The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-09
''Adam God' Is Himself Fa- tally Injured In Riot At
 Kansas City
TWO OTHER PERSONS ARE
 ALSO FATALLY INJURED
Still Others Are Slightly Wounded. Hundred Shots Fired Under the Shadow of City Hall and at
 Door of Police Station.

Kansas City, December S.-within a stones throw of the city hall and police headquarters and in the midst of the busy wholesale district the police de- partment of Kansas City and a band of religious fanatics headed by John Sharp, who styles himself Adam God" who says he is Jesus Christ reincarnated and who once styled himself "Elijah II" en- gagged in a fierce revolver battle.
 Over 100 shots were exchanged. As the result of the encounter two persons are dead, two others are at the point of death tonight, a third cannot recover, and two more have paid for their afternoon s experience with slight wounds. The dead Albert O. Dalbow, patrolman.
 Lola Pratt, aged 13 years. daughter of Louis Pratt, companion of Adam God"
 The injured:
 John Sharp, known as Adam God" a street preacher, fatally wounded.
 Sergeant Patrick Clark, lying at the point of death at St. Joseph hospital. Michael Mullane, patrolman, will prob ably die.
 Lieut. Harry E. Stege, in charge of the Bertillion room at police station, shot through arm; slight.
 George M Holt, probation officer of the juvenile court, severe cut on head.
 Streets Crowded
 The trouble occurred at o'clock in the afternoon when the streets of the bus iness market and city hall districts were crowded with people. While the battle was in progress the participants traversed an entire block, the final stage of the fight being enacted directly across the street from ar entrance to the police sta- ton.
 George M. Holt, probation officer, went to investigate case of alleged abduction which had been reported to him, and he came upon Sharp. who, surrounded by his companions, was exhorting a crowd. With Sharp were A. J. Selzer, a woman and five children. The children ranged in age from IA to years of age. The of- ficers suspicious were aroused by the manner in which the woman attempted to secure money from the crowd, and he aeoosted her and inquired as to the identi- y diatey assumed an attitude of resent pient and replied sharply.
 "Adam God" Fights.
 The officer persevered in his inquiries, when Adam God whose long flowing white beard and hair gave him the ap pearance of a patriarch. threatened the officer with physical violence Officer
 
 and Adam God" struck him heavy blow behind the ear with a pistol making an ugly wound. Holt then started for the 1olice station for assistance, and as he moved away the preacher tried to shoot him. but Sharp was so excited that he dropped his revolver as he attempted to draw it, and when he picked it up and snapped it at the officer the cartridge failed to explode.
 Officer Holt rushed into the police station and announced that religious fanatic, armed to the teeth, was at the very threshold of the police station and he warned the officers to prepare flor trouble. The police sergeant in charge ordered Patrolmen A. O. Dalbow and Harry E. Stege to go out and arrest Sharp and his followers The religion ists were within 50 yards of the police station when the officers stepped into the street. They gave evidence of be- ing in a frenzy of rage. and with pro fane abuse they served notice on all who chanced to hear that they would preach right under the caves of the police station and the police cannot prevent"
 Did Not Expect Trouble.
 The officers were not expecting seri- ous trouble from such an insignificant band of street preachers, and were not prepared for the volley of bullets which met them almost immediately after they appeared on the scene. Dal- bow was instantly killed and bullet passed through Stege's arm. Other officers, hearing the firing, rushed into the street and a general battle ensued. The officers, as they stepped from the building, offered themselves as tar gets to their opponents in the fight, but were unable to shoot without endanger- ing the lives of innocent persons. I,ieutenant Clark, who had come into the street unarmed, was shot in the eye, and Patrolman Mullane was shot in the back and hurried into the police station for endorsements.
 In the meantime riot call had been sounded and policemen were appeai ms from all directions. Thoroughly aroused, the officers closed in on Sharp and his followers, firing as they went, but taking great care not to fnjure any of the children. When the firing ceased Adam God" lay fatally wounded, shot through the head and body.
 Spectators Scatter.
 During the firing there was great scattering of the spectators and when the battle was over, the police and their antagonists had the block entirely to themselves.
 The seriously injured were taken to the hospital and then the police began to clear the streets of all street preach CTS It is said that the trouble today marks the end of religious exhortations on the streets of Kansas City. It was later learned that Sharp's male companion was Louis Pratt, father of the