The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1908-12-16
A FATAL FIGHT
Religious Fanatics Preclpitate a
Row In Kansas City.
one HUNDRED SHOTS


Several Policemen Engage, Re-
sulting in Three Deaths and Prob
ably Four Fatal Injuries.
Kansas City, Mo-, Dec. Sin the
shadow Of the City Hall riot in
which religious fanatics and police
men were participants, and during;
which hundred shots were fred
this afternoon resulted in the death
Of Policeman A. O. Dalbow, probable
fatal injuries to four and slight in
juries to two other persons.
Those probably fatally injured are
John Sharp, known as Adam Cod
as the preacher; Michael Mullane,
a patrolman; Lola Pratt, IS years
old, and Patrick Clark, police SER
geant. Harry E. Siege, policeman,
and George M. Holt, a probation Of
fcer, were also hurt. The trouble
occurred while the streets were
crowded. While the fight was in
progress the participants traversed
an entire block.
Probation Officer Holt, of the Ju-
venile Court, today went to Fifth and
Main streets, to Investigate a case
Of alleged abduction. Near that
corner he met John Sharp, known
as adam God" who was eXhorting
crowd. With Sharp were A. ].
Seller, and a woman and five chill
dren, ranging in age from to IA
years. Holt did not like the man
ner in which the woman attempted
to get money contributions from the
crowd, and he decided that she and
her male companions were not proper
persons to have custody OF young
children.
The woman announced that she
and adam Cod would conduct
services at Poor Mans Mission to-
night, whereupon she and her COM
panions started toward the mission.
Officer Holt then inquired as to the
identity of the children. The woman
imm ediately assumed an attitude OF
resentment and replied that the Of
fcer ''had better attend to his own
business -
Adam Cod who wears a long,
white beard and hair, threatened the
officer. Officer Holt was not armed,
but stood his ground until adam
God" struck him a heavy blow be-
hind the ear with 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 cart
I ridges failed to explode.
Officer Holt rushed into the police
station and announced that a band
Of religious fanatics, armed to the
teeth, were at the threshold Of the
station, and he warned the officers
to prepare for trouble. The sergean.
in charge ordered Patrolmen Charles
Dalbow and Harry E. 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 Sharpites gave evidence Of fren
zy and, with profane abuse, they
served notice on all that they would
preach right under the caves Of the
police station and the police cannot
prevent u.s."
The officers did not, hr rwever, ex-
pect serious trouble were not
prepared for the vol Of bullets
which met them after they appeared
on the scene. Dalbow was killed
instantly and a bullet passe':
through Stege's arm Other officers
hearing the firing, rushed into the
street and general fight ensued
The officers refrained from sh rot
ing, for fear of endangering the
lives of innocent people.
Lieutenant Clark, who had com .
into the street unarmed, was sho.
in the eye, and Patrolman Mullane
was shot in the back as he hurried
into the police station for reinforce
mentS.
In the meantime a riot call
brought policemen from all direc-
tions. Thoroughly aroused, the Of
fcers closed in on Sharp and his fol-
lowers, firing as they went. When
the firing ceased Adam Cod" lay
fatally shot through the head and
body.
It was later learned that Sharp.
male companions was Louis Pratt.
father of the five children. Pratt
was arrested uninjured. The woman
and the children fed to a house
boat, in which they lived on the
Missouri river. Fifty policemen fol-
lowed them, and found the woman
had barricaded herself in the house
boat. Standing on the boat with
shotgun, she shouted to the officers:
Come on, you fends." The boat
was only a few feet from the bank
Of the river and several officers
dashed toward it. The woman
dropped her weapon, and seizing two
of the children sprang into boat
and began to row into the middle
of the river. The officers called T.,
her to stop, but she only piled the
oars more vigorously. The police.
men fired a volley at the boat One
shot struck Lola Pratt, tearing away
the greater part of the child's
face. She died later.
The woman then surrendered
At the police station she said tina,
she was Mrs. Pratt, wife of the COM
panion Of adam God" and mother
of the wounded child.
DROWNED IN POTOMAC.