Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1908-12-09
FANATICS BATTLE
WITH OFFICERS
F atal Riot in
Streets of Kansas
City
TWO DEAD; TWO DYING
Attempt to Break Up Meeting
Of Religious Sect Causes
Bloody Fight

Kansas City, Mo-, Dec. 81 am not
going to die. am going to get well
and live to kill few more police.
men, This assertion was made today
by Louis Pratt, the self-styled adam
God" a religious fanatic, who is lying
in the general hospital here seriously
wounded as the result of battle be-
tween his followers and the police
late yesterday afternoon.
AS a result of the fight Pratts 13-
year-old daughter, Lulu, and Ponce
man Albert c. Dalbow are dead and
two other policemen are in critical
condition. John Sharp, known as Eli
jah H. and who was the real head
of the little band of religious enthu-
siasts, is still at large. Mrs. Pratt,
with her two young daughters, spent
the night in the matron's room OF po'
lice headquarters, but Mrs. Sharp, who
fired two shots that struck Policeman
Mullane, is confined to the city jail.
AT the hospital this morning the ply.
sicians said Mullane had small chance
of recovery, but Surgeon Clarks con-
dition is Slightly improved. A. ]. Sci
zer, bystander, who was hit by a
stray shot, is also expected to get
well.
Reveals History of Sect.
Today Mrs. Pratt told of the work
of the band, who came here in house
boat. "Mr and Mrs. Sharp she said,
-"were known to us as Adam and Eve
and we believed their teachings" She
said they armed themselves on tae
advice of Sharp. The first she heard
of Yesterdays tragedy, she says, was
when Lulu and Mary came running
sdowp-ta the honseboat Aud told her a
duel was going on in the street. When
the officers arrived at the house boat
she said:
81 took my Winchester off the wall
and told Lulu to get her gun and we
all cot in a skiff tied to the houseboat.
I sat in the bow with my gun in my
hands. wasn't going to shoot un-
less had to because had no chance
to ask Adam or Eve what to do. | am
sorry I did not resist, for I am afraid
! have lost my eternal life, because
! think Adam would have advised me
to shoot.
"Lulu got into the back of the stiff,
which was covered, and Mary took the
oars and we started across the river.
The officers then began shooting at
the boat. We drifted up to the bank
and when we saw blood near Lulu's
ear we knew she had been shot Then
Mary and | got out and hung on the
side of the boat until they captured
u.s."
Had Revelation From God.
Mrs. Melissa Sharp also made a
statement. She said She married
Sharp 20 years ago when she was II.
They lived in Arkansas and Oklahoma,
but had no religion until about six
years ago, when, she said, her husband
had a revelation from God. They be-
gan to study the Bible and later both
had revelations. They gave away their
property and started to preach. Since
then they have Travelled through Okla
home, Texas Kansas. Missouri, Hi
nois and Minnesota. They then went
to Canada. About last August they
returned from Canada, built house.
boat and started to float down the
Missouri river, preaching at many
places. They had been prosecuted by
officers, who wanted to take their chill
dren. They had gone armed for many
months.
Chief Of Police Ahern announced to-.
day that yesterdays bloody affair
marked the end Of street meetings in