The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-12-15
WILL GET EVEN
The Wounded Religious Fanatic
Swear Vengeance on Officers
HE PLANS REVENGE


Him in Street Row-A Pitable
Story Of Fanaticism and Supersti-
tion Told by One OF the Dupes of
the Holly Rollers.
Kansas City, Dec. III am not
going to die. am going to get well
and live to kill a few more oo1ice-
men,"
That is the assertion Of Louis
Pratt, self-styled adam Cod" the
religious fanatic, who is lying in the
general hospital, seriously wounded
in q battle between his followers an
the police Tuesday night.
AS a result Of the fight Pratt's
3-year-old daughter, Lula. and
Policeman Alber o. Dalbow are dead
and two other policemen are in a
critical condition.
James Sharp, known as Elijah
H." and who was the real leader OF
the little band of religious enthusi-
asts, is still at large.
Shortly after the shooting Tues
day he walked into saloon, lalo
down his revolver with the remark,
II am satisfied; give up"
AS there was no policeman present
and no one seemed inclined to take
him into custody, Sharp waited q
moment, then picked up the weapon
reloaded it and walked out. He has
NOT been seen since.
Mrs. Pratt, with two OF her young
daughters, spent Tuesday night in
the matron's room at police head
quarters, but Mrs. Sharp. who tired
two of the shots that struck Police
man Michael Mullane, was confined
in the city Jail.
f'I've been in trouble before" said
Mrs. Pratt, and If can be killef
for righteousness sake shall be
eternally happy"
Mrs. Pratt bemoaned the death OF
her other daughter, Lula, aged IL,
who was shot during the second
stage of Tuesdays battle when the
woman and her children pulled of
in a rowboat in the Mississippi river
and attempted to escape.
At the hospital it was said that
Patrolman Mullane had small
chance of recovery, but that Ser
geant Patrick Clark's condition was
slightly improved. A. j. Scissor, the
by-stander, who was hit by q stray
bullet, also is expected to get well.
Mary Pratt, the little 11-year-old
sister of the dead girl, displayed the
same remarkable GOODNESS shown by
her leaders when questioned by the
police. She did not cry when told
of her sisters death.
Mrs. Pratt, in a statement to the
assistant prosecutor, told of the
bands work. "Mr. and Mrs. Sharp.
our leaders," said Mrs. Pratt, "were
known to us as Adam and Eve and
we believed their teachings. 1t was
revealed to Mr.. Sharp last summer
that our meetings were not to be
interfered with again. We armed
ourselves. IF the police attempt to
arrest you, shoot our leader said.
They cannot kill me. I'll live for
ever The first heard Of the
trouble Tuesday was when Lulu and
Mary came running down to the boat
and told me that the shooting was
going on. ,.,r,,
"Then the officers came and want
ed to take US away. I got my rifle
down off the wall, told Lulu to get
a gun, and we all got into skiff
that was tied to the houseboat.
sat in the bow with my gun in nv
hand. I was not going to shoot un-
less I had to, because had no
chance to ask either Adam or Eve
what to do. I'm sorry I did NOT re-
sist. I'm afraid I have lost my
ternal life because I think Adam
would have advised me to shoot.
Lulu got into the back Of the
skiff, which was covered, and Mary
took the oars and we started across
the river. The officers began shoot
ing at the boat We drifted up to
the bank and when I saw blood on
Lulus ear l knew she was shot.
Then Mary and I go out and hung
on the side of the boat until thev
captured u.s."
Mrs. Melissa Sharp, slender wo-
man of middle age, whose statement
was taken by another officer, detailed
the occurrences leading up to Tues
days fight and then told of the
wanderings of the band.
81 was born in Mount Grove, Mo
81 years ago. on a farm said Mrs,
Sharp. Il married Sharp, a farme:
twenty years ago and we went tc
Arkansas Later, we, went to Okla
noma and took up claim. We had
no religion then. About six years
ago my husband came home one
night and said he did not think we
were living right.
"He had had revelation of the
faith of God. We began to read the
Bible and a week later l got the rev.
elation. Then we both repented foI
two weeks, weeping and mourning
i - l., 1N.,