The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1908-12-11
STREET BATTLE
WITH FANATICS
RGIIgIOuSGTanks ksETGhangGShOtS
With Kansas City Police,
TWO DEAD AND THREE DYING

Trouble Started When Exhorter Known
as Adam God" Struck Policeman
With a Revolver-Volley Of Pistol
Shots Greeted Officers as They Ap-
pesred on scene-Leader Of Fanat
les Shot Down.
Kansas City. No, Dec. 9-In the
shadow Of the city hall a riot in which
religious fanatics and policemen we're
participants and during which a hun
dred shots were hred. resulted IN the
death Of Policeman A. o. Dalbow. and
Lola Pratt thiTeen year old; probably
fatal injuries to three persons and
slight injuries TO two other persons.
Those probably fatally injured are
John Sharp. known as Adam God.
street preacher, Michael Mullane. a
patrolman. and Patrick Clark a police
sergeant Harry i. Stage. a police
man. and George N. Holt a probation
officer. were also hurt
Probation Omcer Holt went to Fifth
and Main streets 10 investigate a case
of alleged abduction. Near that cor
ner he met John Sharp. known as
Adam God. who was exhorting a
crowd. VITA Sharp were A. j. Seller,
a woman ard five children ranging in
age from three TO fourteen years. Holt
lid not like the manner in which the
woman attempted to get money con
| tributions from the crowd. and he de-
/ cided that she and her male compan-
ions were not proper persons 10 have
the custody Of young children.
Officer Holt inquired as TO the iden'
/ tlty of the children The woman i'm
mediately assumed an attitude Of re-
sentiment and replied that the officer
had better attend to his own busi-
| ness
The officer persevered in his in
quirles. and Adam God" who wears
long white beard and hair. threatened
the officer with physical violence. ON
Ger Holt was not armed. but stood his
ground until Adam God" struck him
heavy blow behind the ear with a
pistol. making an ugly wound. Holt
then started for the police station for
assistance. As Holt moved away the
preacher tried to shoot him, but the
cartridge failed TO explode.
Officer Holt rushed into the police
station for aid. The police sergeant in
charge ordered Patrolmen A. o.
Dalbow and Harry f. Siege to arrest
Sharp and his followers.
Sharp and his companions were
within fifty yards Of the police station
when the officers stepped into the
street. The Shsrpites gave evidence
of frenzy. and with profane abuse they
served notice on all that they would
preach right under the caves OF the
rolice station and the police cannot
prevent u.s." The officers did not, how
I ever expect serious trouble 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 stege's arm. Other Of
fcers hearing the firing, rushed into
the street and a general fight ensued
The officers refrained from shooting
! for fear Of endangering the lives OF
innocent persons. Sergeant Clark, who
lad come into the street unarmed, was
shot In the eye. and Patrolman Mul
lane was shot I'm the back as he hur
ried into the police station for rein
fOrcements.
In the meantime a riot call brought
policemen from all directions. Thor
oughly aroused. the officers closed II
on Sharp and his followers. firing az
they went When the firing ceased
Adam God" lay fatally wounded. sho
through the head and body