code: @Override
      protected void doDelete(final HttpServletRequest req, final HttpServletResponse res) throws ServletException, IOException {
          LOG.debug("Entering");
          final AtomHandler handler = createAtomRequestHandler(req, res);
          final String userName = handler.getAuthenticatedUsername();
          if (userName != null) {
              final AtomRequest areq = new AtomRequestImpl(req);
              try {
                  if (handler.isEntryURI(areq)) {
                      handler.deleteEntry(areq);
                      res.setStatus(HttpServletResponse.SC_OK);
                  } else {
                      res.setStatus(HttpServletResponse.SC_NOT_FOUND);
                  }
              } catch (final AtomException ae) {
                  res.sendError(ae.getStatus(), ae.getMessage());
                  LOG.debug("An error occured while processing DELETE", ae);
              } catch (final Exception e) {
                  res.sendError(HttpServletResponse.SC_INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR, e.getMessage());
                  LOG.debug("An error occured while processing DELETE", e);
              }
          } else {
              res.setHeader("WWW-Authenticate", "BASIC realm=\"AtomPub\"");
              // Wanted to use sendError() here but Tomcat sends 403 forbidden
              // when I do that, so sticking with setStatus() for time being.
              res.setStatus(HttpServletResponse.SC_UNAUTHORIZED);
          }
          LOG.debug("Exiting");
      }
docs: Handle Atom DELETE by calling appropriate handler.