RETRIAL OF MAREO

Grey River Argus, 11 June 1936, Page 5

RETRIAL OF MAREO

HIS COMMENTS To the Police (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, June 10. AVhen the Marco trial entered the ninth day, Doctor H, ; . L. Ludbrook gave evidence, corroborating the evidence given l>v Doctors Gilmour and Gunson. He said that from the evidence given, he had come to the conclusion that Airs. Al'areo died from veronal poisoning, and that she probablv had about one hundred grains of veronal taken at different times. Witness considered a dose was taken on Saturday morning. Her reported symptoms, throughout. Sunday and Alonday. were consistent with the effects of further doses. He considered that from the time she fell asleep, after going to the lavatory, until the arrival of Doctor Dreadoii, she was in ti continuous coma, and possibly had three doses. There may have been one on Friday night, one on Saturdtiy morning, and one early on Sunday morning, probably just before the lavatory incident. Possibly, she had only two doses, and none on Friday night. From the evidence, he did not think it posible she could have taken veronal herself between the time she awoke and the time she called Freda Stark on Saturday evening. A further dose would have, produced sleep very rapidly for she already had some veronal in her svstem. ' AUCKLAND. June 10.

At the Marco trial, when the Court resumed this afternoon. Detective Sergeant Mciklejohn told how Al'areo had made comments while he was reading n statement that he had made. He said:- “I feel like a cad. saying all this about mv wife, but I have to protect myself.” He also said: “Is there anything in this to hang me? I feel like going and hanging myself, bringing all this veronal into the house.” Another statement Alareo made verbally was: “I do not want this to go down, but, between us, my wife was fonder of women than of men—you know what 1 mean.” Statements made by Alareo to the police dealing with of veronal were next read by DetectiveSergeant Meiklejohn, recounting further investigations. TVitness said that on May 29, he found on an ash heap at the back of the house in Tcnterden Avenue, a burnt portion of an insurance policy with the name “Thelma”, and a policy number. Visits made to Alareo at various times were described, and statements made by him were read by witness. He described the arrest of Alareo at Eleanor Brownlee’s room in AVynyard Street.’ on September 2, by himself and Detective Hamilton. AVhen witness road a warrant to him. charging him with the murder of his wife, Alareo said: “Really, On what evidence? This is ridiculous! AVhat evidence have you got?” The hearing was adjourned.