RE-TRIAL OF MAREO

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 143, 2 June 1936, Page 9

RE-TRIAL OF MAREO

Mr. Meredith Opens Case for the Crown QUARRELS DESCRIBED By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, June 1. Sentenced to death in February for the murder of his wife, Thelma Clarice Mareo, aged 29, by administering an hypnotic drug, Eric Mareo, aged 45, musician, stood in the dock at the Supreme Court for re-trial on the grounds that fresh evidence had been discovered. Mr Justice Callan presided. f,ho Crown ease was conducted by Mr. V. R. Meredith, who, at the time of the first trial, was travelling as manager of the All Blacks. With him is Mr. F. McCarthy. The defence is again being conducted by Mr. H. I l '. O'Leary (Wellington), Mr. Trevor Henry, aud Mr. K. C. Aekius. Mr Meredith, opening the case for the Crown, said that if a person took an overdose of veronal he would go into a coma aud, when recovering, would not relapse. Mrs Marea, who had been married only 18 months, was a very talented lady—a B.A. of the University of Queensland and an actress of charm. While with the Ernest Rolls Review Company she met Mareo and they were married at AVellington in October, 1933. Sho died in April, 1935, at her homo iu Tonterden Avenue, Mount Eden, where she had lived with her husband, his son Graham, aged 17, by a former marriage, and a girl known as Betty Mareo, aged 21, who was a daughter of Dr. and Mrs Grey, England. One of the many witnesses to be called, Miss Freda Stark, was a close friend of Mrs Mareo and a frequent visitor to the house. Another would be Miss Eleanor Brownlee, who met Ma reo when she started to take lessons in orchestration from him; she had also acted as accompanist iu his orchestra, and as his private secretary. THE MONEY ANGLE. At the time of the marriage Mrs Mareo had raved £5OO, which she handed to her husbanfl. At the time of his wife’s death Mareo was financially embarrassed and out of permanent employment. There had been three serious quarrels between Mareo ana nis wife shortly before her death. “Mareo was a heavy drinkei,” de clared Mr Meredith, “aud used to come home under the influence of liquor.” He described an occasion after a cabaret party when Mareo came home under tho influence of drink and there was a quarrel in which Mareo verbally attacked his wife, saying; ‘ ‘ Get out on the streets where you belong, ’ ’ and she replied: “Give me back my £500.” Mareo replied: “1 can’t do that. It would take me two years ” Mr Meredith described a further quarrel when Mareo come home one night and ordered Freda Stark out of the house and accused his wife of being a Lesbian. Tho evidence would show that Mareo purchased veronal, stating that he bad been suffering from insomnia. Just prior to the fatal sleep the accused had purchased veronal. On the Friday his wife was in bed ail day; Betty returned home aud had tea with her father and brother. The wife got up and washed tho tea things and Mareo went to the bathroom and wrote a note which he gave to Betty telling her that she was the daughter of Dr. Grey and if anything happened to communicate with a solicitor. Written ou the envelope was the instruction that it was not to be opened unless sho heard of his death. Tho letter would show that Mareo was in either a morbid or a desperate mood. The same evening Mr Mareo went into a sleep and finally died. When Freda Stark left home that night she kissed Mrs Mareo and did not notice the smell of liquor. Evidence would be given by the two women that they saw Mareo after his wife’s death. He told them that he had given his wife some veronal on Friday night.

NO SMELL OF LIQUOR.

That night Freda Stark noticed that Mareo, on awakening, staggered iu hie gait, but there was no smell of liquui on him. Mrs Mareo was still sleeping Freda Stark suggested getting a doctoi and Mareo said that if she did uol wake soou he would get a doctor. He said that if he got a doctor he would get into trouble because of the medicine he had got her that night. Before Mareo went for a drive Mrs Brownlee and Miss Stark again suggested getting a doctor. After he had been out half an hour Miss Stark heard Mrs Mareo call out “Freda!” amd went to her. She seemed to have no power in her limbs but her mental activities were all right. On the Saturday night at the suggestion of Miss Stark sal volatile was given Mrs Mareo and she became brighter. A cup of milk was brought in for his wife, the accused handing it to Miss Stark to give to his wile. When Miss Stark attempted to give the rest of the milk Mrs Mareo clenched tiei teeth and declined to drink it. She was soon asleep. Next morning Miss Stark again suggested that a doctor be called Mr Meredith referred to the calling of Dr Dreadon on the Monday after noon, The doctor formed the opinion that there had been an overdose ot some drug. Mrs Mareo was then sent to hospital, but treatment was unavailing and she died. ALL ORGANS HEALTHY. A post-mortem was held next day aud it was found that all I lie organ.' were healthy. An examiuation by the Government analyst disclosed traces of veronal. Mr Meredith said that two witnesses would be called who would say deliu itely that Mareo told them he tiau given his wife veronal on tin Friday night. They would also say that Mareo said tu them the morning following his wife’s death: “I am really frightened; they won’t hang me, will they?” Ou September 2, said Mr Meredith, Mareo was arrested When the warrant was read over tu him lie said: ’ lii'tiiiy?

Ou what evidence? This is ridiculous! What evidence have you got? ’ “Mareo had married his wife 18 months ago,” said Mr Meredith. “She then had £5OO and he admits getting £4OO of that. Just before his wife's death Mareo was financially embaras sed. He now had uo use for his wife and had called her ‘Lesbian ana a drunkard. He had found someone else more useful to him and, according to his own statements, his wife was of no use to him either sexually or socially. ’' Mareo had tuude various explanations as to why ho had not got a doctor, continued counsel. He first said it was because of the medicine ho had obtained for her, and then said he believed she was only iu a drunken sleep. Ho had made no attempt to get a dm toi oven wheu his wife was in a ghastly condi tion on Monday, and it was only when Freda Stark arrived in the afternoon that a doctor was obtained. Tie nfereuee was that Mareo never really wanted his wife to live. Tho hearing was adjourned.