The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1908-12-16
WILL GET EVEN
The Wounded Religious Fanatic
Swear Vengeance on Officers
He PLANS REVENGE

On Police Of Kansas City, Who Shol
Him in Street Row-A Pitabl.
j Story Of Fanaticism and Supersti.
:. :, ton Told by One OF the Dupes Of
the Holly Rollers.
, Kansas City, Dec. Ill am not
| going to die. I am going to get well
and live to kill {. few more police
men"
That is the assertion Of Louis
Pratt, self-styled Adam God" the.
religious fanatic, who is lying in the
general hospital, seriously wounded
in battle between his followers an 1
the police Tuesday night.
AS a result of the fight Pratt's
13-year-old daughter, Lula, and
Policeman Alber O. Dalbow are dead
and two other policemen are in a
critical condition.
James Sharp, known as ''Elijah
H." and who was the real leader of
the little band of religious enthusi-
asts, is still at large.
Shortly after the shooting Tues
day he walked into a saloon, laid
down his revolver with the remark,
Il am satisfied; give up
AS there was no policeman present
and no one seemed inclined to take
him into custody. Sharp waited a
moment, then picked up the weapon.
reloaded it and walked out. He has
not been seen since.
Mrs. Pratt, with two Of her young
daughters, spent Tuesday night in
the matron's room at police head
quarters, but Mrs. Sharp, who freu
two of the shots that struck Police
man Michael Mullane, was confined
in the city jail.
I've been in trouble before" said
Mrs. Pratt, and if I can be killer
for righteousness sake 1 shall be
eternally happy
Mrs. Pratt bemoaned the death Of
her other daughter, Lula, aged II,
who was shot during the second
stage of Tuesdays battle when the
! woman and her children pulled of
in a rowboat in the Mississippi river
and attempted to escape.
At the hospital it was said that
Patrolman Mullane had small
chance Of recovery. but that Ser.
geant Patrick Clark's condition was
slightly improved. 4. J. Scissor, the
by-stander, who was hit by stray
bullet. also is expected to get well.
Mary Pratt, the little 11-year-old
sister of the dead girl, displayed the
same remarkable GOODNESS shown BY
her leaders when questioned by the
police She Gid not cry when told
Of her sisters death.
Mrs. Pratt, in statement to the
assistant prosecutor, told Of the
bands work. Mr. and Mrs. Sharp.
our leaders," said Mrs. Pratt, were
known to US as Adam and Eve and |
we believed their teachings. It was
revealed to Mr. Sharp last summer
that our meetings were not to be
interfered with again We armed |
ourselves. II the police attempt to
arrest you, Shoot our leader said.
They cannot kill me. I'll live for
ever The first I heard Of the
trouble Tuesday was when Lulu and
Mary came running down to the boat
and told me that the shooting was
going on.
Then the officers came and want
ed to take us away. I got my rife
down off the wall, told Lulu to get
gun, and we all got into skif
that was tied to the houseboat. !
sat in the bow with my gun in N"
hand. I was not going to shoot un-
less I had to. because had no
chance to ask either Adam OF Eve
what to do. I'm sorry I did not re-
sist. I'm afraid I have lost ms
sernal life because l think Adam
would have advised me to shoot.
Lulu got into the back of the
skiff, which was covered, and Mary
took the oars and we started across
the river The officers began shoot
ing at the boat. We drifted up tc
the bank and when I saw blood Oh
Luiu's ear I knew. she was shot.
Then Mary and ! go out and hung
On the side of the boat until thtv
captured us
Mrs. Melissa Sharp, slender wo-
man OF middle age. whose statement
was taken by another officer. detailed
The occurrences leading up to Tues
days f.ht and then told of the
wanderings Of the band.
- was born in Mount Grove, Mo,
81 years ago. on farm said Mrs.
Sharp. Il married Sharp. farme:.
twenty years ago and we went to
Arkansas. Later, we went to Okla.
homa and took up a claim. We had
no religion then. About six years
ago my husband came home one
night and said ne did not think We
were living right.
He had hao a revelation Of the
faith of God. We began to read the
Bible and week later got the rev.
| elaticn. Then We both repented for
two weeks weeping and mourning.
not because NE wanted to, but be-
cause we could not help it. We sold
our farm and gave the money away
10 people who needed it, and start
ed on the march.
! Since then we have travelled
through Oklahoma, Kansas, Mis-
souri, and Illinois. Then we went
north to Minnesota. and last sumu1er
we spent in Canada, in Manitoba and
Saskatchewan. We lived on gifts
made by converts and by small sums
offered us. One man who found the
light. sold all his property and put
! I. oil 10 ~ oJy