Tom Hughes - Hanging the Peachtree Bandit: The True Tale of Atlantas Infamous Frank DuPre

Published by The History Press

Charleston, SC 29403

www.historypress.net

Copyright 2014 by Tom Hughes

All rights reserved

First published 2014

e-book edition 2014

ISBN 978.1.62584.946.5

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Hughes, Tom, 1948-

Hanging the Peachtree Bandit : the true tale of Atlantas infamous Frank DuPre / Tom Hughes.

pages cm

Summary: Explore the true crime story of Frank DuPre, the last man hanged in the city of Atlanta, Georgia--Provided by publisher.

print edition ISBN 978-1-62619-416-8 (paperback)

1. DuPre, Frank, 1903-1922. 2. Murder--Georgia--Atlanta--Case studies. 3. Criminals--Georgia--Atlanta--Case studies. 4. Atlanta (Ga.)--History--20th century. I. Title.

HV6534.A7H837 2014

364.1523092--dc23

2014003555

Notice: The information in this book is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. It is offered without guarantee on the part of the author or The History Press. The author and The History Press disclaim all liability in connection with the use of this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form whatsoever without prior written permission from the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Introduction

Days before Christmas 1921, Frank DuPre, a jobless eighteen-year-old, fortified with moonshine and carrying a pocket pistol, entered a jewelry store on Atlantas famous Peachtree Street. Minutes later, he dashed away clutching a diamond ring. Behind him he left a dead Pinkerton detective. Frank kept his promise to his sweetheart of six days, Betty Andrews. The legend of the Peachtree Bandit was born.

For weeks, embattled police sleuths searched in vain for the desperado. Frank was arrested in Detroit, days after posting a letter to the Atlanta Constitution mocking the local detectives as a bunch of boneheads. In shackles, cowering and chain-smoking, Frank was returned to a city in the grip of crime. Thousands were at the Union Depot when his train arrived. John Boykin, the zealous local prosecutor, declared, Of course, I shall be seeking the death penalty. In a fortnight, DuPre was tried, convicted and sentenced to hang.

An increasingly bitter but remarkably advanced struggle ensued to save Franks life. Was he a cold-blooded killer or a high-grade moron? Though the Peachtree Bandit eventually hanged on September 1, 1922, his case led to the establishment of Georgias first-ever Anti-Noose League and major changes in the states capital punishment laws.

This is the factual recounting of an American tragedy. Additionally, the squalid tale of Frank and Betty engendered a blues tradition. Though two white teenagers, their story has become a predominantly African American blues classic. First recorded by Blind Willie Walker in 1930, the traditional DuPree Blues has been recorded by artists as disparate as Harry Belafonte and the Grateful Dead.

This is as much a story of Atlanta as the fictional tale of Scarlett and Rhett. This is the true and tragic story of Betty and DuPre.

A map of downtown Atlanta, 192122. Drawn by the author.

Chapter 1

A Scene of Terror and Excitement

Where the southern end of Peachtree met the northern end of Whitehall was the heart of Atlantas shopping district. At the start of the twentieth century, the streets were still separated by a dangerous grade-level railroad crossing. While the railroads had truly established Atlanta, they also created an infamous sewer of smoke cleaving the city. In 1901, the first viaduct was built to span the tracks. While the smoke, whistles and general cacophony continued one level below, Peachtree and Whitehall were linked at last in a scene of magnificent structures, an attractive business locality and a thoroughfare of convenience and safety, connecting together the north and south sides of Atlanta. Streetcar bells clanged, motorcars puttered and pedestrians scurried amidst them all.

In 1921, the two streets offered something for every budget, from five-and-dime stores to the high-end emporia of the rival mercantile giants, the Messrs High and Rich. The newest attraction was the Peachtree Arcade, Atlantas first shopping mall. Just north of the viaduct, the three-level arcade stretched between Peachtree and Broad and featured dress shops, perfumeries and even a gunsmith. And Santa, too. Mr. Claus arrived on December 10, 1921. Also, the citys first-ever public Christmas tree was erected in the arcade. It was hailed as the best advertizing stunt ever pulled off in Atlanta. Holiday shopping was in full swing.

Directly across from the arcade, at 3 Peachtree Street on the ground floor of the Peters Building, was Nat Kaisers Jewelry. Its motto was: Ask anybody, Nat Kaiser will save you money on Diamonds. Kaisers sidewalk clock read a few minutes past one oclock on the crisp sunny afternoon of Thursday, December 15. Inside, the store was busy. A young man entered, brushing past other shoppers, and approached salesclerk Evelyn Phillips. She stood behind a large L-shaped glass display counter. The fellow said he was about to get married and was in search of a diamond ring. Mrs. Phillips pleasantly assured the young man, We have several here. The young shopper appeared well dressed in a grey suit and a tie beneath a grey plaid topcoat. However, he wore a more plebian cloth newsboy cap. His eyes also bore a curious squint. Mrs. Phillips thought she would show him some more affordable rings. But after a quick dismissive glance, the fellow pronounced, They wont do at all. I want to see that big ring in your window. In a friendly way, the saleswoman whispered that that particular ring was quite expensive. Did I ask you the price? came the abrupt reply. Mrs. Phillips said it would be just a moment. Mr. Ullman will be out to help you.

Nat Ullman came out from his managers office, pausing to speak with another young man on the sales floor. This second man took a position blocking the doorway to Peachtree. Ullman greeted the young customer and repeated that the ring in the window was very costly indeed. Again, the shopper was adamant: Its your business to show it to me if I want to buy itand I do. Ullman returned with the ring, placing it on a velvet cloth. It was a 3.25-carat diamond in a green-gold setting, priced at $2,500 (a $30,000 ring in 2014). The fellow eyed it carefully and then excitedly said, Ill take it. Grabbing the ring in his left hand, he turned for the door, which was blocked by the Kaisers detective. The two men were equal in size, and the detective at first had the upper hand, pushing the thief back into the store, knocking over and shattering a glass partition. Then there were gunshots. From the right pocket of his overcoat, the thief had drawn a pistol, pressed it to the side of his opponent and fired upward. The detective gasped and staggered farther into the store, pleading for a doctor, and collapsed.

The gunman, pistol in his right hand, ring in his left, bolted into Peachtree, turning right and running north. From behind him, a pursuing cry was heard from Kaisers: Stop him! Pushing his way through a sidewalk filled with shoppers, the shooter reached the motor entrance to the Kimball House. Beneath a canopy, a door opened into a long and brightly lit hallway leading some one hundred feet to a revolving door, beyond which was the hotel lobby.