MAREO TRIAL

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXXI, Issue 46, 25 February 1936, Page 2

MAREO TRIAL

Alleged Murder of Wife DETECTIVE’S EVIDENCE QUESTIONS PUT BY POLICE (Per 1 ess Association) AUCKLAND, Last Night. Continuing the trial of Eric Mareo, who is. charged with the murder of his wife, Thelma, Clarice Mareo, on April 15, 1935, medical evidence was given and then the first, of the police witnesses took the stand. The Court was again crowded, and the accused followed the testimony with the greatest interest. The Crown case is being conducted by Mr A. H. Johnstone, K.C., Auckland, assisted by Mr V. N. Hubble. The defence is in the hands of Mr H. F. O’Leary, K.C., Wellington, assisted by Messrs Trevor Henry and K. C. Aekins. When the trial of Eric Mareo. who is charged with the murder of his wife, entered its second week, the Court was again crowded, those present including many smartlydressed women. Mareo followed tITb proceedings with the same close interest. He has lost some of the deep sun-tan which was apparent at the commencement of the trial. The cross-examination of Dr E. B. Gunson, specialist in heart troubles, was continued by Mr H. F. O’Leaiy, K.C. (for the defence). Dr Gunson said he had seen four cases of veronal poisoning, all results of misadventure. He never saw Mrs Mareo. He was giving an expert opinion as a result of what he had heard. He was first brought into the case some weeks before the Lower Court proceedings. His opinion was quite independent of the view taken by Dr Gilmour or any other doctor. He agreed that what might not be a fatal dose to an ordinary person might be fatal to a susceptible person.

“I have given this drug to many susceptible persons,” said witness, “but the effects are not those which Mrs Mareo presented. I’ve never seen in a susceptible person—and I have seen a good many—symptoms of mental unco-ordination and confusion such as Mrs Mareo presented, and I don’t know of any such description in literature.” Mr O’Leary: Mental confusion and unco-ordination is the result of an overdose? Witness: Yes. The Dangerous Dose You think this lady had 100 grains of veronal. Is that the total of the three administrations or the last?— “I should say it would be the total.” What is a poisonous dose? —“A dose greater than .10 grains. Any dose which is greater than a therapeutic dose must be dangerous.” What quantity in grains?—“The average poisonous dose to produce death is 50 grains.”

Replying to a. further question, witness said his "meaning in his Lower Court evidence was that the minimum poisonous dose was 50 grains. To Mr Johnstone, witness said that veronal was commonly given in medical practice. “Veronal,’’ he said, “is a sheet anchor in the matter of hypnotics. It is commonly put on the tongue and washed down.” Mr Johnstone: In your opinion would it have been possible for Mrs Mareo to have taken veronal before calling out on the Saturday night?— “I don’t think so.” If she had veronal before calling to Freda Stark, would she have remained awake for two hours? —“Not in my opinion.” Witness accounted for the 20 hours sleep by the big dose after she had awakened on Saturday night. Dr Gilmour, pathologist, recalled, explained experiments which he had carried out, showing that veronal tablets had not fully dissolved after 24 hours in a solution of sal volatile and water.

Dr Ludbrook, consulting physician, gave corroborative evidence. He said he had experience of several veronal poisoning cases. If the person suffering from veronal poisoning was coming out of a coma he would not relapse without further doses. Witness attached importance to the fact that Mrs Mareo was found out of bed on the -Saturday morning, this showing mental confusion; also to evidence that she woke of her own accord on the Saturday evening. He did not think she could have taken a dose by herself on Saturday night. Mr O’Leary: I put it to you that even doctors differ on the question

that Mrs Mareo was recovering on Saturday night. Witness: I do not think so. Mr O’Leary: Would you describe her condition on Saturday morning as one of suffering from a slight overdose of veronal? —“Yes.” John Foley gave formal evidence as to the sale of a box of pills. He Identified the box but did not remember to whom it was sold.

Detective’s Story Detective-Sergeant Meiklejohn, the first police witness, described an interview with Mareo at his home on the evening of his wife’s death, and taking possession of exhibits. Others at the house were Detective McLean, Graham Mareo, Freda Stark and Miss Brownlee, the last-mentioned arriving with Mareo. The accuseu said he had bought three lots or veronal in the preceding three weeks.

Asked how his wife came to have so much veronal, said Detective Meiklejohn, Mareo said: ‘‘Do you think I am a murderer?” He said he had been taking one veronal tablet at night for sleeplessness, adding: “Do I look like a drug addict?” He said that the first lot was 50 tablets, the second twelve and the third 20 or 25. He pulled out a bottle containing 11 tablets from his hip pocket, but refused to give the name of the chemist’s where he bought the veronal.

Continuing his evidence after lunch, Detective-Sergeant Meikle-j john said he had brought Freda Stark into the same room as the ac-, cused. Witness said to the accused: ( “Miss Stark has stated that she j asked you several times to call a doctor for your wife.” Mareo said: “I don’t remember that, my dear. You know, Thelma used to drink a lot.” Miss Stark then said: “Oh, yes; I did, Mr Mareo.” Witness said he then mentioned about the bottle of “dope” and told Mareo that Miss Stark had stated that he told her fie had bought a bottle of “dope” from a chemist for his wife. To this Mareo said: “You are mistaken, my dear.” Towards the end of the taking of the statement witness asked Mareo to get the bottle. Mareo went to the washhouse, witness and Detective Hamilton following him.

“I Feel Like a Criminal” ‘‘When, we got to the washhouse. ' Mareo reached up on his toes and got ‘a bottle from a suitcase on a shelf,” added the detective-sergeant.! ‘'The bottle was empty. There was ‘loo’ in figures on the label of the bottle at the time, but this number has, since worn off the middle of the top of the label. It became worn through my taking the bottle to various chemists/’ Witness said that Mareo remarked: “I feel like a criminal. I feel like a cad saying all this about my wife, but I’ve got to protect myself.” He also said, referring to his statement: 'Ms there anything in this that will hang me?”, and “I feel like going and hanging myself, bringing all this veronal into the house. ” When witness completed taking the statement from Mareo the accused signed it. Witness then read the statement, the principal parts of which were quoted by Mr Johnstone in his opening address to the jury. Witness then gave lengthy evidence regarding a series of questions he asked Mareo on. April 19. In the course of these the accused said he had got veronal tablets from three chemists before April 1, 1935. He had several times seen his wife in a sound sleep 'all day or for days owing to drink. Questions and Answers Continuing to quote questions and answers, witness said the accused stated that he did not suspect that his wife was taking drugs other than alcohol. She took no drugs to make her sleep but drank alcohol. Questions and answers were then quoted by witness as follows, the questions being asked by witness, and Mareo answering. Is it true that you have been taking drugs heavily since last Wednesday, the 10th inst., and were in a stupor up till Friday?—“Only one tablet at night. I have been drinking spirits.” Have you ever seen your wife with any drugs?—“No.” You said a chemist told you that your wife would sleep for four days after giving her certain pills; who was this chemist? —“If I did make this statement I retract it. ,T You were with your wife until she was taken to hospital on Monday?— “Yes; all day on Monday.” Did your wife object to Miss Brownlee coming to your house? —“I don’t know T .” Did your wife order her away on

any occasion? —“Not to my knowledge.” Did Betty Mareo tell Miss Brownlee to leave your house?—“No.” Miss Stark denies taking a bottle of whisky to your home, but says that on one occasion you gave her two bottles of sherry to take to Mrs Mareo? —“I have not seen Freda Stark bring whisky here. I arranged I with Freda Stark to bring two i bottles of sherry here.” !' Witness said that (he series of ■ questions was not signed.

Remains of a Policy Detective Meiklejohn said he next went to No. 1 Tenterden Avenue on May 20. Witness and Detective Hamilton searched the premises. Mi* Johnstone: Did you find anything in the rubbish heap at the back of the house? —“Yes; I found the remains of an insurance policy containing the word ‘Thelma’ and the number of the policy.”

j Witness said that Detective Hamilton drew his attention to a letter i signed “Eleanor Brownlee” and two i medicine bottles which he had found 5 under the house. > Witness and Detective Hamilton next saw the accused on June 5 at Miss Brownlee’s place. Detective ; Hamilton then wrote down a state- ' ment which the accused made.

[ “When we first saw Mareo he said (to us: ‘What do you think? The ' other day someone rang up and asked if I had been arrested’,” added j Detective Meiklejohn. “I asked the accused if he had ever given his wife any veronal, and Mareo said, ‘Oh, no’. ’ ’ ! Witness handed in other lengthy statements which he said had been ! made by Mareo. In the course of one statement Mareo said: “My wife started to drink more than usual when we first went to Bucklands [Beach. She had been under the in1 fluence of liquor at the theatre while I was conducting on several occasions. I do not know of any person • who has seen her there under that 'condition. I do not know if there was ; any liquor in the house Tor a fortnight before her death. I believe it ■ was there, but I did not make a i! search for it.

‘ ‘ Appeared Intoxicated ’ ’ “I cannot remember if I bought any liquor in the fortnight before her death. I probably bought a bottle of whisky which I gave Freda Stark to take back to Tenterden Avenue to my wife. I saw that my wife appeared intoxicated on Friday morning, April 12. her symptoms being the ones I usually saw in her after alcohol. I thought that my wife’s condition was brought about by her secret drinking, in view of the fact that I had not, as far as I can remember at this period, supi plied her with any liquor. | “I cannot remember whether 1 j saw my wife take alcohol during i the fortnight prior to her death. I ' thought she appeared in a drunken sleep on the Saturday morning. "Bv drinking-bout symptoms I mean that she appeared, dull and ' heavy and wanted to be left alone to sleep it off. The only liquid that my wife had on the Saturday' evening was some milk. I do not remember who prepared the milk. It may have been anyone in the house, including I myself. I do not know how much of this milk she took. Left No Will j “The first time it occurred to me [ that my wife was really ill was on I Monday, April 15. My wife did not i leave any will as she had nothing to ' leave.

“I was worried over my financial position after leaving the theatre and I am pretty heavily in debt through loss of musical concerts and 'The Duchess of Danzig’ production.’ ’ Mareo declared in the statement that his wife practised Lesbianism ■and mentioned instances when his suspicions of her improper behaviour with another woman were aroused. He added: “I knew definiiely through having been told by by wife before we were married that she was a Lesbian.” Mareo handed to Detective Meiklejohn three letters saying: “These letters will prove that my wife was a Lesbian. I found them among her effects after she died.” The hearing was adjourned till to-morrow.