The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1908-12-10
FATAL FRAcAS WITH FANATICS
Spectacular Career Of Adam God"
and His Band Ended With
Street Fight in Kansas City

Kansas City, Mo, Dec. 9.-In the
shadow of the City Hall a riot in
which alleged religious fanatics and
policemen were participants and dur
ing which hundred shots were fired
yesterday afternoon, resulted in the
death of Patrolman A. o. Dalbow,
probable fatal injuries to four and
slight injuries to two other parties.
Those probably fatally injured are
John Sharp. known as Adam Cod"
street preacher; Michael Mullane. a
patrolman: Viola Pratt, Is years old,
and Patrick Clark, a police sergeant.
Harry E. Siege, a policeman, and
George M. Holt, a probation officer.
were also hurt.
Cause of the Trouble
The trouble occurred while the
streets were crowded While the fight
was in progress the participants trav-
ersed an entire block.
Probation Officer Holt of the Juve-
nile Court yesterday went to Fifth and
Main streets to investigate a case of
alleged abduction Near the corner
he met John Sharp, known as adam
God" who was exhorting a crowd.
With Sharp were A. J. Setter, a wo-
man, Mrs. Pratt, and Eve children,
varying in age from 2 to IA years.
Holt did not approve of the manner in
which the woman attempted to get
money contributions from the crowd
and he decided that she an dher male
companions were not proper persons
to have a custody of young children.
onnot,noal h.
adam Cod would conduct services at
Poor Mans Mission last night, where
upon she and her companions started
toward the mission Officer Holt then
inquired as to the identity of the chill
dren. The woman Immediately as
sumed an attitude of resentment and
replied that the officer "had better at
tend to his own business"
adam God" Had q Gun
Adam God" who wears long white
beard and hair, threatened to fire.
Officer Holt was not armed, but stood
his ground until adam God" struck
him a heavy blow behind the ear with
a pistol. making an ugly wound. Holt
then started for the police station for
assistance. AS Holt moved away the
preacher tried to shoot him, but the
cartridge failed to explode.
Officer Holt rushed into the police
station and announced that a band of
religious fanatic !, armed to the teeth,
were at the threshold of the station
and he warned the officers to prepare
for trouble. The sergeant in charge
ordered Patrolmen A o. Dalbow and
Harry E. Siege to arrest Sharp and
his followers. Sharp and his compan-
ions were within fifty yards of the po-
lice station when the officers stepped
into the street. They gave evidence of
frenzy and with profane abuse they
served notice on all that they would
preach right under the caves of the
police station and the police cannot
prevent U.S.
The officers did not however, expect
serious trouble and were not prepared
for the volley of bullets which met
them almost Immediately after they
appeared on the scene. Dalbow was
killed instantly and a bullet passed
through Stege's arm. other officers,
hearing the firing, rushed into the
street and a general fight ensued.
The officers refrained from shooting
AOA ICctI vi the lives VI
innocent persons, Lieut.. Clark, who
had come into the street unarmed, was
shot in the eye, and Patrolman Null
lane was shot in the back as he hur-
ried into the police station for REIN
forcements
In the meantime a riot call brought
policemen from all directions. Thor
oughly aroused. the officers closed in
on Sharp and his followers, firing as
they went. When the firing ceased
Adam Cod lay fatally shot through
the head and body.
Sharp's male companion was Louis
Pratt, father of the five children. Pratt
was arrested. uninjured. The woman
and the children fed TO a houseboat
in which they lived on the Missouri
river. Fifty policemen followed them
and found the woman had barricaded
herself in the houseboat. Standing on
the boat with a shotgun she shouted
10 the officers: Come on, you
fiends"
The boat was only a few feet from