Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-07-21
WIFE ESCAPES SHOOTING.
Brodhead Man Ends Checkered
Career by Killing Self.
NElGHBOR A BARRlCADE.
Woman Persuades Husband to Arbitrat e
Differences and E1dangers An
other Life.

Brodhead. Wis, July 14.-[Special.l
Lafayette Ensor, aged 80 years, of this
city, eliminated his varied career, which
includes terms in both Joliet and Wau-
pun prisons for horse stealing, yesterday
afternoon, by shooting himself through
the head. after an attempt to kill his
wife.
Ensor shot four times at the woman,
who was covering behind a neighbor for
protection, but none of the bullets took
effect. lie then killed himself.
Explains Himself in Letter.
That the sensational finish Of Ensor
was premeditated is shown by the fact
that before going to the home of his wife
with revolver, he wrote a letter to
The Evening Wisconsin, which he gave
to man to mail, and which contains
his side of domestic trouble which, he
alleges in the missive, caused him to
| lend all.'
His family are considered honest and
! Woodworking folk. He was said by citi-
zens here to have had a checkered career
and is alleged to be the cause of the
tragedy, despite. his charges to the con-
! trary.
Lived Apart from Wife.
For months the man and his wifi, had
| lived separately. He stayed at a hotel
in this city, while Mrs. Ensor and her
daughter maintained a little home i'll
the outskirts of the town.
For weeks he had threatened Ito end
it all, as he said, telling varied stories
about domestic troubles.
When it became known that Ensor
had written a letter to The Evening
Wisconsin before acting as the central
figure in the tragedy of yesterday after
Id
that allegations of a sensational nature
might be contained in the communica-
ton.
Ensor was wildly agitated all day yes
terday. 1t is said he had been drink
ing hard. At 2:30 o'clock in the after
noon he went to the writing desk of the
Commercial house and got several sheets
OF paper and envelopes.
Gives Letter to Be Mailed.
Then he was seen to be busy writing
with a lead pencil for a half hour.
Suddenly he jumped up and left for
the street. After FASTING stamp on
he handed the letter to G. E. Dixon, Il
newspaper man here, to be mailed.
Without explaining himself, Ensor
rushed away.
His daughter saw him shortly after
going into the barn of a neighbor. 1t
develops InaI EuSOF got Il EeNOlNef there,
which he knew had been hidden by its
owner.
L have come to settle all" said En-
sor as he entered his own home. He
leveled the revolver at his wife. His
daughter stood in terror behind him,
afraid to move. Mrs. Ensor, however,
retained her Self-cOntrOl.
Lets go over to Charles BenscOter
Ga neighbour. and let him settle it for
u.s. she said.
.'All right, but l want it settled
declared Ensor They started for the
neighbors. BenscOter was found and
Ensor told his troubles Mrs. Ensor
then insisted that she had no troubles to
settle.
This enraged Ensor to a violent pitch.
He fired at his wife once, and she sought
refuge behind Benscoter. He is short
man, and Mrs. EnsOr's head and Shout
ders were not protected by him.
Ensor fired three times more, but all
bullets went wide of the mark.
neighbours Arms Pinioned
Benscoter had a wagon spoke in his
hand and tried to beat down EnsOr, but
the woman held him so that he could
hardly move. Finally he managed tc
free himself and Ensor started to run
away.
After going a block he went into q
yard and shot himself, dying instantly.
The bullet ploughed through his brain.
A coroner's jury returned a verdict
of suicide. The funeral will be held
tomorrow.
Ensor's family enjoys the best of rep
utation here. He was 90 years old. the
wife so, and the daughter %. His
prison record was held as evidence
against him.
The town is in wild turmoil over
the affair, and expectancy as to the con.
tents of the letter written by the suicide
before committing the deed is at fever
heat.