ALLEGED MURDER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 206, 3 September 1935, Page 8

ALLEGED MURDER

ARREST AT AUCKLAND WELL-KNOWN MUSICIAN A REMARKABLE CAREER [ Ftx Prw A>»or'at,ioß | AUCKLAND, Sept. 2. Eric Mareo, aged -11, well-known musician and composer, was arrested tin afternoon on a charge ot allegedly murdering his wife, Thelma Clarice Mareo, at Auckland on April 15. He will*appear at the Police Court to-mor-row. The arrest was made by DetectiveSergeant Meiklejohn and Detective Hamilton, who have been investigating the circumstances of Mrs Marco’s death for the past four inoiitt s. The

charge against Mareo is ‘‘ That at Auckland on April 15 he did murder one Thelma Clarice Mareo.”

The wife died in the Auckland Hospital on the evening of April 15, aged 29. Her address was given as Tender- , den Avenue, Mount Eden, and she was admitted oa the afternoon of her death. On April 16, Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., opened the inquest and ordered a post mortem examination to be mode. The only witness was Elizabeth Patricia Mareo, single, of Epsom, who identified the bedy as that of her stepmother, who was married to witness’ father about 18 months ago in Wellington. “During the time that I have known my stepmother.” said witness, “1 have noticed that she was addicted to liquor. She has frequently been confined to her bed as a resur. of her indulgence in liquor. 1 last saw her on Friday night at her home. Yesterday at 5 p/m. I received a message \ from my brother Grahrm that my stepmother had been taken to hospital very* ill. About « x weeks ago ixy stepmother said she had been getting some pills from a chemist to stop pain. About the same time she told me that if her responsibilities became too great there was a way o it. She appeared to be depressed at the time. She did not actually express an intention rj take her own life, but from her de piessed state at times I considered B quite possible she might take her life As far as 1 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 pro duced “The Duchess of Dantzig’’ with conspicuous success in 1934. His wife took the leading role of “Sans Gene.” According to a short sketch of career, he lived the greater part of his life in England and on the Continent and received the earlier pa.it of his musical education at the Guildhall School of Music, London. Eater he spent three and a-ha If years in Germany and J 8 months in Paris, continuing his musical studies afterwards. He had an exceptionally varied musical career, which included the conducting of most of the professional orchestras in Europe, recording both for piano-players and g.amophones, and also sound-film wjrk. His instruments are piano and organ. He has also been a prolific composer, no fewer than 700 of his composition.? having been published. Incidentally these xiavc been cpmposcd under about seven different pseudonyms—“ Evan Marsden.” “Eric Ltjlm,” “Guy Franklyn,’’ “Gary Foster,” “Leo Verney,*

“Edgar Ma.tell,” “Oscar Hammer/* and his own name Eric Mareo.

Mrs Mareo was A daughter of Mr and Mrs H. Trott, of Gymp : e, New South Wales. Her primary education and musical training were received at the Gympie Convent of .Mercy. She subsequently graduated with honours in aits at Queensland University, and ’he became highly proficient as a pianist and violinist. She obtained a 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.