Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-01-19
BANDITS YOUTH
COUNTED ON TO
SAVE HIS NECK
Indications Are Defense Wi
Make No Plea of Insanity
For Frank Dupre

ATLANTA, Jan. 19.- Frank b.
DuPre, 19-year-old bandit, self-con-
fessed, lodged in the Tower of Full
ton county to face within the next
ten days. the charge of the murder
of Irby c. Walker, Pinkerton detec-
tive, after his spectacular raid on
Nat Kaiser's jewelry store on Decem-
Der Is, today began TO assemble the
forces with which he will combat the
announced determination of Solicitor
General John A. Boykin to see that
he meets the extreme penalty of the
law, which is death on the gallows.
From early indications after prelimi-
nary conferences yesterday, it was
evident that the defense will not be
a plea of insanity. On the other
hand, persons familiar with the tech
nique of murder trials declare that
DuPre will rest his hopes solely on
his own youth and the recognized
eloquence before a jury of Fl. A.
Allen, his leading counsel.
The reception at 1910 yesterday
was greater than accorded the presi-
dent of the United States when he
came to Atlanta few months ago.
DuPre was brought in from De-
troit on the N, C. and st. L. train,
due here at IL :55 and landed at the
old Union Station at Wall and Pry-
or streets, almost at the identical
spot where DuPre made his escape
after killing Irby Walker, robbing the
Kaiser jewelry store and shooting
down B. Graham West in the hall
way of the Kimball House.
Four or five thousand people had
collected under the shed in the streets
and along the railroad track half an
hour or more before the train arrived
Two high-powered automobiles from
the police department were parked al
one end of the depot, about dozer
policemen and the chiefs of both the
police and detective departments were
present. He was handcuffed to two
detectives on the trip.
Shock to Father.
'Tt's all too great shock to me
+ i hardly care to talk about the mat
ter" said the boys father, Frank
A. DuPre, who ha sarrived here from
Ahbeville, S. c., to aid his son. "He
lived with me up to few months
ago and was never mixed up in any
trouble. Older men must have prey
ed on his mind and persuaded him to
commit the deed while he was not
himself"
Mr.. DuPre said he came to Atlanta
after reading of his sons arrest in
the newspapers. He said he had
heard nothing from his son since the
latter's arrest in Detroit last Friday
Crank left me last October to &c
to Abbeville, y. G., to stay with his
mothers people. | went to Bir-
mingham to work. Frank must
have remained in Abbeville for sew
eraI weeks and then returned to At
lanta, arriving here about the mid
die of last November" Mr.. Du.
Pree said.
81 know nothing of his connection
with a gang of jewel robbers. He
always told me the truth and his
word can be relied on. If he has
confessed to any fobberies, he prob
ably told the truth.
Frank was not the kind of boy
to run around with a gnag. In
fact, he was known among his
friends as 'old man. because of his
quiet disposition. He made friends
easily, it seemed to me, but rather
preferred to keep to himself"
"He has been quoted in the papers
as declaring he was crazed by drink
when he committed the Peachtree
robbery. Frank never got drunk
while he was living with me. True,
re was known to drink, but never
to excess. He always came home
early at night"
Lost Needed Mother
Although evidently burdened
greatly, the father kept his com
posure, even upon speaking of the
death of his wife in 1918.
"If the boys mother had lived
this would not have happened" he
declared. "That is fact which
means much, even if it has no place
in court of law. His mother died
just when Frank was reaching the
age when he needed her most. A
father can never be like mother
although Frank, when with me, con.
Quoted himself as. he should have
done"
Young Dupre was born in Able
vile, S. c., Aug. Is, 1903, the fa-
ther said.
"He is just little more than Is
years DID," he pointed out. "If he
were of my age it would be proper
to deal with him without mercy. Bur
it isn't justice to reckon a boy Of
IS as a man, full grown. He knew
little about the world. He was {
sort of home boy. At nights he was
always in bed before me, and / re
tire early. Whatever he knows o.