Murder Re-frial

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 128, 2 June 1936, Page 7

Murder Re-frial

Eric Mareo Again in Dock

FORTNIGHT’S SITTING ANTICIPATED Per Pres 3 Association. AUCKLAND,’ Last NightSentenced to death in February for the murder of his wife, Thelma Clarice Mareo, aged 29, by administering a hypnotic drug, Eric Mareo, aged 45, musician, stood in tho dock in the Supreme Court this morning before Mr. Justice Callan for liis re-trial on the grounds that fresh evidence had been discovered. The Crown’s case is being conducted by Mr. V. R. Meredith, who at the time of the first trial was travelling as manager of tho All Blacks, with him was Mr. F. McCarthy; while the defence was again conducted by Mr. U. O’Leary, K.C., Wellington, assisted by Mr. Trevor Henry and Mr. K. C. Aekins. No evidence was called for the defence at the last trial, but several witnesses will be called on this occasion, including three from Australia. It is expected the trial will last about a fortnight. Casual public interest was shown this morning, only a small queue of men waiting outsido tho doors and a few women were seated in the gallery set aside for them. Mareo stepped briskly into the dock and after smiling at his counsel stood watching carefully the empanelling ot the jury. He was neatly dressed in a blue-striped suit and looked fit and bronzed. There were nine -applications from coemption on tbc jury, four were granted. • Fifteen were set aside by the Crown, while the defence exhausted its right to challenge. Tho Court adJor nod to allow jurymen to make business ancl domestic arrangements. Opening for the Crown. Mr Meredith, in opening the case for the Crown, said that if a person took an overdose of veronal ho or she would go into a coma and when recovering would not have a reiapse. Mrs Mareo, who had been married for only eighteen mouths, was a. very talented lady, a B.A. of the University of Queensland and an actress of charm. While with Ernest Rolls Revue Company she met Mareo and they were married at Wellington in October, 1933. She died in April, 1935, at her home in Tenterdcn avenue, Mount Eden, where sho had lived with her husband, his sou Graham, aged 17, by a former marriage, and the girl known, as Betty Mareo, aged 21, who was the daughter of Dr. Grey and Mrs Grey, of England. One bf many witnesses to be called was Miss Freda Stark, a close friend of Mrs Marco and a frequent visitor to the house. Another would be Miss Eleanor Brownlee, who met Mareo ■when she started to tuko lessons in orchestration from him. She also acted us accompanist to his orchestra and was his private secretary. At tho time of her marriage, Mr Meredith said, Mrs Mareo had saved £SOO, which she handed to her husband. At the time of his wife’s death Mareo was financially embarrassed and out of permanent employment, llicrc had been three serious quarrels between Mareo and his wife shortly before the latter’s death.

“Marco was a heavy drinker,’’ declared Mr Meredith, “and used to come homo under the influence of liquor.” 110 described an occasion after a cabaret party when Marco came home under the influence ot liquor and there was a row in which Mareo -verbally attacked his wife, saying “Get out on the streets where you belong,” and she replied, “Give mo back my £SOO. Marco replied, “I can't do that. It would take me two years.” On another occasion there was a row between them, in 'he bathroom, Mrs Mareo leaving the house with Freda Stark and spending the night with her at a friend's place. Eleanor Brownlee, who had brought Mareo home in her car, slept, that night in the house.

Purchase of Veronal

Mr Meredith described a further quarrel when Mareo came homo one night and ordered Freda Stark out of the house and accused bis wile of being a lesbian. Evidence would show that .Marco purchased veronal, stating that lie had been suffering from insomnia. Just prior to Mrs Alareo’s fatal sleep the accused had purchased veronal. On the Friday his wife was in bed all day. Belly returned home and had tea with Mareo and her brother. Mrs Mareo got up and washed Ihc tea things. Marco went to the bathroom and wrote a note which he gave to Betty telling her that she was the daughter of Dr. Grey and at if anything happened she was lo communicate with the solicitor named on the envelope. There was an instruction that it was not to be opened unless she heard of his death. The letter would show that Marco was in either a morbid or a desperate mood. The same evening Mrs .Marco went into the sleep in which she finally died.

When Freda Stark left home that night she kissed Mrs Mareo and did not notice a smell of liquor, said Mr Mcrcditn. Evidence would be given by two women that they saw Marco after his wife’s death. He told them he had given his wife some veronal on Friday night. That night Freda Stark noticed that Mareo on awakening staggered in his gait but there was no smell of liquor on liim. Airs Mareo was still sleeping. Freda Stark suggested getting a. doctor, and Alareo said that if she did not wake soon he would get a doctor. Doctor Again Suggested.

Beforo Mareo went for a drive with Miss Brownlee, Miss Stark again suggested getting a doctor, Mr Meredith continued. After ho had been out about half an hour Miss Stark heard Mrs Mareo call out, “Freda,” and went to her. Sho did not seem to have power over lier limbs, but her mental activities were all right. Oil the Saturday night, on the suggestion of Miss Stark, sal volatilo was given to Airs Alareo and sho became brighter. A cup of milk was brought in for her,

the accused handing it to Aliss Stark to give to his wife. When Aliss Stark attempted t 0 give the rest of the milk Airs Alareo clenched her teeth and declined to drink it. Soon,she was again asleep. The next morning Aliss Stark again suggested getting a doctor.

Air. Alcrcditk referred to the calling oi Doctor Dreardon on the Alonday afternoon. The doctor formed the opiuiou that there had been an overdose of some drug. Airs, Marco was then sent to hospital, but the treatment was unavailing and she died. A post-mortem was held next day and it was found that all the organs were healthy. Examination by a Government analyst disclosed traces of veronal. Air. Alcrcditk'said two witnesses would be called who would say definitely that Mareo told them he had given his wife veronal on the Friday night. They would also say Alareo said to them the morning following, his wife's death: “I am really frightened.. They won’t hang me, will they?” Uu {September 2, said Air. Aleredith, Alareo was arrested. When the warrant Was read over to him he said: “Really 1 On what evidence? This is ridiculous. What evidence have you got?”

Alareo married his wife IS months ago, said Mr. Meredith, “She Hicn had £SOO and he admits getting £4OU | of that. Just before his wife’s death Alareo was financially embarrassed. He now had no use. for his wife and had called her a lesbian and a drunkard. Ho had found someono else more useful vo him and according to his own statements his wife was of no use to him either sexually or socially. Alareo had made various explanations as to why he had not got a doctor, continued counsel. He first said it was becauso of the medicine he had obtained, for her and then said he believed she was only in a drunken sleep. He had made no attempt to get a doctor even when his wife was in a ghastly condition on Alonday and it was only w T hen Freda Stark arrived in the afternoon that a doctor was obtained. The inference was that Alareo never really wanted his wife to live. The hearing was-adjourned. ;