AUTOMATISM

Grey River Argus, 16 June 1936, Page 5

AUTOMATISM

USE OF VERONAL Dr. Giesen’s Evidence (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, June 15. Keen public interest was again shown when the Marco re-trial entered the second week this morning.

Ernest William G’.eson, medical practitioner. Wellington, gave evidence that in the course of his practice he had acquired a knowledge of the barbituric. group of drugs. He had pxpcrienced one ease of veronal poisoning, in which 250 grains had been taken. He was familir* with the circumstances of the Alareo cast. After Afareo was committed for trial from the Lower Court, he had read all the depositons, and advised the defence from time to time before the first trial. During the last few days he had perused the evidence of several of the principal witnesses. “1 am still of the same opinion now, as I was in January,’’ said witness. “T have studied literature or: barliituries and veronal. Generally. I would accept, the statements of Dr. Gilmour relating to the average medicinal dose and the average fatal dose. Usually. veronal was taken to induce sleep, but is occasionally taken by people during the day, although not prescribed like that by medical men. It would ]jc taken by highly nervous and excitable people to calm them, but for such cases bromide is usually prescribed. ’ ’

Witness added that it could be said Mrs. Afareo was likely to be susceptible to drugs, in view of what had been said regarding her temperament. The published literature showed that people who took veronal automatically would take whatever was available. There was nothing striking about the evidence that she had taken less than a hundred grains. No inference could be drawn from the amount of veronal extracted after death from various organs. The literature st * 1 the amount taken could be gi.’-si'.l at, but not determined. In rn.ne of the reported eases was he ab'e to find a. suggestion as to how an estimate i-ould be formed. Dr. Gieson said hc< did not think the factors on which the Crown medical witnesses relied for the statement that Airs, Alareo had a dose of a hundred grains of veronal wore sufficient. adequate, or reliable. The fact that a hundred grains or more was fatal d’d not help to estimate how much ADs. Afareo had.

Referring to the nightdress and k'mono which had been removed from Airs. Alareo before Doctor Dreadon’s arrival, witness said it was known that there must have been veronal in those garments. “We have one positive finding; the amount of veronal the analyst actually found and weighed, and one finding which is unknown —-the quantity in the garments sent to the analyst, which he was never able to recover,” said Dr. Gieson. “Tf Airs. Alareo had taken at least fifty grains, more than half of c which would still be in her bodv on Saturday night, then there would be seven tv-five* grains, or more in the bodv. “We cannot account for about one-eighth- of what must have been in the bodv on the basis of the (evidence' for the prosecution.*’

Did Mrs. Mareo Search ?

DR. GIESIN SUGGESTS AUTOMATISM.

AUCKLAND. .Tune 15

At the retrial of Alareo, Dr. Giesin gave evidence that if Airs Alareo had undissolved veronal in her stomach on thp. Saturday night, the effect of taking water, sal volatile water, and hot milk would bo to start the digestive processes, which had been arrested, and to assist in the solution of the. undissJolved veronal, tending to promote its ready absorption into the blood. AV’tness 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 Airs ’Alareo had veronal on the Friday night. It would be difficult to give veronal to an adult in the full possession of tho 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 Airs Alareo knew the taste of veronal, she would undoubtedly have boon 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 Satuidaj evening, that was consistent with her seek’nir for veronal, and he. witness, considered that it was a case of automatism'. It did not follow that she took veronal at eight o’clock. She miff lit have got back to bed and got veronal later. The time that she lived after Saturday morning, until hei death was consistent with her having taken a lethal dose that morning. The luncheon adjournment was then taken.

“OfOFFIN SHIES.” COUNSEL’S REAIARKS. AUCKLAND, .Tune If>Evidence ot the mishap was given bv Douglas BH-vio Stubbing, engineer pump would normal!} cope tiffins of water an hour and the two hand pumps together w th about Lffi gallons an hour. The was fitted with two engines. This machine , nil in working order. The other three members of the crow aiilistantiated tho evidence given bv the master and the engineer. Various shipwrights and surveyors who worked on and examined the Kaiam 'll December test fioil to the sound ness of her hull, and to .her full equipment of life-savmg appli'ancos. Ouesqon'iig Leonard Robertson. Master ATarinor and Alarine Surveyo’ - . Mr Walsh asked whether ho considered Hint the Kaiaia was suitable for the total engine power ol 54 horse-->owor. and for c.rui'shig on all coasts ' f tho Domin’on. wlveh her classifiea.>s a “homo-trade vessel” o.rinh'od her to do. The engines were •uitable, said the witness.. The matter of the vessel’s classification was rM-

ed as being beyond the cope of the inquiry. “Classification of this type 01 craft.” said Mr Walsh, in’ reviewing the evidence, “as a home-trade vessel, is no more than the licensing of coffin ships If nothing is done to protect men sailing in these scows. ;here twill be some terrible disasteis. Jlr Wilson said that the finding of the Court would be submitted to the Minister c.f Marine. DE. GIESEN CROSS-EXAMINED. AUCKLAND, June 15. At the Mareo trial, cross-examina-tion of Dr. Giesen by Mr Meredith began when the Court resumed. Witness said That he had not been in general practice for a good many years, but he had continued to practice as Consulting Physician for the ; few years. His attention had bee mainly confined to acting for insurance companies in life, sickness, am accident cases. Mr Meredith: T understand , that you substantially disagree with the conclusions of Doctors Gilmoui. Gun sou, and T.udbrook? Witness: Yes. Do von understand that Mrs Mateo i s dead? Do you agree with them in that?—Yes. You could put- veronal in medicine Mrs Mareo was taking just belore her death an'd you con'd not tel-

there was veronal in it? Nies. The mixture and. veronal both tast< bitter?—Yes. After a long series of questions. Dr Giesen admitted that. if Airs Alareo took veronal while she wa> standing at the dressing table on the Saturdav morning, veronal must hai o been in her bedroom, and if 11 there. Mareo and Graham would haw seen ft. There was n« place in tie evidence suggesting that veronal was found in the bedroom. . The cross-examination was n completed when the Court adjourned till to-morrow.