"ADAM GOD."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 328, 21 January 1909, Page 4

"ADAM GOD."

I CEXTKE OF A FIERCE FIGHT. A SAXGUIXARY AFFAIIf. A brief cable message tolil us of a fight with fanatics that took place m Kansas City, U.S.A., on December IS, Late mail news tell us how, in the verv shadow of the City Hall and less thaii a half-mile from the ousiness centre a viol, in which religious fanatics ami po lvn were, participants, and in which a hundred -hols were tired, resulted i:i the death oi one policeman and n child fatal injuries to three, and slight injuries to two other persons fieorge JI. Holt, probation oilicer of toe Juvenile Court and the pioneer in the work of savinif bovs from' the streets, went to Fifth and -Main stieets to investigate a case of alleged abduction. Near the street corner he came "pon the man he wanted. Sharp, who led a new sect and called liiiu.-elf j" Adam God." Sharp, who was snrrounui'd by bis companions, was oxhortiii" •> crowd of street loafers. With Sharp were A. J. Selzar (a woman) ami live children. The children ranged in a"c from 14 to three years. ° Whi-n Holt enquired about the children, he was told to mind his own business. Then "Adam God," whose loii". (lowing white beard and hair gave him the appearance of a .patriarch, threatened the officer with physical violence. Officer Holt never goes armed, and he found himself at a decided disadvanlgea when the preacher and his companions displayed revolvers. He stood his ground, however, and '-Adam God" struck him a heavy blow behind the ear, making an ugly wound with bis revol-' ver. Holt started.for the police station for assistance, and as he moved away the , preacher tried to shoot him, but Sharp was so excited that he dropped his revolver as he attempted to draw it, and when Ire picked it up and snapped it at the oilicer, the cartridge .ailed to explode. Officer Holt rushed into the police statiou, and warned the officers to prepare for trouble. The religionists were within lifty yards of the police statiou when the officers stepped into the street. They ,erved- notice that they would preach right "under the eaves of the police station, and the police cannot prevent us." The officers were not prepared for tie? volley of bullets which met them almost immediately after they appeared on the scene. Patrolman Dalbow was instaatlv killed, and a bullet passed through Patrolman's Stege's arm. Other officers rushed into the street, and a general battle ensued. Hut the officers were miable to shoot without endangering th.' lives of innocent persons. Lieutenant Clark was shot in the eye and "Patrolman Millane was shot in the back. In the meantime, a riot call had been sounded, and policemen weve appearing from all directions. The officers 1 crowded in on Sharp and his followers, liriiig as they went, but taking great care not to injure any of the children, and when the firing ceas"d. j "Adam God" lay fatally wounded, shot ilnough the head and body. The woman and some of the children escaped and fled to a houseboat, where they lived on the river. 'The I olhe. fifty in number, followed. The woman had barricaded herself in the hom-eboat. where she defied the ollicrs. Standing on the porch of the boat with a shot-gun. she shouted to the ollicers, ''Come on, you fiends!" She surrendered after one of her children had been shot.