The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-05-29
ADAM GOD WAS
FOUND GUILTY
BY MORTAL JURY
Was Sentenced to Twenty Five
Years in Penitentiary for
Killing Policeman
OEFENSE'S WITNESS PROVED
VALUABLE FOR PROSECUTION

uuS0tuOSA VII ] uOOSSOlISuv
Woman Told Graphic Story Of the
Street Fight Between the Religious
Fanatics and the POlice-Viewcd
Battle From Office Window.
Kansas ity, Mo-, May 29-The jury
today in the case OF James Sharp, OF
Adam God" charged with the MUIR
de rof Policeman Michael Mullane in
a religious riot here December s.
returned verdict of guilty OF murder
in the second degree. Sharp was SEN
fenced to twenty-five years in the
penitentiary.
The trial was delayed this morning
The court adjourned several times
and sent the jurors to their room
while the attorneys for the defense
talked with witnesses. One witness
that was introduced to help the SELL
defense plea became an excellent wit
ness for the state and her testimony
proved disastrous to Sharp. The at
torneys for Sharp delayed the trial
until the noon hour. At that time
they were in consultation with Sharp
and his wife in an ante-room. The
attorneys announced that they might
introduce Sharp and his wife as wit
nesses this afternoon.
When court convened Sharp ad-
dressed the Judge:
Your honor" he said, 81 want to
have man arrested for coming into
my cell and abusing me. He is a
preacher who comes into the Jail to
preach. He called me a liar and a
hypocrite and abused me, although |
was not talking to him.
who was hep the judge asked.
Sharp Had a Complaint.
There he sits,' Sharp said, indicat-
ing the Rev. Job Lyons, a witness for
the state, who testified tie other day
as to debate he had with Sharp in
Jail when he went there to preach.
Il will have it Investigated" the
judge said. Call in the marshal and
let's see about it."
Joel B. Hayes, the county marshal,
appeared and the judge told Sharp to
confer with him about his complaint.
The marshal and the prisoner went
into an ante-room. Sharp's complaint
was of little consequence when it was
analyzed. He said the preacher talk
ed to him while passing his cell and
called him a hypocrite three weeks
ago. The marshal and Sharp then
returned to the courtroom and Sharp
talked at random about how he had
no complaint against the officers, but
that he did not care to have the
preacher to visit the Jail again.
Counting OH the Judge.
"You will have every protection of
the law. Mr.. Sharp" the Judge said.
You are entitled to fair trial and a
fair chance and l will see that you
get it,"
Il know that. judge Sharp said.
You are my friend and l am count
ing ON you. This is the house of God
and all l want is justice.
Miss Elizabeth Cherry, a stenogra-
pher for the board of public works,
was called as witness for the de-
fense. Her testimony was in favor of
the state. She was the first witness
to give coherent account of the
street fight between the police and
the band of religious fanatics. She
told graphic story. The jurors and
the large crowd in the courtroom lis
tened intently. That day she stood
at window in the third story of the
city hall. looking down upon the
crowd in the street.
4 Eronlio oS A.. r9uI,k
"My attention was first attracted to
the women and children lined up at
the curb, singing" she said. "The
singers faced the west and away
from the police station. Sharp and
Pratt stood facing the police station.
revolvers in hand. evidently watching
for the police to come. A policeman
went up to the band of singers. What
happened was pantomime to ME, be-
cause l was too far away to hear.
Sharp and the policeman shook hands.
Then another policeman came up and
both policemen gestured. Apparent
ly they were asking the band to go
over to the police station with them.
Suddenly Pratt raised his revolver
and fired. Then fusillade of shots
began.
THE scene changed rapidly. saw
Sharp and Clark. the coatless police
man. fight. and Clark running to the
police station with his hand to his
face. saw Scissor fall to the street
in the middle of the car tracks. be-
lieved at the time he was Sharp. the
leader Of the fanatics. | saw Sharp,
Pratt. woman and two children
shooting. The two girls raised their
weapons with both hands and fired.
The policemen were firing. too.
How Pratt Crawled and Fired.
"A laundry wagon was at the curb
Pratt. q woman and a girl were chas-
ing policeman around that wagon
The policeman brushed the woman
aside and fired at Pratt. | was as
tonished to see the woman and girl
fire at him, although he did not return
their fire. The policeman got into the
recess of a saloon door. Pratt was
wounded in one leg. He crawled
along the sidewalk IN tho wall of