code: public boolean delete(String src, boolean recursive) throws IOException {
      boolean status = deleteInternal(src, null, recursive, true);
      getEditLog().logSync(false);
      if (status && auditLog.isInfoEnabled()) {
        logAuditEvent(getCurrentUGI(),
          Server.getRemoteIp(),
          "delete", src, null, null);
      }
      return status;
    }
docs: Remove the indicated filename from namespace. If the filename
  is a directory (non empty) and recursive is set to false then throw exception.