MAREO TRIAL

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 250, 22 October 1935, Page 8

MAREO TRIAL

MURDER CHARGE. JUDGE'S DIRECTION. " LITTLE DIFFICULTY." ADDRESS TO GRAND JURY. Special direction on the manner in which the grand jury should deal with of wife murder against the Auckland musician Eric Mareo, aged 44, was given by Mr. Justice Fair at the opening of the Supreme Court criminal sessions this morning.

At the opening of his charge to the grand jury, his Honor said that he proposed to leave the case of Mareo until he had dealt with the other 1G cases for trial, because the evidence in the Mareo ease was such that it needed dealing with in detail.

"The gravest charge is that against Erie Mareo, who is charged with murdering his wife, Thelma Clarice Marco, on April 15 last," said his Honor, who directed the jury to conFider Mareo's case when they first retired. "The Crown alleges that Mareo murdered his wife by poisoning. It may be that accused has an answer to the charge. The charge does not require to be proved to you, and if- you are satisfied that there is evidence to justify the case going before a common jury, then you will return a true bill.

E"\ idcncc is available in the following form." said his Honor. "Mrs. Mareo died at .5.30 p.m. on April 15 in the Public Hospital, and the cause of her death was- veronal poisoning. Evidence will show that the average fatal dose :s 50 grains, but there have been known eases where a much lesser dose has caused death. An analyst will give evidence that veronal was found in deceased s organs, and her symptoms oefore her death show that she must have taken about 100 grains." Mrs. Mareo Cheerful. Up to Friday, April 12, said his Honor, -Uvs. Marco was in normal. health and spirits on that evening she was cheerful. Evidence to tliat effect would a? - s : en ky intimate friend of Mrs. Mareo, the witness Freda Stark, who had spent that Friday evening with hei. On that evening, the evidence would disclose that Elizabeth Patricia Mareo, y\ lio passed as accused's daughter, was in the house. She did not live with nor father. Accused wrote' a note and handed it to his daughter. On it was written: "Not to be opened unless you hear of niv death.'' The note had been opened subsequently, and it revealed that the girl who had passed as Mareo» daughter was not his daughter at all. The note ended: "I solemnly swear that what. I am telling you is the truth, so try and think kindly of me. Daddy." That was about seven o'clock on the evening of Friday, April 12.

Twice on the following morning, said his Honor, Mrs. Mareo fell out of bed. The son, Graham, would give .evidence that lie saw Mrs. Mareo standing at her dressing table swaying, and apparently dazed. She was put back into bed and fell into a deep sleep which lasted until 0.30 that night. Freda Stark was present when she regained consciousness.

Would Have Recovered. ''Medical evidence will show that Mrs. Mareo's symptoms- were those of veronal poisoning," continued his Honor. "If she had taken no more veronal on the Saturday night she would have recovered. The post-mortem examination revealed that she suffered from no organic disease. About midnight on the Saturday night Mrs. Mareo was given a cup of hot milk, and the evidence shows that it was prepared by the accused. An analyst gave evidence that 30 grains of veronal could be dissolved quite easily in milk.

"Soon after that Mrs. Mareo sank into a deep sleep, and all the symptoms again were those of veronal poisoning. The following day Mrs. Mareo was unconscious and Freda Stark urged Mareo on three occasions to get a doctor. He said ho would get one soon. On Monday morning about ten o'clock an effort was made by accused's son,. Graham Mareo, to get Dr. Murphy, and a Miss Brownlee tried again about eleven. . Mareo's Suggestions. "About 1.30 p.m. on the Monday Freda Stark arrived. She was alarmed at Mrs. Mareo's condition and accused then got Dr. Dreadon. That was the first time a doctor had been communicated with from 'the Friday until the Monday afternoon. When Dr. Dreadon arrived he diagnosed veronal poisoning and Mrs. Mareo was taken to hospital, where she died at 5.30. Accused made several statements before it was decided to arrest him. In one he said that his wife's death may have been due to appendicitis, but that was not borne out by the post mortem. Accused also suggested that Mrs. Mareo had taken the veronal herself.

"Accused admits that he made purchases of three lots of veronal, a total of G2 tablets, which were equal to. 310 grains. There were eleven tablets found and accused said that he had been taking them himself. There is evidence to show that Mrs. Mareo never complained of appendicitis or pregnancy, even to her most intimate friend'.." Evidence of Quarrels. His Honor briefly mentioned motive and said that the Crown called evidence of accused's quarrels with his wife. On "one occasion Mrs. Mareo had left following a quarrel. There was also evidence that Mareo showed some callousness towards his .wife when she was in a nervous state. Over 30 witnesses were to be called to prove the allegations of the Crown against Mareo. The grand jury would call such witnesses as they thought necessary to satisfy them. I

"There should be little difficulty in concluding that the evidence is such as to call for an inquiry by a common jury, and if you arrive at that decision you must return a true .bill," concluded his Honor. "The witnesses who will help you most are Freda Stark. Graham Mareo, the medical men and DetectiveSergeant Meiklejohn."

At the luncheon adjournment the Grand Jury had not dealt with the Mareo case.