The San Francisco call., 1908-12-09
Fanatics Defy Officers With
Bullets and 100 Shots
Are Fired
One Dead and Three Are Fatally
Wounded as Result of
Kansas City Affray
Little Girl Later Shot to Death
When Woman Companion OF
Leader Tries to Escape

LSocSl lliSo W LSSdpS
KANSAS CITY, Mo. Dec Sin the
very shadow of the city hall in this
city and less than half a mile from
the business center a riot in which
religious fanatics and police were the
participants and in which 100 shots
were fred this afternoon resulted in
the death of one policeman, fatal in
jaries to three and slight injuries to
two other persons.
The dead:
Albert o. DaIbow, patroiman.
Fatally injured;
John Sharp, known as "Adam Cod
street preacher.
Michael MuIlane, policeman.
Patrick Clark, n police sergeant.
Slightly injured: Harry T. Siege, po-
liceman; George NJ Holt, probation Of
ficer. The trouble occurred at 4
o'clock in the afternoon when the
streets were crowded with persons.
Trouble Begins
George NJ. Holt, probation officer of
the Juvenile court and pioneer in the
work of saving boys from the streets
in this city. went to Fifth and Main
streets to investigate a case of al
legged abduction which had reached
him. Near that street corner he came
upon Sharp, who. surrounded by his
companions, was exhorting a crowd of
street loafers. With Sharp were a. j.
Seller, a woman and five children The
children ranged in age from IA to 3
years.
Holt accosted the woman and in
quired as to the identity of the chill
dren. The woman replied sharply that
the officer had better attend to his own
business"
Adam Cod then struck Holt heavy
blow behind the ear with his revolver,
making an ugly wound Holt rushed
into the police station. The police SER
geant ordered Patrolmen Charles Dali
bow and Harry E. Siege to arrest Sharp
and his followers.
VoIley of Bullets
The officers were not prepared for the
volley of bullets which met them as
they appeared. Dalbow was instantly
killed and a bullet passed through
Steges arm Other officers rushed into
But the officers were unable to shoot
without endangering the lives of inno-
cent persons. Lieutenant Clark was
shot in the eye and Patrolman Mulane
was shot in the back.
In the meantime riot call had been
sounded and policemen We're appearing
from all directions. The officers crowd
ed in on Sharp and his followers, firing
as they went. Adam God" was shot
through the head and body
The woman and some of the children
escaped and fed to houseboat on
the river. The police, so in number.
followed. The woman had barricaded
herself in the houseboat. where she
defed the officers.
Standing on the porch of the boat
with shotgun she shouted to the
officers: Come on, you fendsp
The boat was but a few feet from
the bank and several officers, taking
up the womans challenge, dashed for
ward
Woman Tries to Flee
The woman dropped her weapon and
taking two of the children she ran
back of the boat, cut loose a rowboat
and began to row toward the middle
of the Missouri river.
The officers called to her to stop. but
she only piled her oars more vigor-
ously. Without another warning the
police fired a volley at the boat. one
of the shots struck Lola Pratt. aged
13 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 Cod" and the mother of the
wounded child
Sergeant Clark is reported to be at
the point of death, while Patrolman
Mullane is not expected to live until
morning.
Headed "HoIy Rollers"
Sharp, styling himself Elijah H., at
the head of party of religious fanatics
calling themselves the holy rollers"
first appeared in Oklahoma City in
March 1906
Getting into all kinds of trouble. they
Travelled to the Pacific coast, finally
reaching Canada last summer. Sharp
never appeared violent here and took
his troubles without complaint.