The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1922-09-07
Why DuPre Was Hanged.

Greenville Pidmont.
Of peculiar interest at this time to
the men and women, the fathers and
mothers of South Carolina is the
statement issued by Governor Hard
wick, explaining why he refused to
exercise executive clemency in the
DuPre case. He said:
'|Of course I am not without SYM
pathy and respect for the views OF
many tender hearted persons-large-
" women-who have urged exec
utive clemency for the applicant,
I understand and appreciate the
human sympathy and the deep and
true Christian charity which anl-
mates them in this matter. My own
heart is touched by their appeal;
but, because of my honest judgment
and conscience, I cannot yield to
sentiment of this kind, without be-
ing absolutely false to my duty, to
society and to the public. The SYM
pathy in this case should not be
entirely aroused in behalf of the
youthful bandit who gloated over
his deeds of theft and murder un-
til he was actually to face the
penalty, whose repentance came
when he was in the clutches of the
law, and not before he was appre-
hended. What of the faithful, law
abiding man, Mr.. Walker, who
sleeps in an untimely grave sent
there by DuPre's act? Is there no
sympathy for him? What of the lit
tie woman who is widowed by his
act? Is there no sympathy for her?
What Of the seven-year-old orphan,
made SO by him? Is there no SYM
pathy for her? Is there no sympathy
for the fatherIess girl who has been
deprived of the support and OF the
protecting care of her father
throughout all her life? If DuPre
was motherless he has made this lit
tie child fatherless. If DuPre was
Young he was at least a man old
enough to enlist in the army of his
country and to meet all of its men
tai and physical tests in doing So
and is at least considerably older
than the child whom he made father
less.
"But my action in this case does
not rest on the law of AN eye fol
an eye. tooth for TOOTH 1t rests
on a broader, deeper, truer principle
than that. Unless our boys, who may
even now be embarked on simllal
path to that pursued by this appll
cant, who may be filling themselVe:
with cheap and poisonous liquor, who
may be associating with gambler
and prostitutes, are checked in thel1
mad courses of crime, who can tel
how many orphans will be made II
Georgia by their conduct? Who cal
tell how many innocent men-eVe1
innocent bystanders-may lose thel!
precious lives before the time ap
pointed by Providence? 1t is u
protect society, to save these othe'
women from being made widows
| these other men from being slain
| these other children from beinE
made orphans. that it is necessar!
and absolutely necessary-tha
the supreme penalty of the law b.
executed upon this applicant. 1t i
| to give to them and all of them IL
| this state and throughout this coun
trv the most solemn and impressive
| warning that can be given in tn
| name of the law and in the name o
civilized society, and in the name o
organized, government An appallin:
and increasing number Of violen
| crimes, of every sort, are occurring
in our midst-a crime wave, world
wide in it's sweep, has not spared o.
missed our state. While the situa
, tion is not worse in Georgia than il
other states, nor in this country thai
in other countries, it is appalling
everywhere, and the 'sternest meas
ures are necessary to check it.
"The supreme penalty OF the Law
has been passed upon this man b.