MAREO RETRIAL

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21803, 8 June 1936, Page 3

MAREO RETRIAL

FURTHER EVIDENCE HEARD

WITNESSES REFER TO, DRINKING (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, June 6. The retrial of Eric Mareo, a musician, charged with the murder of his wife, was continued to-day. His Honour Mr Justice Callan presided. The Crown case was conducted by Mr V. R. Meredith, with him Mr F. McCarthy. The defence was conducted by Mr H. F. O’Leary, K.C., of Wellington, Mr Trevor Henry, and Mr K. C. Aekins. / Mrs Freda Evans gave evidence that she had met Mareo through the “Duchess of Danzig” performance, in which Mrs Mareo played a leading part and performed marvellously. Witness said she had never seen Mrs Mareo under the influence of alcohol. She had seen her drink only once and that was a small glass of sherry. In November Mareo had said that when his wife was on a drinking bout he sometimes gave her veronal and brandy to keep her quiet and make her sleep. Once he had said he was sorry for his wife, for he knew how impossible he was to live with. Witness thought Mareo to be a heavy drinker.

On the morning after the death of Mrs Mareo, witpess and Miss Bransgrove went to the house. There was no one at home, but as they were leaving Miss Brownlee drove up with Graham Mareo and Mareo. The latter seemed to be slightly under the influence of liquor. He talked with witness in the sitting-room. He said: “Thank God, Thelma was not insured.” He said he had given her some veronal on Friday to make her sleep, as she did not seem very well. In the course of conversation he said that he had not called a doctor earlier because he was so used to seeing Thelma “canned.” Before they left Mareo said he was really frightened, and added, “They won’t hang me, will they?” Mr O’Leary: When you last gave evidence did you not state that, while you liked Mrs Mareo, you did not like Mareo?

Witness: I did say that. You wore me down with your persistence. Whilst I did not hate him and I did not love him I had every respect for him and had no reason to feel otherwise, but you would not let me say that. To Mr O’Leary, witness said that from four to six weeks after the death of Mrs Mareo witness gave a statement to the police. The purpose of her visit on the Tuesday was to offer sympathy to Mareo. She remembered seeing Mrs Mareo at her home on October 20, 1934, in a stupefied condition. Her eyes were very glassy. Mrs Mareo had once said that after digging in the garden she had a pain in her side.

Re-examined by Mr Meredith, witness said that on the occasion she saw Mrs Mareo in a stupefied condition Mareo was in the house. Mrs Mareo had once said that she was tired of artificial life and if things did not improve she would end everything. Doris Bransgrove. single, one of the principals of “The Duchess of Danzig.” said that during rehearsals she never saw a sign of liquor on Mrs Mareo. She corroborated the evidence of the previous witness regarding statements made by Mareo on the Tuesday. Cross-examined, she said that on the final night of the operatic performance Mrs Mareo fainted, and it was thought this was due to her appendix. This was the only occasion on which witnes had seen hfer ill. Sister Violet Hyde said that when Mrs Mareo was admitted to hospital she was almost dead. All sorts of stimulants were given, without avail. The court adjourned until Monday.