TRAGIC SCENES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume IV, Issue 160, 18 June 1936, Page 5

TRAGIC SCENES.

VERDICT DELIVERED. MaiWs Aicack On Freda Stark. ;s - ■ -±„ - ■,-, SHOCK FOR DAUGHTER. .' Press Association—Copyright. Auckland, Last Night. Public interest, ar. shown by the attendance at the Court, had flagged at times during the lengthy retrial of Eric Mareo, but it rose to a climax to-day. All day long there was a busy going and coming of cars and pedestrians, and long queues of men and of women formed up at their respective entrances early. In the evening, when it was known the verdict was to be expected, the crowd grew to record size, and at about 7.30 p.m. the police found it necessary to close ■and guard all the entrances. Scores of cars-were parked in the neighbourj hood. The 2nal address for the Crown by i Mr. Meredith closed at 12.20, and was followed by His Honour's summingup, which lasted until 5.27 p.m., when the jury retired. Sharp at S o'clock there came a sudden stir among the crowd that had succeeded in gaining admittance to the Court. "Sit down!" i shouted a constable. "Stand off the seats!" called another. Swift movemsnts of officials indicated that the jury was returning. Mareo, the ce figure of the drama, returned to his place in the dock in time to watch intensely the faces of the jurymen as they entered i one by one. He turned toward Betty Mareo, who was seated in the witness seat.', and smiled, end then turned : again 10 watch the jury. The Registrar exchanged brief words: v.ith the foreman. The noises in Court had hushed to "silenee before the sharp o*-y of "Silence!" heralded the entry of the Judge.

The Verdict. "Gentlemen of the jury," asked the Registrar, "have you agreed upon your verdict?" "We have," was the brief reply. "How say you? Do you find the prisoner guilty or not guilty?" came the second question. The foreman uttered one word: "Guilty." ' f A low, stifled sob could be heard and signs of emotion among the crowd were suppressed by the call of "Silence!" Mareo, braced against the rail of the dock, stood with his mouth slowly working. He looked toward Miss Mareo and softly called, "Betty." He then squared his shoulders and faced the Judge. "Prisoner at the bar," continued the Registrar, according to the prescribed form, "have you anything to say why sentence of death should not be passed upon you?" '•'lt is very hard to say anything under the circumstances," said Mareo, his voice showing signs of emotion, "because it is the second time I have been through this terrible ordeal. I can only say that it seems to be, from a logical, clear-minded man's reasoning, from the way the whole of this case has been conducted by all counsel, and after your Honour's, may I say, marvellous sum-ming-up, I have been sentenced on the lying word of Freda Stark. I ought not to say that," he added after a pause, "but what can I say? Nothing more." As the Judge put on the black cap the Court crier stood forward to deliver his challenge. "Oyez; Oyez! Oyez! All manner of persons are commanded to keep silence while the judgment of death is pronounced by the Court upon the prisoner at the bar, upon pain of fine or imprisonment." ! , l'a-v it'niififci Leaving the Dock. After hearing the sentence of death Mareo looked again to where Betty Mareo was sitting and called her name almost inaudibly. Probably she was too overcome to be aware of it. Slowly and apparently reluctantly he descended the steps, gazing into the faces of the silent crowd at the back of the Court. His Honour exempted the jury from further service fcr six years, and congratulated the counsel concerned on their handling of the case. Betty Mareo gave way to unrestrained sobbing until a young man and a woman hurried to her assistance and helped her away. Mareo's i3on, Graham Marec, did not appear to,

be present. Still in his wig and gown and sunk limp over ike bar table, Mr. H. F. Q'Leary, K.C., who had twice fought Mareo's long, losing battle, bore the appearance of a man who had been struck a cruel blow. Probably the public would have remained discussing the position indefinitely, but Court officers and the police quickly shepherded them outside the building, where groups remained in conversation for sometime.