MAREO RE-TRIAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 June 1936, Page 7

MAREO RE-TRIAL

NEARINGTHE end DR. GIESEN CROSS-EXAMINED [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, June 15. At the re-trial of Mareo, Dr. Giesen gave evidence that if Mrs. Mareo had undissolved veronal in her stomach on the Saturday night the effect of taking water, sal volatile water, and hot milk would be to start the digestive processes, which had been arrested, and to assist in the solution of the undissolved veronal, tending to promote its ready absorption into the blood.

Witness said the statement that a person who had once been under coma from veronal and who was roused would not relapse, except after the administration of a further dose was not supported by the reported cases. Witness • believed that Mrs. Mareo had veronal on the Friday night. It wqukl be difficult to give veronal to an adult in the full possession of the faculties, without that person knowing that he or she was being given something. Assuming witness said, that the evidence of the Australian witness, Whitington, established that Mrs. Mareo knew the taste of veronal, she would undoubtedly have been aware what she was taking, or getting. Witness believed that she had veronal on the Saturday morning, because, without it she would not have remained asleep until late on Saturday evening. When she had been found alongside the dressing table on the Saturday evening, that was consistent with her seeking for veronal, and he, witness, considered that it was a ease of automatism. It did not follow that she took veronal at eight o'clock. She might have got back to bed and got veronal later. The time that she lived after Saturday morning, until her death was consistent with her having taken a lethal dose that morning. Cross-examination of Dr. Giesen by Mr. Meredith began when the Court resumed after lunch. Witness said that he had not been in general practice for a good many years, but he had continued to practise as consulting psysician for the last few years. His attention had been mainly confined to acting for insurance companies in life, sickness, and accident cases. Mr. Meredith: I- understand that you substantially disagree with the 1 conclusions of Doctors Gilmour, Gun- ! son, and Ludbrook? i Witness: Yes. i

Do you understand that Mrs. Mareo is dead? Do you agree with them in that?—Yes.

You could put veronal ,in medicine Mrs. Mareo was taking just before her death and you could not tell there was veronal in it?—Yes. The mixture and veronal both taste bitter? —Yes.

After a long series of questions, Dr. Giesen admitted that, if Mrs. Mareo took veronal while she was standing at the dressing table on the Saturday morning, veronal must have been in her bedroom, and if it was there, Mareo and Graham would have seen it. There was no place in the evidence suggesting that veronal was found in the bedroom. The cross-examination was not completed when the Court adjourned till to-morrow.

. EVIDENCE CONCLUDED.

AUCKLAND, June 15

The Court was crowded this morning, when evidence for the defence in the Mareo re-trial concluded, with the completion of the cross-examina-tion of- Dr. Giesen.

“You have contradicted all the evidence of the medical men. Can you quote any literature to support your view?” asked Mr Meredith. 4

Witness: I don’t know if I can. Mr Meredith: You remember Mrs Mareo’s weight was given by Freda Stark as just under eight stone? Witness: Yes.

Mr Meredith: Does not that follow there must have been many times six grains of veronal in the whole of the body at death? Witness: All we know as to the amount of veronal at death is the amount extracted, and we know there must have been more. As to how much more, nobody can make any estimate. Mr Meredith: •! put it to you there must have been many times more. Witness: I cannot concede that. Mr Meredith: Is there any other medical man who can support you in your propositions? Witness: I don’t know of any. Re-examined by Mr O’Leary, Dr. Giesen said he had' been in active practice at Wellington for 30 years. Other medical men still, consulted him. For twelve years he was examiner for the University of New Zealand, — for two years on toxicology and medical jurisprudence. After several technical questions were asked by the foreman of the jury. Dr. Giesen left the box. NOT “DOPEY.” The Crown called George Seymour Dennis Sheard, of Mount Eden, who, in 1928, was a member of the Humphrey Bishop Musical Comedy Company. He said that, in Adelaide, he was the tenor of the show, and Thelma Trott, afterwards Mrs Mareo, was the soprano. They sang duets. He saw her every day and night for five weeks, and she stayed with his people for three or four weeks. “I have no knowledge of her ever taking veronal in that period,” said witness. “She was not dopey and depressed; on the contrary, her brightness was one of her greatest assets. I knew her on the tour of Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand about two and a-half years, and never saw any sign of the dopiness which has been referred to. Miss Trott not only did her ordinary show work, but also acted as Humphrey Bishop’s secretary.” Cross-examined by Mr O’Leary, witness said he realised that Mrs Mareo would be an asset to Mareo.

Re-examined by Mr Meredith, he said that, in view of Miss Trott’s experience with Humphrey Bishop, she Would be an asset as a secretary, Mr O’Leary commenced his address to the jury.