DETECTIVE IN BOX.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 234, 3 October 1935, Page 11

DETECTIVE IN BOX.

FIRST VISIT TO HOUSE. bottles and contents. Detective-Sergeant A. B. Meiklejohn said that on the night of April 15 he went to Tenterden Avenue with Detective J. B. McLean. Detective Hamiltou, Graham Mareo and Freda Stark were there. Witness was shown into the front bedroom. There was a double bed, which had been slept on, across th-j corner of the room. He made an examination of the room. The sheet on the bed was stained on the right-hand side and witness took possession of it. On the pedestal was a bottle of sal volatile, which he took possession of and handed to the Government analyst next day. Witness tested water in a jug and in a glass was satisfied that it was no', adulterated. He also took possession jof a bag of peppermints, which he handed to the Government analyst.

Witness searched some .suitcases, deceased's handbags and drawers. . He took possession of a bottle of aconite from the top drawer of the ducliess. Thic iia Jiandcd to the Government anal} it.

On top of the wardrobe he found one wine bottle, one half schnapps bott;°, and one quarter whisky bottle. All were empty.

"The only thing I took possession of from the kitchen were the ashes from the kitchen grate and ashpan," continued the detective. "These I handed to the Government analyst 011 May 23. In the pantry I saw an empty half-size whisky bottle. I took possession of two prescription bottles which wore practically empty. They were also handed to the Government analyst oil April 16. In the scullery I saw a bottle of aspirins, about half full. I was looking for a bottle that might have contained a black or brown mixture, but I could find 110 such bottle in the house. "About this 6tage Mareo came in. Detective Hamilton was then interviewing Graham Mareo in the sitting-room. Miss Brownlee arrived with Mareo. I told Mareo that we were making inquiries about the death of his wife. I asked him to cive a detailed statement of what he knew of the death of his wife. He did so. I asked Mareo what veronal lie had bought and he said he had bought three lots from chemists within the past throe weeks. I asked Marco about the three pills he had shown to Dr. Dreadon. He produced two yellowish-brown pills from his pocket. Why So Much Veronal? Witness asked how Mrs. Mareo came to have so much veronal. Mareo replied, "Do you think I am a murderer V Witness said lie was only making inquiries and he asked Mareo to describe his purchases of veronal. Mareo said ho first bought a bottle containing 50 tablets, while the second was an oblong packet of 12 tablets, and the third lo' he described as a bottle containing what he thought to be 24 or 25 tablets. Be fore describing these purchases accused wg.s asked to hand over any veronal he had. Mareo took from his hip pockei a small unlabellcd bottle containing 1 i tal»l«ts. These, with the other exhibits,

where handed to the Government analv*t- Jiaro« tuid he had been taking ortc rvrMii tartlet per night for tho past three weeks for sleeplessness) on the advice of a chemist. He said, "Do I look like a drug addict." Police Search House. Marco explained that he had shown the bottle which had contained the 50 tablets to Dr. Drcadon. He said he had hidden this bottle in a suitcase on a shelf in the waslihouse. Asked from what chemists he had made the purchases, Mareo refused to give the names. He asked Mareo this several times, also about the bottle of brown mixture or "dope" that he had said he Inst saw in Mrs. Mareo's bedroom and the pantry, but he did not appear to trouble himself where it was then. "I was in and out of the room on a number of occasions while accused was making his statement and I was present when the last few pages were made," said Detective Sergeant Meiklejolin. "I asked him why he had not got a doctor and I brought Freda Stark into the bedroom. I told him she had stated that she asked him several times to get a doctor. Accused said, 'I don't remember that, uiv dear; you know Thelnia used to drink a lot.' "I asked accused .about the bottle of dope and said to him, 'Miss Stark says you got it from a chemist.' Marco said. 'You are mistaken, my dear.'" Witness asked Mareo to get the empty bottle which he spoke about. Both he and Mareo went out to the \vushhouse. Mareo reached up on his toes, put his hand in a suitcase, and, after fumbling around, produced the empty veronal bottle. This bottle wis marked "100" on the top of the table. "I Feel Like a Criminal." When Marco pulled the bottle out he said, "Oh, you will get the chemist's name 011 that. Please don't take it." Witness said, "Hand that bottle over here." He turned towards the copper but witness caught his hand and took the bottle. Mareo at that time said.

"1 feel like a criminal." Also in the washhouse witness found three empty tound whisky bottles. He found a box and Mareo said, "That is the one I got tho veronal tablets in," but witness reminded accused that he had said that lie got tho veronal in an oblong packet. Alareo then said, "Oh, I don't know where that came from." A thorough search of the washhouso was carried out, but nothing of importance was found at that time.

Accused made comments while making the statements, such as, " I feel like a cad talking like this about my wife, but I've got to protect myself," and, "Is there anything in this that will hang me?" and "I feel like going and hanging myself, bringing all this veronal into the house."

Witness then produced the statement which was made by Mareo on the night of his wife's death.

The Court adjourned at 4.50 p.m. until this morning.