FINAL EVIDENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22353, 26 February 1936, Page 15

FINAL EVIDENCE

AEKEST OF MABEO REMARK BY ACCUSED - \ TESTIMONY OF DETECTIVES The last of the Crown evidence in the Mareo trial was given when the hearing was resumed yesterday morning. Continuing his evidence-in-chief, De-tective-Sergeant A. B. Meiklejohn told Mr. Johnstone that he met accused for the last time on September 2. Detective Hamilton and witness went to No. 24 Wynyard Street and knocked at the door of Miss Brownlee's room. Mareo was there. Witness asked Miss Brownlee to leave, and she did so. Mareo said: " Have you heard anything? " Witness said, " Yes, we have. I have a document here I will read to you." He read over a warrant charging Mareo that 011 April 15, 1935, he did murder Thelma Clarice Mareo. Mareo said, "Really! On what evidence? This is ridiculous. What evidence have you got? " Detective Hamilton warned the accused in the usual way. Mareo was given permission to telephone his solicitor. There was a table in the room set for three, and accused said, " Graham has just been in for lunch and has gone to work." He also said, " We were just going to the pictures." Accused was taken to the watch-house. Accused's Room Searched At the accused's room in Waterloo Quadrant witness said the}' found a quantity of effects that were afterwards claimed by Miss Brownlee. These included a typewriter, gramophone, books, music, shoes, script and a dress. Mr. O'Leary's first question to witness in commencing his cross-examination was: " What height are you as you stand?" —I am 6ft. iin. in my stockj ings. What additional height do you get from footwear ?—Probably another inch. Witness was asked to stretch his arm above his head, and Mr. O'Leary commented that that looked like another loin. Mr. O'Leary: When did you decide to arrest the accused for murder?—-On September 2. I suppose that accounts for your not having given him any warning when taking the six statements before his arrest ? —You keep strictly to that procedure? —Yes. It is better for your purposes if a man is not warned ?—That may be. Witness agreed that there were 21$ typewritten pages of statement by Mareo. Some of the questions might have been suggested by medical men, but they came to him from his superiors, The medical men, for instance, wisheci , to know what commonsense Mrs. Marec spoke on the Saturday evening. Veronal Discussed Both at that time and later witnes; discussed with Mareo the quantities o: veronal he had obtained. The series o: questions to which he got answers fron Mareo had not been signed by Mareo. Mr. O'Leary: You spoke of a dress o: Miss Brownlee's found at Mareo's room Was it not rather a smock or a cover all used by women when working?— Yes it was. The next witness was Detective R J. Hamilton, who said he went to ] Tenterden Avenue on April 15, aboul 6 p.m., when Graham Mareo was th< only one at home. Freda Stark arrivec shortly after seven o'clock. Mareo anc Miss Brownlee arrived about 8.30 p.m " Accused said, ' 1 have had a double whisky and I have a bottle of brandj out in the car which will make me sleej to-night,' " said witness. " Mareo said, ' I feel like doing myself in.' I told him not to be silly." Accused's Alleged Remarks Corroboration of Detective-Sergeanl Meiklejohn's evidence concerning an interview with accused and the question? asked and his answers was given by witness. Accused had asked them, " Dc you think 1 am a murderer? " Witness said that while making his statement, accused made various comments, one of which was, " People will be thinking I am a drug addict. Do I look like one? " When witness read the statement through Mareo said, "Dc vou think there is anything there to hang me?" At the part referring to his sitting in a chair beside his wife, Mareo said, " It looks bad, being with her all the time, but 1 have nothing to fear." Marco thanked the detectives for the way they had treated him during the interview. Accused made several comments, such as, " The poor darling," and " The poor dear." 'Answering Mr. Aekins witness said Mareo produced the veronal tablets at once when asked, and did not obstruct the search in any way. Acting-Detective J. B. McLean gave corroborative evidence, and this concluded the case for the Crown.