ran
to the inn and notified Night Waterman
Busch and told him the story.
When the night Waterman reached the
spot he found Collins lying on his face,
groaning Blood was flowing from sew
eral wounds on the scalp, the left ear
was torn away He was removed to
Kirkwood, where physician dressed his
wounds.
Ensley, after leaving his victim, had
run to the fence that skirts the Kirkwood
track and there he passed the money
to his confederate. Ensley, did not, try
to board the car. Instead, he ran along
the fence and darted down the hill lead
ing to the river. Arriving there he fol-
lowed the stream for nearly mile until
he reached a shanty occupied by boat
man. He pounded vigorously upon the
door, and when the old man opened it
he exclaimed:
"I've been robbed and my friend has
been murdered: Look, | am covered
with blood. Help"
The old man hastily dressed and an
swered the strangers appeal for assist
ance. He accompanied him up the river,
and then up the hill towards the inn.
Ensley evidently expected TO find the
body where he had left it, and evinced
great surprise when he saw people rum
ming around.
! Here is the man you want to tell
your story to-" the old boatman said, as
Night Waterman Busch. To him Ems
ley 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 II 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 sher-
ifs from Clayton, the county seat, ar
rived at Meremac Heights and searched
the grounds for the weapon. and discov-
cred new hammer, covered with blood.
On Ensley was found 5000, which was
at first supposed to be part of the stolen
money.
At daybreak Ensley was given over
, to the Kirkwood officers, 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.
as this the man who struck your
asked deputy.
Collins looked at him steadily.
YES" said he. "Ensley, how could
you do it?" he added.
The prisoner looked down, muttered
something about having been assaulted
as well, and was led away. He was
: then driven over to Clayton.
Collins, the wounded man, has sta
Y BILE at the fair grounds, but he runs the
e horses under. an assumed name. lie
always has had a penchant for. thor
} oughbreds, but his parents who are
prominent in Nashville. objected to his
5 owning race horses. and so did his wife,
t 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, 600
9 and closed the bargain and made ar
rangements for placing stable at one
of the tracks.
eIn order to be at perfect liberty, he
sent his wife to her relatives in Cleve-
land. and then unfolded his plans to Mar.
tin Ensley, his boon companion, and
asking him to accompany him, he pur-
chases two horses which had run at
, Memphis, and which he fancied, and left
I with them for st. LOFTS. Ensley accom-
panied him. Collins had $4,000 at his
command, and Ensley $1,000 or so.
The arrangement entered into at Nash.
vile was that Ensley should figure in all
he business transactions, as Collins did
not wish his name to appear.
DR.. Pitman, who attended Mr.. Collins,
,, said his wounds, which are len in num-
Der, would not prove fatal unless blood
poisoning follows.
Martin Ensley was locked up in the
county jail. and soon after Prosecuting
2 Attorney +. A. Heidorn listened to the
prisoners story. The latter said:
81 came here two weeks ago from Men,
phis and went to the Southern hotel My
: business has been of late racing and bet
ting on races. have lost and have won.
have lost 5000 in two weeks, but have
made enough more than that to have this
money (the 5000 in my pocket
, "For the past two days Mr.. Collins, a
: Mr.. Guthrie of Lexington and l have
, been together great deal. We have
!, been at Forest Park and Meremac
Heights and during the recent holidays