The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1908-12-11
RELIGIOUS RIOT.
Two Killed: Street Preacher
Fatally Shot.
EOUR OTHERS ARE WOUNDED.
Evangelist and His Followers Were
Holding Gospel Services In a
Street In Kansas City
When Trouble Began.

Kansas city, Mo, Dec. 9.-ln the
shadow Of the city hall riot In which
religious fanatics and policemen were
participants and during which hun
dred shots were fired resulted in the
deaths Of Policeman A. o. Dalbow and
Lola Pratt, a thlrteen-year-old girl. and
injuries to five others.
Those fatally injured are John
Sharp, known as adam God" q street
preacher; Michael Mullane, Il patrol
man, and Patrick Clark, a police ser.
geant. Harry T.. Siege. a policeman
and George NJ. Holt, a probation Off
Ger, were seriously hurt
The trouble occurred while the
streets were crowded with people
participants traversed an entire block
Probation Officer Holt was investi
eating case OF alleged abduction
when he met John Sharp, known as
adam God" who was eXhorting
crowd at n gospel meeting In the
street. With Sharp were Louis Pratt
Mrs. Louis Pratt and five children
ranging in age from three to fourteen
years.
The woman announced that she and
adam God" the evangelist, would
conduct services at Poor Mans mis-
sion, whereupOn she and her cOmpan.
ions started toward the mission. Offi-
Ger Holt then inquired as to the iden-
tity of the children. The woman as
sumed an attitude of resentment and
replied that the officer had better at
tend to his own business"
The officer persevered In his .inqai-.
ries, and adam GQd,"".s who wears
long white beard and hair. threatened
the officery Officer Holt stood his
ground a4Miitil adam God" struck him
a hegey blow behind the ear with a
pistol, making an ugly wound.
4 Officer Holt ran to the police station
aud announced that band of reli-
gious fanatics were coming to attack
the police station. The police sergeant
in charge ordered Patrolmen Charles
Dalbow and Harry E. Siege to arrest
Sharp and his followers.
Sharp and his followers were within
fifty yards of the police station when
the officers stepped into the street.
The Sharpites gave evidence of frenzy,
and they served notice OH all that they
would preach right under the eyes, Of
the police station and the police can
not 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.
ed into the street. and general fight
ensued.
Lieutenant Clark, who had come into
the street unarmed. was shot in the
eye, and Patrolman Mullane was shot
In the back as he hurried into the pO-
lice station for re-enforcements.
In the meantime 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 God" lay fatally wounded, shot
through the head and body.
Mrs. Pratt and her children fled to
hOuseboat in which they lived on the
Missouri river. Fifty policemen fol
lowed them and found that the wo-
man had barricaded herself in the
hOuseboat.
Standing on the boat with shot
gun, she shouted to the officers, Come
ON, you fiends! The boat was only n
few feet from the bank Of the river.
and several officers dashed toward II.
The woman dropped her weapon.
and, selzing two OF the children, she
sprang into rowboat and began to
row into the middle of the river. The
officers called to her to stop, but she
only piled the oars more vigorously.
The policemen fired a vOlley at the
rOwboat. One shot struck Lola Pratt,
tearing away the greater part OF the
child's face. She died an hour later.