The Oskaloosa herald., 1908-12-10
POLICE BATTLE
WITH FANATICS
TWO DEAD, THREE FATALLY IN.
JuRED IN KANSAS CITY.
TWO OTHERS ARE WOUNDED
"Adam God" and Companions Start
the Bloody conflict-Patrolman
and Little Girl Are
Killed.

Kansas City, Mo-, Dec. 9.-In the
very shadow of the city hall in this
city, and less than half mile from
the business center, riot in which
religious fanatics and police were the
participants and In which a hundred
shots were fired Monday afternoon re
suited in the death of one policeman
and little girl, fatal injuries to three
and slight injuries to two other per
sons.
The dead:
Albert o. Dalbow, a patrolman.
Lola Pratt, aged IS.
Fatally injured:
John Sharp, known as Adam God,
street preacher.
Michael Mullane, a patrolman.
Patrick Clark, police sergeant.
Slightly injured:
Harry K. Siege, policeman.
George M. Holt, probation officer.
Origin Of the Trouble.
George M. Holt, probation officer OF
the juvenile court and pioneer in
lhS "olh VI odFIH5 TIC
streets in this city, went to Fifth and
Main streets to investigate case of
alleged abduction which had been re-
ported 10 him.
Near that street corner he came
upon Sharp, who, surrounded by his
companions, was exhorting a crowd.
With Sharp were Louis Pratt, his wife
and five children. The children ranged
in age from fourteen to three years.
The officers suspicious were aroused
by the manner in which the woman at
tempted to SECURE money contribu-
tions from the crowd and he decided
that she and her male companions
were not proper persons to have the
custody of young children.
Preacher Attacks OFFICER.
Holt accosted the woman and in
quired as to the identity of the chill
dren. She replied sharply that the Of
flcer had better attend to his own
business"
The officer persevered in his inquir-
les, when Adam God" whose long,
flowing white beard and hair gave him
the appearance of a patriarch, threat
ened the officer with physical violence
Officer Holt was not armed, but stood
his ground, and Adam God" struck
him heavy blow behind the ear with
q pistol, making an ugly wound. Holt
then started for the police station for
assistance, and as he moved away the
preacher tried to shoot him, but was
so excited that he dropped his revol-
yer, and when he picked 1t up and
snapped it at the officer the cartridge
failed to explode.
Officer Holt rushed into the police
station and the police sergeant in
charge ordered Patroimen Dalbow and
Siege to go out and arrest Sharp and
his followers.
Voliey of Bullets from Fanatics.
The religionists were within so
yards of the police station. when the
officers stepped into the street They
gave evidence of being in frenzy Of
rage, and with profane abuse they
served notice on all who CHANGED to
hear that they would preach right
under the caves of the police station
and the police cannot prevent us"
The officers were not expecting seri-
Gus trouble from such an insignificant
band OF street preachers, and were
not prepared for the volley of bullets
which met them almost Immediately
after they appeared on the scene. Dal-
bow was killed instantly and a bullet
passed through Steges arm.
Battle Speedily Ended.
In the meantime a riot call had been
sounded and policemen were appear
Ing from all directions. The officers
closed in on Sharp and his followers,
firing as they went, but taking great
ARE not to injurc any of the children.
md when the firing ceased Adam
Tod" lay fatally. wounded, shot
through the head and body.
Killing of Lola Pratt.
The woman and the children es-
capped and fed to a houseboat where
they lived In the Missouri river. The
police, SO In number, followed. The
woman barrlcaded herself in the
housebcat, where she defied the Off
GERS. The boat was but a few feet
from the banks of the river and sew
eral of the more courageous officers,
taking the womans challenge, dashed
toward It, Taken aback, the woman
dropped her gun and, Selling two of
the children, she ran to the back Of
the boat, cut loose a rowboat and be-
gan to row into the middle of the Mis-
souri, river,
The officers called to her to stop, but
she only piled the oars more vigorous
: ly Without another warning the po-
lice fred yolley at the boat. One
OF the shots struck Lola Pratt, aged
10 years, tearing away the greater part
OF the child's face. She died soon
after. The woman then surrendered,