FLEECED RICH WIFE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20541, 16 February 1935, Page 28 (Supplement)

FLEECED RICH WIFE.

DON JUAN OF CRIME. NINE YEARS FOR MASTER CROOK. Sentence of nine years’ penal servitude was passed at London Sessions on a man who has already served a total of 10% years, and whom Scotland Yard described as a dangerous criminal. He was Robert Delaney (38), an engineer, who pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property. Sir Percival Clarke, the chairman, said to him. “You are a menace to society. There is no doubt that you used the services of a young lad to enrich yourself.” Sentence on a woman described as Olive Helen Louisa Delaney, aged 32, who appeared with Delaney, was postponed. “ £IOOO Raid By a Boy.” Delaney pleaded guilty to inciting a 16-year-old boy to break into the Royal Palace Hotel, Kensington, and this charge was not proceeded with. Mr. J. F. Eastwood, prosecuting, described the raid on the hotel, in which £IOOO worth of jewellery and other articles were stolen, and said it was the boy known as “Jack” who carried it out under Delaney’s instructions. He was given £lO. Detective-Inspector Lynch, of Scotland Yard, said Delaney had three previous convictions, and was released on license in October, 1933, having ten months’ license unexpired. He had bigamously married the woman. “He is an extremely dangerous criminal, who has associations with Australian and South African criminals in this country,” said the inspector, “and for some time has been strongly suspected of committing cat-burglaries in London and the provinces.” “He prides himself on a compelling influence over women,” said the inspector. “In 1917 he induced a wealthy woman to marry him, and squandered her fortune of £27.000. Then he eloped with her niece. His legal wife was now destitute.” Passing sentence, Sir Percival Clarke said to Delaney: “I have been told various things about your inciting this lad. I am not punishing you for that, because you have pleaded not guilty, but there is no doubt you readily used his services.” Sir Percival complimented DetectiveInspector Lynch on his skill in securing the arrest of Delaney, and added: “No doubt it was fraught with considerable danger and difficulty, and if any commendation from me can be of any assistance I gladly give it.”