MURDER CHARGE

Taranaki Daily News, 3 September 1935, Page 6

MURDER CHARGE

AUCKLAND MUSICIAN RECENT DEATH OF WIFE ARREST OF ERIC MAREO ' COMPOSER; CONDUCTOR . EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. Eric Mareo, aged 41, a well-known musician and composer, was arrested this afternoon on a charge of murdering his wife, Thelma Clarice Mareo, at Auckland on April 15. He will appear at the Police Court to-morrow. The arrest was made by Detective-Sergeant Meiklejohn and Detective Hamilton, who have been investigating the circumstances of Mrs. Mareo’s death for the past four months. The charge against Mareo is: “That at Auckland on April 15 he did murder one Thelma Clarice Mareo.” His wife died in the Auckland hbspital on the evening of April 15, aged 29. Her address was given as Tenderden Avenue, Mount Eden, and she was admitted on the afternoon of her death on April 16. Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., opened an inquest and ordered a post-mortem examination to be made.. The only witness was Elizabeth Patricia Mareo, single, of Epsom, who identified the body as that of her stepmother who was married to her father about 18 months ago at Wellington. “During the time that I have known my stepmother.” said the witness, “I ‘ have noticed that she was addicted to liquor. She has frequently been confined to her bed as the result of her indulgence in liquor. “I last saw her on Friday night at her home. Yesterday at 3 p.m. I received a message from my brother, Graham, that my stepmother had been taken to hospital very ill. “About six weeks ago my stepmother said she had been getting some pills from a chemist to stop a pain. About the same time she told me that if her responsibilities became too great there was a way out. She appeared to be depressed at the time.

“She did not actually express an intention to take her own life, but from her depressed state at times I considered it quite] possible that she might take her life. As far as I know there has never been any poison about my father’s house other than the usual disinfectants, lysol and peroxide.” The inquest was adjourned sine die. Mareo came to Auckland about two years ago and founded the Mareo symphony orchestra which with 45 professional players gave a number of performances, the first being in November, 1933. He also founded the Mareo Operatic Society which produced “The Duchess of Dantzig” with conspicuous Success in 1934. His wife took the leading role of “Sans Gene.”

According to a short sketch of Mareo’s career he lived the greater part of his life in England and on the Continent and received the earlier part of his musical education at the Guildhall School of Music, London. Later he spent three and a-half years in Germany and 18 months at Paris continuing his musical studies. Afterwards he had an exceptionally varied musical career which included conducting most of the professional orchestras in Europe, recording, both for. piano players and gramophones .and. also sound film work. His instruments are the piano and organ. He has also been a prolific composer. No -fewer than 700 of his compositions have been published. Incidentally these have been composed under about Seven different pseudonyms, “Evan Marsden,” “Eric Dolm,” “Guy Franklyn,” “Gary Foster,” “Leo Verney,” “Edgar Martell,” “Oscar Hammer” and his own name. Eric Mareo..

Mrs. Mareo was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. Trott, Gympie, New South Walts. Her primary education and musical training , were received at the Gympie Convent of Mercy. She subsequently graduated with honours in arts at the Queensland University and she became highly proficient as a pianist and violinist.

She obtained her B.A. degree at the age of 20 and she then joined the Humphrey Bishop company, touring Australia and New Zealand on many occasions. Later she became associated with the Mareo Operatic Society.