Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-12-09
Woman Is Questioned

Officer Holt accosted the woman and
inquired as to the identity of the chill
dren.
The woman replied sharply that the
officer had better attend to his own
business"
adam God" whose long, flowing
white beard and hair gave him the APP
pearance of patriarch, threatened the
officer with physical violence.
Officer Holt never goes armed, and
he found himself at a decided dsad-
vantage when the so-called preacher
and his companions displayed re-
volvers.
He stood his ground. however, and
''Adam God" struck him a heavy blow
behind the ear, making an ugly wound,
with his revolver.
Holt started for the police station for
assistance, and as he moved away the
preacher tried to shoot him, but Sharp
was so excited he dropped his revolver
as he attempted to draw it, and when
he picked it up and snapped it at the
officer the cartridge failed to explode.
Police Are Warned
Officer Holt rushed into the police
station and warned the officers to pre-
pare for trouble.
The police sergeant ordered PATROL
men Dalbow and Siege to go out and
arrest Sharp and his followers.
The religionists We're within fifty
yards of the police station when the
officers stepped into the street. They
served notice they would preach right
under the caves of the police station, y
and the police could not prevent them.
The officers were not prepared for
the volley of bullets that met them al
most Immediately after they appeared
on the scene.
Dalbow was instantly killed, and a
bullet passed through Stege's arm.
Other officers rushed out into the
street and a general battle ensued;
but the officers were unable to shoot
without endangering the lives of other
persons.
Clark was shot in the eye, and Pa
trolman Mullane was shot in the back.
Riot Call Sounded
In the meantime a riot call had been
sounded and policemen We're appear
ing from all directions.
The officers crowded in on Sharp
and his followers, firing as they went,
but taking great care not to injure any
of the children. and when the firing
ceased adam God" lay fatally wound
ed, shot through the head and body.
The woman and some of the children
escaped and fled to houseboat, where
they lived, on the river.
Woman Defies Officers
The police-f1fty in number-fol-
lowed. The woman barricaded herself
in the houseboat, where she defied the
officers.
Standing on the porch of the boat
with a shotgut she shouted to the
officers
Come on, you fiends!"
The boat was but few feet from
the bank, and several officers. taking
up the woman's challenge dashed for
ward.
The woman dropped her weapon and
taking two of the children ran back of
the boat, cut loose the boat and began
to row toward the middle of the Mis-
souri, river.
The officers called to her to stop,
but she only piled her oars more Wig
orously.
Without another warning the police
fired a Volley at the boat. One of the
shots struck Lota Pratt, aged 1S years,
tearing away the greater part Of the
child's face. She died from her wounds
tonight.
The woman then surrendered. She
said her name was Mrs. Pratt and that
she was the wife of the companion of
adam God" and the mother Of the
wounded child.