Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-08-12
PLEA FOR MERCY
IS DENIED DUPRE
BY PRISON BOARD
Case Will Be Taken to Gov
ernor ,Hardwick as Last
Effort to Save Doomed
Man

at the hour, and almost at the
minute that Frank B. DuPre was
being admitted to the Episcopal
Church of the Epiphany and con-
tirmed by Bishop H. j. Mikell in a
room at the Fulton county tower,
the state prison commission was de-
Ginning formally shortly before noon
Friday to recommend clemency or
communication, following the all-day
plea made Thursday.
II. A. Allen, leading counsel for
DuPre, said he was not prepared at
once to go before the governor and
ask commutation-the last recourse
If his client. He was Aot expecting
such a prompt decision by the com.
mission, he said. 1--WE will fight to
he last DITCH" he stated. II will
have some new evidence to take be-
fore Governor Hardwick in pleading
for this boys life"
Whatever happens will be Gods
WILL" was DuPre's final acceptance
f the fact Of the prison commissions
decision. He said this to a Journal
reporter, who conveyed the news of
the commissions decision to Attor-
hey Allen, as Mr.. Allen was talking
with his client in the main court Of
the Tower, just outside DuPre's
cell.
DuPre's first reception of the grim,
news was silent. He had been talk
ing with Mr.. Allen and with the
Rev. and Mrs. Fred E. Smith, the
.ormer the pastor Of the Hapeville
Baptist church, who were calling
IN him.
"WiH Be Gods Will
Beckoned to one side by the re-
porter and informed of the commits
sion's action, Mr.. Allen shook his
head. 81 hate to go over and tell
him." he said, and it was a couple
If minutes before he did SO.
DuPre was silent for few mo-
nents; then reused himself to say
good-by to Mr. and Mrs. Smith
who took their departure, promising
% come again soon. Then he re-
! turned to the deputy, sheriff q stool
and a chair he had borrowed for his
guests and went back to his cell,
taking with him the lunch brought
l., l.; fo4 To =
lown disconsolately.
81 don't feel like eating now" he
said. Just before he heard the news,
md Immediately after his reception
into the church and his confirma-
ton, he had been in unusually good
spirits. "I feel fine" he had said.
II feel exceptionally good, spiritual
ly."
DuPre said he had great conf.
dence in Governor Hardwfck's cour-
age and consciousness. He will do
what hi sconscience tells him IS
right" said DuPre. "And whateve:
happens will be Gods will"
Execution Day
AS the case stands, DuPre is to
be hanged September /, between the
hours of 10 a. m. and p. M, for
the murder Of Irby c.. Walker, a
Pinkerton detective, in a diamond
robbery of the Kaiser, jewelry shop
on Peachtree street the afternoon Of
December 81, 1921.
The plea for a Communication to life
Imprisonment had been warmly
pressed and strongly opposed before
the commission Thursday. A delega-
ton of women had appeared to plead
for the young mans life, while Mrs.
Walker, widow of the slain detective,
and Graham West, city comptroller
dangerously wounded by DuPre in
his flight after shooting Walker,
were present, and Mr.. West spoke
against clemency, supporting the
view of E. A. Stephens, assistant So
Lcitor general; Jesse E. Mercer, head
Of the Georgia League for Law En-
forcement Through Constituted Au-
thorities, and T. E. Fem, of the local
Pinkerton agency, who urged the
necessity Of sharp example for the
benefit of like-minded youths and pc.
tential criminals.
Simple Decision
The refusal to recommend Glenn
ency to DuPre came down from the
prison commission in connection
with a similar action on previous
plea by 3. w. Davis, of Savannah,
convicted of killing Thomas t..
White. 1t was coucned In the sim
plest and plainest language-the
plea of White for recommendation
of clemency was declined-the petit
ton of Frank B. DuPre for rec
omnlendation of clemency also. wa
declined.
And at the same hour, shortly be-
fore neon, in the dining room at the
county Jail used by the Jail officials.
a little group of men and women
were standing up expectantly, and
Frank B. DuPre, wearing a gray
suit and small black tie, a little white
rose at his lapel, was walking
through the door to face a man clad
in the vestments of the Episcopal
church, ready for the solemn cere-
mony with which that church re-
ceiyes it's members, and for the cere
mony OF confirmation afterward.
The Rev. Russell K. Smith, rector
of the Church of the Epiphany in
Innan Park, was the officiating
minister, and Bishop MikeH of this
diocese, stood near, not in the
robes of his office.
1t was an elderly woman who haG
pinned the rose to Frank DuPre's
lapel; and she stood close by the
bow while the service was conduct
ed. Near him also stood his father
p. A. DuPre, and brother, Joe
DuPre. There were a dozen or fit
teen persons in all.
DuPre Baptized
Baptism followed the examination
of the applicant, and Immediately
afterWard he was confirmed by
Bishop Mikell. AS the rite was con
cluded the bishop held out his hand
and DuPre grasped it warmly. Mr
Smith followed suit and then eY