New-York tribune., 1908-12-09
FANATICS IN RIOT;
NAY COST 5 LIVES
~aD4M GOD" THE LE4DER,
FATALLY FOUNDED.
DESPERATE Fight scith Kansas City
Pohcc-LittIc CIR! Shot IN Boat
7rith Frenzied Mother.

Kansas city. Mo. Dec SIN the shadow of
the CITY Han riot. in which religious fanatics
snd policemen took part and in which hun
d-e5 shots were fired. resulted this afternoon in
the death Of :. Q. Dalbow. q policeman. and
7ola Pratt. a thirtcen-year-old girl. probably
fsrsF injuries To three persons and slight in
iuries to two others Those probably fatally in
jured sre John Sharp. known as Adam God a
street preacher: Michael Mullane q patrolman.
and Patrick Clark. police sergeant Harry E.
steee. policeman, and George NJ Holt. pro-
baton officer, were also hurt.
The trouble occurred while the streets were
crowded with people. While the fight in
progress the participants traversed an entire
block
Holt. Who is probation Officer of the Juvenile
court went TO 9th and Main streets to-day TO
Investigate a case Of alleged abduction Near
that corner he met John sharp, known as
adam Cod who was exhorting a crowd.
With Sharp were q man, woman and five chli-
dren. ranging in age from three to fourteen
rszrs Holt did not like the manner in which
re woman attempted to get money contribu-
rf7rs from the crowd. and he decided that she
ana her male conpa Mons were not proper per
sons 20 have the custody OF young children
The zzornsr announced that she and Adam
Cod would conduct services at Poor Man >
Mission tonight Rhereupon she ana her COM
nan toward
i--,-+-ed as 10 the identity of the children. The
--,ar immediately assumed an attitude Of re-
,s--r7eur and replied that the officer had better
attend 70 his own business.
ADAM COP ATTACKS OFFICER
The officer persevered in his inquiries and
adam Cod who wears long white beard and
4ozire white hair. threatened the officer with
r..-sical violence. Holt was not armed but
tto7d his ground until Adam God" struck him
g heavy blow behind the ear with a pistol
-ss;-g an ugly wound. Holt then started for
the police station for assistance AS Holt
moved away the preacher tried to shoot him.
h,t the cartridge failed TO explode.
Holt rushed into the police station and an
n5unced that q band Of religious fanatics. armed
70 the teeth, was al the threshold of the sta
rfor. and warned the officers 10 prepare Tor
trouble. Clark, the police sergeant III charge'
rr5ered Patrolrnen A O Dalbow and Harry l.
siege 10 arrest Sharp and his followers
sharp and his companions were within hfty
Yards Of the police station when the ofhceIS
steuped into the street The Sharpites gave eVl-
seree Of frenzy. and with profane abuse served
7of.re On all that they would preach right under
+he e--es # The police station. and the police
cs-7ot prevent us The officers did not how
ever expect serious trouble. and were not pre-
pg-sd for the voIley of bullets which met them
almost Immediately after they appeared on the
scene.
DaIbor was killed instantly, and bullet
rzssed through S;ege's arm other officers.
hearing the firing rushed into the street and
Z general fight ensued. The officers Tefrained
from shooting. for fear Of endangering the lives
Of innocent persons. Sergeant Clark, who had
come into the street unarned, shot in the
eye. and Patroluan MuEane was shot in the
heck as he hurried into The police station for
ref-forcements.
IN The mean time. q not call brought police
men from all directions Thoroughly aroused. |
the officers closed in on Sharp and his followers.
firing a they went There was great scatter
irE IF spectators. and when the fight was over
the police and their antagonists had the block
entirely 20 themselves. Adam God" shot
through the head. and viii die.
PATHETIC DEATH OF LITTLE GIRL,
II was learned later that Sharp's male COM
psrfon was Louis Pratt. father Of the five chill
dreu Pratt was arrested Uninjured. The wom- /
sn and the children fed 70 q housebOst in which |
they lived on the Missouri River. Fifty police |
men followed them and found that the woman |
had barricaded herself in the houseboat- Stand |
ing on the boat with a shotgun, she shouted to
the officers: Come on, you 5ends:" The boat |
was only a few feet from the bank Of the river |
aud several officers dashed toward it, The |
woman dropped her weapon and, seizing two Of |
me children she sprang into a rowboat and be |
gan 10 row into the middle OF the river. The |
officers called 10 her 10 stop. but she only piled
the oars more vigorously. The policemen fred i
= yoIIey al the rowboat. One shot struck Lola |
l'-art. tearing away the greater part Of the |
chnd-s face she died shortly afterward- The |
woman Then surrendered. At the police sta |
tion she said that she was Mrs. Pratt, wife of |
The companion OF Adam God" and mother Of 1
The dead child.