DRAMA IN FLAT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 May 1938, Page 2

DRAMA IN FLAT

FRENCH BANKER FOUND SHOT. YOUNG WIFE DETAINED. An attractive young woman barrister, about to be divorced by her banker husband, breaks into his flat and, cutting a hole in the divan, hides among the springs until he arrives home. When he retires for the night she creeps from her hiding place and shoots him dead. This —according to the police theory—is the drama that preceded the discovery of the body of the banker, M. Fernand Delaris, with two bullets in the head. Near him was his photograph, torn to pieces. The wife, raven-haired, dark-eyed Maitre Suzanne Delaris, who has had a successful career as a barrister, was later detained. “I DID NOT KILL HIM.” After five hours, she declared, “I admit I kept watch outside his flat until he came home. Yes, I admit that. But no, no. I didn’t kill him . . . . I couldn’t.” “Why were you there?” demanded the police official. •“! wanted to see if he came home with another woman,” sobbed the young barrister.

She explained that the final ruling in her divorce case was to be made next day. “That ruling, had it been made, would mean my ruin. I wanted to see him with another woman.” “Then I intended to bring this to the notice of the authorities, to secure an alteration of the ruling by which a large part of my possessions would have gone to him.”

M. Delaris was twice married. He divorced his first wife shortly after marrying her. “He wanted to do the same to me,” said Mme. Delaris. “He even tried to persuade some of his friends to fall in love with me so that it would give him an excuse. Then I think his idea was to remarry his first wife.”