The Topeka state journal., 1908-12-09
Religious Fanatics and Police
Fight in Street.
Guns and RevOlvers Used Freel
on Both SIDES.
A POLICEMAN KILLED
Several Persons Shot, Some OF
Them Dangerously.
Women and Girls Participate in
the Shooting.

Kansas City, Mo-. Dec. 9.-''I am not
going to die. I am going to get well
and live to kill few more policemen"
That is the assertion of Louis Pratt,
selfstyled Adam God" the religious
fanatic who is lying in the general hos
pitaI here seriously wounded in a bat
tie between his followers and the po-
lice late yesterday. AS a result of the
fight, Pratt's 13-year-old daughter,
Lulu. and Policeman Albert o. Dalbow
are dead and two other policemen are
in a critical condition
James Sharp. knokn as Elijah II, and
who was the real head of the little
band of religious enthusiasts. is still at
large. Shortly after the shooting he
walked into a saloon. laid down his
revolver with the remark, Il am salts
fed give up" AS there were no
police present and no one seemed in
clined to take him into custody Sharp
waited moment then picked up the
weapon. reloaded it and walked out.
He has not been seen since.
Kansas City. Dec 9.-In a battle
between the police and religious ia
natics which began at Fourth and
Main streets at $3.50 o'clock yesterday
afternoon and ended at the Missouri
river bank, two persons were killed
and six were injured The trouble
to break up religious street meeting,
at which revolvers and knives were
carried by the exhorters.
Just a few minutes before the
tragedy occurred George NJ. Holt, a
probation officer, found Mrs. Melissa
Sharp, Mrs Della Pratt and the lat
ter's five children singing near Fifth
and Main streets. He asked why the
children were not in school, and was
answered with an insult.
DO you belong here ?" he asked of
one of the women.
mo, we have a hOuSeboat on the
river she replied.
The fanatics. after collection
amounting to about SO or $4 had been
made, started north on Main street
with Mr.. Holt following. They went
into what is known as the Poor Mans
mission, 800 Main street, conducted
bv J. G Creighton and wife Mr. Holt
then approached ]. A. Sharp. husband
of one of the women. and addressed
him and Louis Pratt, the others hus-
band.
Assaulted Holt
81 am the father of Jesus Christ"
said Sharp. 81 have been sent to re-
organize the world. You are no more
than damned sheep. Get out of here.
I am going to preach with my child
rem right in front of that police sta
ton. You'll see what they'll do to me.
Get out,''
With that Sharp drew a big re-
volver and struck Mr.. Holt over the
head. He left the mission with the
fanatics following, all of them but two
having revolverS, Sharp with both re-
volvers and knives. The fanatics con-
sisted then of Mr.. and Mrs. Sharp, Mr..
and Mrs Pratt and the latter's child
dren. Lulu, IA; Lena. 12: Mary. IL;
Dewey. 8 and Edna 4 years old.
While Mr.. Holt hurried into police
headquarters, his head bleeding. the
fanatics ranged along the curb in front
of John Blancon's saloon, 400 Main
street. and the men began to flourish
lrr,i and fa1l xKi11
tones about what God had commanded
them to do. While all this was going on
Patrolman Dalbow. who was sent from
the station to see what the trouble was.
walked up to James Sharp. who styles
himself as Adam God" Witnesses say
that Dalbow spoke kindly to the man
and told him he must cease. as crowd
was gathering
1.IH Shoot the Sergeant"
do you come as a friend. brother?"
Sharp asked. They shook hands.
Yes" replied the officer, 1.-The SER
geant wants to see you"
Il am going over and shoot the ser
geant," said Sharp. his wrath rising
again.
Just at that juncture Lieutenant Har-
ry f. Siege. who had followed Dalbow
out of the station. arrived on the scene
and said to Sharp. Drop that knife.
at the same time drawing a revolver
and pointing it at Sharp.
Then the trouble began in real earn
est. Louis Pratt. who, up to that time.
had stood mute by the curb. a little in
the rear and to one side of Sharp,
raised a revolver which ne was carry
ing in his hand and shot at Lieutenant
SteGe.
The ball tore through Stege's cloth
ing from the right to the left side
along the chest. taking a chunk out of
the left arm. Siege retreated. shooting.
and general fusillade was opened on
the police. Pratt shot Dalbow through
the chest just as he was drawing his
revolver. and one of the women. Mrs.
sharp, witnesses say, shot him in the
back as he retreated.
Dalbow staggered across the street
south to the door of the emergency
hospital AS he pushed open the
81 am shot bad" he said TO DR. r. n
Coffey. The officer caught him and
carried him to a cot in the hospital
He died in a few minutes without re-
gaining consciousness.
The shooting by that time had at
tracted the attention of all the officers
in police headquarters. Sergeant
Patrick Clark, in his shirt sleeves and
unarmed went out and into the thick
est of the fray. The big leader
Sharp, was tackled by the sergeant
and. though the latter was armed
sergeant went after him with his fists
Clark was stabbed twice in the face
and as he turned, was shot through
the shoulder.
BattIed Against Odds.
Captain Walter Whitsett. Inspector
Charles Ryan, Detective Edward
Boyle and others went into the street.
emptied their revolvers and returned
for more ammunition
The gamest fight against the
CContinued on Page EIght,)