>From Evening Post, ( New Zealand ),Volume CIX, Issue 70, 24 March 1930, Page 9 MARGATE HOTEL MURDER - FOX SENTENCED TO DEATH. Earlier Record Discovered. London, 22nd March. The sentence of death passed on Sydney Harry FOX , at the Old Bailey, for the murder of his mother, Mrs. Rosaline FOX , in Room 66 at the Hotel Metropole, Margate, closes one of the most curious murder trials in recent years. The mother's body was buried, and at an inquest the verdict was " death from misadventure". Apparently everybody was satisfied it was accidental, and FOX was awaiting the £3000 insurance when an ex-Scotland Yard man employed by the insurance company became impressed by certain curious features in the policies, and also in the fire. He went quietly to Margate to investigate. Practically everything in the room at the time of the murder had been removed to the Margate rubbish tip. This was searched diligently until every article was recovered. His investigations caused the detective to telegraph to the head office, " Extremely muddy water in this business." This caused the insurance company to lay the facts concerning the fire and insurance before Scotland Yard. Investigations also showed that the very company which issued the policy had previously paid FOX £8 for an overcoat allegedly lost from the hotel cloakroom. FOX was arrested and held in gaol on the charge of not paying hotel bills throughout a whole lengthy period. Simultaneously with the sentence comes the news that a smart, good-looking man named FOX was convicted as a forger and jewel thief years ago. On one occasion FOX , under the alias of Owen SMYTHE , posed as an old Etonian, and boasted that he could stay without paying at any hotel in England. He did so in numerous cases. He invariably deposited a sealed packet with so-called valuable contents in the hotel safe. This, with his pleasant, confidential manner and clever stories, disarmed the suspicion of managers.