‘Safe-Cracker Was Wife Of Diplomat

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30961, 18 January 1966, Page 16

‘Safe-Cracker Was Wife Of Diplomat

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter —Copyright) LONDON, January 16. p The wife of a British diploI mat appears successfully to | have deceived a Sunday newsi! paper with her book, “Peterl;man—Memoirs of a Safe- ■; Breaker,” by “Shifty Burke.” ! I “Peterman” is in every way a professional’s book,” said ■(the “Sunday Times” reviewer : ; today. “Mr Burke tells us candidly that there was nothjing unhappy about his childhood . . . that he took to .(professional crime for pleasure and gain in about equal proportions. He paints an informative picture of the highly organised methods of largescale crime, centring round I his part in the abortive airIport bullion robbery.” But the “Sunday Telegraph” interviewed “Shifty Burke” and found she is Mrs Peggie Benton, wife of a British diplomat and author of several cookery books who has “never ever broken the law of the land.” Mrs Benton’s expertise on (criminals had increased over | many years, the “Sunday Telegraph” said. She and her husband frequently stayed in (Britain with a close relative who worked with criminals and had become fascinated with the underworld. Mrs Benton soon caught his

enthusiasm and followed individual cases closely. She counted a professional safe-breaker among her friends. A year ago, her relative died and she acquired his mountain of 1 notes. Almost immediately she sat down to write “Peter- , man.”