ALLEGED MURDER

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 108, 18 February 1936, Page 3

ALLEGED MURDER

CHARGE AGAINST MUSICIAN. SEQUEL TO DEATH OF WIFE. (Per Press Association). AUCKLAND, January 17. Eric Marco, aged IT, a musician, was placed on trial in the Supreme Court to-day before Mr Justice Fair, charged that on Monday, April 15, 1935, at Auckland, he murdered Thelma Clarice Marco, his wife. The Crown ease is being conducted by Mr A. H. Johnstone, K.C., of Auckland, assisted by Mr V. N. .Hubble. and the defence is being conducted by Mr TI. F. O’Leary, K.C., of Wellington, assisted by Mr Trevor Henry and Mr K. C. Aekins. Keen public interest was shown, many women waiting in a queue at the side door of the court, which was crowded when Mareo’s name was called. Six jurymen applied for exemption and four were allowed to go. The court was adjourned for half an hour to enable the jurymen to make business and domestic arrangements, liis Honor remarking that it was necessary to keep them together during the hearing. Among ’Tie many police officers m court were Sub- - Inspector Sweeney, f 8 üb-Inspeetor Scott, and the two detectives who arrested Mateo, Sergeant Moiklejohn and Detective Hamilton. Case for the Crown. In opening the Crown’s case, Mr Johnstone said that the charge was that accused murdered his wife by administering poison. The law knew no graver charge, and the jury must give constant attention to the evidence, which, for the most part, was circumstantial. The Crown, as in most poisoning cases, was unable to put loiward a witness who had seen accused give his wife poison cr even anyone who had seen him adulterate her food with it. As the result of previous proceedjngs a certain amount of publicity had already been given, but the jury must endeavour to rid their minds of all they may have read, or heard. Accused was an accomplished musical composer and director, said Mi Johnstone. He was married in England to a woman pained Mrs Grey, and by that marriage had one son, but that Mrs Mareo had a. daughter by a former marriage, who was generally known in the family as Betty. -This Mis Mareo died in England in 1928. In 1931 accused left England for Sydney, where he was employed as conductor of an orchestra until 1933 with the Ernest Rolls Revue Company. Among the members of that company was a young woman Thelma Clarice Trott, aged 27, who had graduated B.A. at Queensland University. Apparently she sang and acted well for she was a semi-principal. Accused and Miss Trott were married at Wellington and then left' the company and came to Auckland to reside. They lived in a boardinghouse m the city and then kept house at Buckland’s eßach, where Betty and Graham, his soil, joined, them. A few months later they returned to the c*itv and took i.p housekeeping at Xo. | Tenterdon Avenue, Mount Eden, where Mrs Mareo carried out all the duties of housewife until her last illness. She took a leading part in the light of era, “The Duchess of Hanzig, at His Majesty’s, where accused \- conducting toe orchestra (j 16 * co.Kli.rtc.l tI. U orchestra at ac t, tlM.t tro until the owl »< March l» st > alu ! which ho had no regular employment a „,l „o assured source ot income.

■ Friends of the Family. Among the acquaintances of the Mareo family was Aliss hroda > * '> formerly a member of the Ernest Ro s Revue Company, and Mis Mamu closest friend, and Mr Johnstone Tl was also Aliss Eleanor Brownlee a pupil and a member of Mareo 9 orchestra, who became pianist m his theatie orchestra and private secretary, at a salary of about 10s a week. Ihei seemed to have been a considerable deerree of intimacy. They went out m the car together, and she spent week-ends at the Marcos’ house, it was said to help him with his work m writing scenarios. She also did up his shirts and tics, and it was the Crown s submission that the married life ot the accused and his wife was very unhappy. , , ~ Aiareo said in a statement to the police that they never lived as man and wife. He also said she drank two bottles of sherry every day, and two weeks before her death suffered sei ercly from appendicitis, but a post-mortem examination showed no signs of it. Quarrels between Aiareo and his wile were referred to by Air Johnstone, and the use of objectionable terms by accused. He also mentioned a scene one Saturday night, when Aiareo returned home intoxicated, and Aliss Brownlee was making up a bed to stop the night. Counsel also referred to various P'uchases of veronal by accused from different chemists, stating that within a fortnight he bought a mixture and pills for his wife, and also 57 other tablets of barbitone or veronal. Mrs Aiareo was insured for £35, but no claim bad been made for the money. Air .Johnstone said witnesses would testify to Airs Marco’s good health up to April 11. Counsel .described the fatal illness, and Aliss Stark’s el torts to induce Aiareo to send lor a doctor. Air Johnstone then dealt with the post-mortem findings, and said the medical evidence would be that there was a clear indication that Airs Aiareo nad taken a fatal dose of veronal. Dr. W. Gilmouv, a pathologist, would say there were no signs of alcohol. _ That did not prove that she did not take alcohol but there were no signs of wlmt one would expect from a person who consumed two bottles a day. “These medical witnesses will toll you that Airs Aiareo died of veronal poisoning,” declared Mr Johnstone. “She may have had, according to the story told to ALiss Bransgrove and Aliss Evans, a dose on the Friday night, and one on the Saturday morning, from which she awoke on Saturday night, another dose on Saturday

night, and possibly another. Wc say that Saturday night’s dose was administered by accused. He had veronal in his possession in large quantities, and lie had the opportunity to give it to her. We submit that when you have heard the evidence you will have no difficulty in finding that ho gave her all the doses.” Daughter’s Evidence. Elizabeth Patricia Mareo, aged 21, described how she came to Auckland vt tse request of her father, the accused. She did not get on very well with Mrs Mareo, and some weeks before Mrs Marco’s death witness left. Witness visited the Tenterden avenue house a week after Airs Mareo died. Witness took the labels away or burnt them. She thought one of the labels hacl “barbitone” on it. 'Witness threw the bottles out, too, because she thought that no one was supposed to purchase veronal, and that the chemists would get into trouble. "Witness remembered Mrs Aiareo being in bed for about three weeks on one occasion. She thought Airs Mareo had been drinking. Airs Aiareo had a dead set against doctors, and when one had been suggested by witness, Airs Aiareo objected, but would not give a reason. 'Witness said she had on occasions discussed 'things with Airs Aiareo, who had said that if she ever thought she was going to have a baby she would kill herself. Witness said this appeared to her to be an obsession on Airs Mareo’s part. Witness had seen Airs Aiareo under the influence of liquor more than once. Witness had discussed this drinking with Aliss Stark. Witness had seen Airs Aiareo in such a state that she implored somebody to get some brandy. Witness was commissioned to get it. "When witness first met Aliss Brownlee was a pianist in an orchestra. Aliss Brownlee was very good to them all when she visited them. Witness had never seen any sign of affection between Aliss Brownlee and accused. The hearing was adjourned.