ALLEGED MURDER

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 300, 2 October 1935, Page 3

ALLEGED MURDER

AUCKLAND WOMAN’S DEATH.

HER HUSBAND ACCUSED.

(Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, October 1. Further evidence was called to-day when Eric Mareo, 41 years of age, a musician, is charged that on April 15 he did murder Thelma Clarice Mareo. After the death of Mareo’s 29-year-old wife in the Auckland Hospital an inquest was opened. After evidence of identification had been taken it was adjourned sine die and lias not yet been, completed. Mareo was arrested on .September 2. The Crown case was conducted by Mr V. N. Hubble and Mr F. McCarthy, while. Mr K. O. Aekins and Mr Trevor Henry appeared for Mareo. t Giving evidence yesterday afternoon, Freda Stark, an intimate friend of Mrs Mareo, who visited her frequently in Auckland, said Mrs Mareo did not drink to excess. On Friday, April 12, Mrs Mareo was not well, and during the week-end she seemed to be halfdazed. Her voice seemed very muffled, and she could not keep her eyes open. The witness talked to her to try to keep her awake. Witness told Mareo bis wife was waking up, and suggested that sal volatile would bring her round properly. She was supporting Mrs Mareo, who could not keep her eyes open. A Deep Sleep. On Saturday night, before Mrs

Mareo’s death, witness gave her three doses, of sal volatile. She and Mareo endeavoured to keep her awake by getting her to name certain objects. It was about midnight when witness said to Mareo, “Don’t you think you had better get a doctor?” He replied, “No, it won’t hurt her to sleep until morning.” Witness slept with Mrs Mareo and lie slept on a chesterfield beside the bed. Mrs Mareo was sleeping very heavily. Witness could not rouse her during the night. Witness advised calling a doctor, as Thelma had been sleeping for two days. Mareo sqjd that a few more hours would not hurt her. After. returning from an appointment on the Sunday morning, Alarea had luncheon and then, slept till 5.50 or 6 o’clock. Ho was very sleepy, but had tea. Mrs Mareo bad not awakened. As witness was leaving the house for home she again appealed to Mareo to get a doctor. He replied, “Oil, I’ll get a, doctor soon.” Witness said she saw no bottles marked veronal or barbitone in the bedroom that day. There was no smell of liquor. Use of Drugs. Mr Hubble: What can you tell us about Thelma Mareo pnd drugs?

Witness: She never took any to my knowledge. Mr Hubble: When you left on (Sunday was there anything in this little black box? Witness: Yes, there were tw o tablets. Witness said that after Graham Mareo liad telephoned her she went to Tenterden Avenue about mid-day on Monday. Mi's Mareo was then very ill. “I said : £ Oh, Mr Mareo, why haven t you got a doctor?’ ” said witness. I didn’t wait to hear his reply, but ran next door to telephone for a doctor.' After ringing several, witness got Di. Drcardon. While she was telephoning, Mareo called out to get Dr. Dreardon When the doctor arrived he opened Mrs Mareo’s eyes and said: “It looks like veronal poisoning. Have you got any veronal in the house?” Mareo replied: “Yes, I’ve been taking it myself, hut she couldn't possibly get it. It was on a very high shelf and she wouldn’t know it was in the house. Mareo went to the washhouse mid brought back an empty bottle. The doctor ordered Mrs Mareo to hospital. A little later an ambulance took ner away, Mareo and witness accompanying‘her to the hospital. Witness remained at the hospital, where Mrs Mareo died at 5.30 pm. Replying tc Mr Hubble, the witness said that on. the morning of Tuesday, April 16, Mareo telephoned her, and in the course of conversation lie smet: “ 'Fritters,’ dear, you’ll have to De very careful what you say to the detectives, or you’ll have the rope round my neck. Tell them when you mane the next statement that you weren’t in a fit state to make the statement oil Monday night.”

Sale of Tablets. Stephen Barclay, a chemist, said that about the end of March Marco bought a packet of’ barbitone tablets. He Had asked for a bottle of veronal tablets. The witness had shown him a bottle of each, quoting prices, and Marco bought the barbitone. Dr. Walton testified that lie attended Mrs Marco on March 16 last, wnen she was in bed stiffering from extreme nervousness. He prescribed a sedative mixture,. Ho next saw her m his consulting rooms on March 22. Her condition was much worse. From the history she gave, witness concluded that her condition was caused oy domestic worry. He prescribed a nerve medicine,, but did not prescribe veronal.

Eleanor Jean Brownlee said that she had known Mareo about a year dcfore his wife’s death, both as a pupil and pianist in the orchestra. She occasionally visited his home and stopped there on a Saturday night, but had ceased going about two months before the death of Mrs Mareo. On the Saturday night when the disturbance occurred Mareo was under the influence of liquor. Mrs Mareo was also under the influence and seemed hysterical. She was shrieking out for Graham, and remaining in the corner where Mareo could not get at her. At this stage, Miss Stark, the pierious witness, was assisted from court weeping. Continuing her evidence, Miss Brownlee said that on the day of Mrs Marco’s death she met Mareo at the hospital gates and lie told her that his wife had died.

Mr‘Hubble: You were at Tenterden Avenue on the Friday before her death ? Witness: Yes.

Mr Hubble: What did you have to do with tlio taking of some labels off some bottles ? Witness: Nothing.

Mr Hubble: What discussions did you have with Mareo about veronal?

Witness: Not until after Mrs Mareo’s death, when lie said that the doctor said that she died from veronal poisoning. Doctor’s Evidence. Dr. John Dreadon described! being called to Mareo’s house on April 1 6. He found Mrs Mareo in bed, deeply unconscious. She was very ill. He was concerned about her condition and asked Mareo if be knew what she had taken. Mareo said that he thought she had taken some pills. Witness asked what the pills were, and Mareo produced two in a small bottle. They were brown in colour. Aire Mareo was breathing stentoyously and had all the appearance of jx, dying woman. She was absolutely collapsed. Mr Hubble: Were you able to lonn an opinion on the spot? Witness: Yes. I thought she was probably suffering from an overdose of veronal. Mr. Hubble: Have you had experience of veronal poisoning?

Witness: Yes. Mr Hubble: Can you say if this was a small or a large dose? „ Witness: I think it would be a large dose. I asked Mareo if she was in the habit of taking “dope” of any sort, and Mareo replied, “No.” i asked him if there was any veional in the house, and he said there was, and that he sometimes took it "-for insomnia. He left the room and returned shortly with an empty bottle, remarking that it was empty. Ho said be was surprised! that it was empty. The last time lie saw it it contained a large number of tablets. “I told Mareo of my suspicions that it was a case of veronal poisoning, out Mareo made no special remark, ’ continue:! Dr Dreadon.

Evidence of Airs Mareo’s admission to ahe hospital was given by DC RP. Keanan. Incident After Death. Freda Evans, a married woman, said slie knew both Air and Airs Alareo. She had visited Airs Alareo s home and had never seen her drinking. Mareo had .sometimes said that she was fond of drinking.

After Airs Alareo s death witness and a friend called at the house. Alareo then said that on Monday wlien lie awoke he noticed she was blue in colour. He said that be sent Graham for a doctor, but none was procurable until 1.30.

Air Hubble: I believe you asked him why he did not get a doctor? , Witness: Yes. He said that he had not got a doctor because he was so used to seeing her “canned.”

Air Hubble: Did Alareo say anything else? "Witness: Yes. As we were leaving Alareo grasped the arm of my girl friend and myself and said: “They won’t hang me, will they?” The Court adjourned until to-mor-row.