The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-06-17
SMITTEN BY HIS FRIEND

| bush.
SMIrTEN BY HIS FRIEND
BuDeiing Attempt At Murder. Robbery and
| ConceaimeDt in st. Louis.
St. Louis, June &c. D. Collins. a
| wealthy TennesSeean. was lured to his
probable death last night by a man
he has known sirce boyhood and with
whom he has been on terms Of intimate
| friendship for six years. His assailant
is Martin Ensey of Memphis. whose IA
ther. Colonel Enoch Ensley. was one of
the most prominent mine owners and
planters Of the south.
Ensley induced his companion to visit
Meremac Highlands. a summer resort,
| fifteen miles from here. On the plea OF
illness he led him to clump OF bushes
abou; seventy-five yards from the hotel.
There, stepping behind his victim. he
deal. him blow after blow on the head
with a hammer, which he had purchased
presumably for the purpose Of commit
tirg the murder
When the pounding with the piece OF
steel mad reduced Collins to a state Of
insensibiiity. Ensiey stopped over the
PROSTATE body and tore from a vest
pocket roll Of bills that amounted TO
SC, COO.
He darted up the hill and passed the
money to an accomplice. who is believed
to have escaped on trolley car. Thec
the would-be murderer ran down the
path leading to the Meramec river.
Two men saw the terrible assault and
the robbery and witnessed the transfer
of the money and the escape Of the prin-
cipal aEd his accomn:ice
= Charles Feiter. a baker employed at
the irn. and a gardener. who has been
engaged about the grounds a fortnight,
were the witnesses. They ran to the inn
and notified Night Watchman Busch and
told him the story. When Busch reached
the spot ne found Collins lying on his
face. groaning but unconscious. Blood
scalp. and the left ear was tori nearly
away. He was removed to Kirkwood,
where a physician dressed his wounds
Ensley. after leaving his victim, had
run to the fence that skirts the Kirk
wood track and then q. he passed the
money to his confederate. Ensley cid not
try to board the car. Instead, he ran
along the fence and darted down the hill.
leading to the river. Arrived there. he
followed the stream for nearly mile un-
til ne reached shanty occupied by a
boatman.
He pounded vigorously upon the door,
and when the ole mar opened il he ex-
claimed: I've been robbed and my
friend has been murdered. Help, Look.
I'm covered with blood.'> The old man
hastily dressed and answering the strang
er's appeal for assistance, he ccompanied
him up the river ard then up the hill to-
ward the inn.
Ensley evidently expected 70 find the
body where he had left il and evinced
great surprise when he saw people run
ming around.
Here is q man you wart to tell your
story to-" the old boatman said, as some
one came up. The arrival was the night
watchman. To him Ensley repeated the
story he had told on the river bank.
What's your name?" asked Biisch.
Martin Ensley," was the reply.
"You are the man am looking for"
said Busch. Il wart you for murder"
and ne seized his prisoner.
Ensiey protested his innocence. but he
was taken into the inn and placed under
guard.
All this occurred abou. midnight: A.
. O'Clock this morning two deputy sher-
10
ed at Meramec Highlands They search
ed the grounds for a weapon and found
4 new hammer covered with b-ood On
Ens,ey was found 5000. which a: first was
supposed to be a part OF the stolen
money.
A. daybreak Ersley was driven over 70
kirkwocd. and il was broad daylight
when the prisoner was taken 20 the third
floor OF the North Side inn ard brought
face 10 face with The wounded man. who
was tossing On the bed.
rs ;i'is the man who struck your
asked a deputy.
Colli-s looked a. him steadily.
Yes said ne. "Ensley. how could
you dc it?" he added.
The prisoner BOXED down. rnu;;ered
omething about having been assaulted
as wei. and was led away. He vas then
driven over 70 Clayton.
Collins, the wounded man. hss s:a-
be hare a; the Fair Grounds. ou, he -uns
the hcrses under an assumed name He
has a,ways had q peachan: for thorough
b!eds. but lis parents. who are .roEi7- |
ea. II Nashville. objected 70 his racing |
horses. am 80 I'D his wife. wao = from
Cleveland. Ohio.
This spring CoI,i-s decided - .-y bis |
luck OF TIE track he was offered g |
good price for hotel he owned II Nssh-
.05a-2nd. c.osiag acAs bargain. |
na5s arrangements to- piscing a stable |
4. one OF th= racks
IN orse- % Dc a; ps-.>c; liberty be |
SCI; bis vie % te- relatives s. C.eve- !
land and then. uaIo.d;ag his plans . l
Martin Eax'ey. bis 5ooE companion aud i
asking him 20 accompany 4trs- he pr /
CEASED ;So horsss whic. had -a5 =;
Nfsap.ss aai which h= Sz-Sie1- and ,ef. !
win .aera fo- ST. Ls1s@. En<iey zcccz.- /
parted him Co-.z= had ..eo10 g. els 4
a75 Ens.ey l.e.5 o. ns-s-
Iae arrangement: catered tcso .: NASH !.