MAREO TRIAL

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19816, 21 February 1936, Page 8

MAREO TRIAL

WIFE MURDER CHARGE. MISS BROWNLEE IN BOX. TESTIMONY OF DOCTORS. AUCKLAND, Thursday. The trial of Eric Mareo, aged 44, musician, who is charged with murdering his wife, Thelma Mareo, on April 15 last, was resumed in the Supreme Court this afternoon. Chief interest centred round the evidence of Miss Eleanor Brownlee, wdio acted as secretary to Mareo in his musical and dramatic activities. Cross-examined by Mr O’Leary after giving her evidence, Eleanor Jeannie Brownlee said Mareo meant nothing to her from a relationship point of view. She was a. university graduate, a Master of Arts, and needed three more subjects to complete her Bachelor of Music degree. She went to Mareo to study orchestration. The first time she washed Mareo’s white ties and vests w-as at Mrs Mareo’s request. The latter said when she starched things they stood up by themselves. (Laughter). Mareo had intended to make his wife leading lady in his film. “ Relationship Never Friendly. ll Witness said she had often heard that Thelma Mareo suffered from her appendix, and used to take paraffin oil for it. Re-examined by Mr Hubble she said her relation-ships with Mrs Mareo were never really friendly. The next witness, Mrs Rebecca Knight, a next-door neighbour, said she often saw Mrs Mareo, who often used witness’s telephone. She had never seen any sign of liquor on her. She once heard Mrs Mareo call, and from her window witness saw her fall in a faint. She had heard her complain of her appendix. Evidence of Doctor. Dr. John Dreadon said he received a telephone call to go to the Mareps’ house about 2.20 p.m. on April 15. When he arrived he was met at the door by the accused, who told him that'Mrs Mareo had. taken some medicine three days before for a certain purpose. Witness said he went into the bedroom and made a quick examination of Mrs Mareo. “She was deeply unconscious and seemed to me to be desperately ill,” 'he said, “My opinion at the time was that she was practically dying. “I asked Mareo if he knew what she had taken, and he produced two tablets from his pockets and said he thought she had taken some tablets corresponding to these. “I was suspicious that she had had an overdose of something,” continued Dr. Dreadon. “Her general condition and appearance made me very strongly suspect that she had had an overdose of veronal. I asked Mareo if bis wife was in the habit of taking any dope, and he replied ‘No.’ ” When witness asked Mareo if he had any veronal in bis possession, he replied that he had some in the house and that he occasionally took a tablet for insomnia. He was asked to get-the bottle, and came back expressing surprise that it was empty, as he said it was full the last time he saw it. Mr O’Leary: I suppose you know that the predominating cases of veronal poisoning are either suicide or misadventure ?—Yes. From what transpired subsequently, she certainly had a fatal dose? —Yes. But I suppose you -know- that the experience of the medical profession is this—that a comparatively small ; quantity of veronal may kill one person, and another person may recover from a very large dose? —That, is so. Admission to Hospital. Dr. .R. D- Keanan said that when admitted to hospital Mrs Mareo was deeply unconsciou's and in an advanced stage of general collapse. Stimulating treatment was given, but •she made no response. Mr Johnstone: Did you form any opinion of her condition?—Her condition was quite consistent with veronal poisoning. Did you see 'the accused?—Yes, about five minutes after his wife’s admission. Mareo had told witness that his wife had been sleeping on Friday night, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Witness asked him why he had nof obtained any medical attention, and he •said his wife had a horror of becoming in a certain condition, but she had obtained some medicine from a chemist, and he thought the state she was in was a result of having taken this medicine. Witness had asked Mareo whether he had any veronal in the house. Mareb said he had some veronal tablets in a bottle and he had taken a couple of tablets himself. He said lie had kept the tablets in a bottle in the washhouse and when he .went to look for the bottle on the Friday night he liad found it empty. Mareo said lie had got the lablels as lie had suffered from insomnia. Mr Johnstone; Was anything proposed for restorative measures?— Yes, a blood transfusion. Mareo was sent to have a blood test. Did lie demur? —No. And while he was away at the laboratory?—She died. Did lie say anything about his home life?—Yes. He said how happy it had been. Was there any sign of Mrs Mareo having taken alcoholic liquor?—No. The autopsy did not disclose any signs ol' alcohol? —No. Mr O’Leary: Dr Dreadon told us that Mareo said lie had found the empty veronal botlle on the Monday, but you say lie told you of finding the bottle empty on the Friday night?— Yes, that is true. You were referring to his wife’s illness on the Friday night?—Yes. Do you think there is the possibility of a mistake on your part when you say Mareo told you he found the bottle empty on the Friday night and not the Monday?—No. 1 do not think so. It struck me as curious that he should have said that he found the bofTTe empty on Friday in view of the fact that Dr. Dreadon had fold me it was the Monday. The two statements were inconsistent and it was impressed on my mind. Visit of Two Women. A sister al the Auckland Hospital, Violet Mary Hyde, who in April of last year was in charge of ward 2, said Mrs Mareo had been admitted

about 4 p.m. She was quite unconscious and had practically no pulse. , Mrs Freda Evans, of Mount Eden, said she had played the part of Josephine in “The Duchess of Dantzig.'' She had seen Mrs Mareo during the rehearsals and every night during the performance. Witness had never seen her under the influence of drink. Mr Johnstone: How did she play her part?—She played It. marvellouslyWitness said she had visited the Mareo home, but had not seen Mrs Mareo drinking. During the course of the play all she would have was brandy or sherry. Mareo said that when Thelma was on drinking bouts he would quieten her by giving her veronal and brandy, which would make her sleep. v - Mr Johnstone: Did he ever discuss hfs married -life with you?—Just once. He said he was sorry for his wife, because he knew he was impossible to live with. AVitness described how she visited Mareo’s house after Mrs Mareo's death In company with her friend, Miss Bransgrove. When they were in the sitting-room Mareo said, “Thank God Thelma was not, insured.” Also he said that on Thursday evening she was very worried because she thought she was in a certain condition. Airs Mareo had told him that rather than ithat anything should happen to her, she would end everything. “He said that on Friday she did not seem very well, and he gave her some veronal to make her sleep,” said witness. Mareo said the chemist had told him to take a tablet of veronal and to have a. good sleep. Mr Johnstone: Did you make any comment? —Yes, I -said surely you won’t take veronal when you know "the way Thelma suffered. He said Thelma •suffered no pain. “They Won’t Hang Me?” “Just before we rose he said he was very frightened, and would we help him as he needed us,” continued witness. “As we were leaving he grasped the arm of my girl friend and myself, and said: ‘They won't hang me, will they?’ ” Mareo also said ,he had walked the streets all the previous night with Graham as a companion-Cross-examined by Mr O’Leary, witness said she was a great admirer of Mrs Mareo, and liked her. And you didn’t like Mareo, did you? —I don’t know. You didn’t like him. did you?—NoAmi this man you didn’t like, you went the day after the death to offer your sympathy?—Yes, hut it wa s not ■a matter of like or dislike. I suggest that your visit on the Tuesday morning was the visit of two curious women?—Not necessarily. Witness said she was very sure that Mareo told her in November that he gave Mrs Mareo some brandy and veronal to keep her quiet. •said she first, met Mareo at the end of May and early in June, 1934. He was advertising for people to take part in “Tales of Hoffmann.” She took part in “The Duchess of Dantzig,” playing the part of Princess Pauline. She saw Mrs Mareo on several occasions during the show 7 . Mrs Mareo was always eager and alert to help anyone. Witness saw no signs of liquor about •her. Witness described her visit with Mrs Evans to Mareo after the death of his wife. Mention of “Dope.” Norman Ralph Bloomfield, a company secretary, said he first met Mareo In connection with some support for putting on professional orchestral concerts In Auckland. He met Mrs Mareo later, and visited them at Buckland's Beach. Mr Hubble: What can you say from your observations there about Mrs Mareo's drinking?—ln the early part when I was in contact with them, there were no signs of any drinking at all- In the latter part there were signs of drinking, but not to excess. “The last, night of ‘The Duchess of Dantzig’ Mrs Mareo was in a state of •collapse,” said witness. “I first heard of Mrs Mareo's death when Mareo rang me up about 6-30 on the night of her death. It was rather a shock, and I asked him what the trouble had been. He hesitated a moment, and said, ‘Oh, the usual.’ ” Mr Hubble: What did you say?—*l said, “Wliat, the appendix?” He said, “Yes, the foolish girl, if she had gone into hospital and had her appendix out she would be alive now.” “He mentioned that he did not know until after he was married that Mrs Mareo was fond of the dope, and that he had done everything possible to keep it from the public,” said witness, describing a conversation with Mareo on the following Thursday evening. Cross-examined by Mr Henry, witness said his wife was a friend of Mrs Mareo. The suggestion regarding the appendix came from witness. Mr Henry: You speak of “dope” Mr Bloomfield. What did you understand by that —liquor, was it not?—• I took it to mean drugs. The Court at this stage was adjourned. TO-DAY’S EVIDENCE. ANALYSIS OF SHEET. PRESENCE OF VERONAL. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Friday. The fifth day of the Mareo trial saw the public portion of the Supreme Court again crowded after queues of men and women had awaited the opening of the doors. Mr V. N. Hubble, for the Crown, informed His Honour, Mr Justice Fair, that counsel for the defence had decided, instead of calling five witnesses concerning the production of a mattress as an exhibit, that the depositions of those witnesses would be read in Court. The mattress was in an ante-room and would be produced if required. Mr O’Leary, K.C., for the defence, concurring, this course was followed. The next witness, Kenneth Massey Griffin, Government analyst, gave details of test-s. “ I examined the organs for poison and found veronal to be present,” witness said, lie added that he recovered in the brain 2.35 grains, and in the liver, kidneys and spleen, 2.60 grains. The stomach content was 0.4 grains. From a stained sheet he recovered 4.33 grains. The total amount recovered was 14.78 grains. Finding of Veronal. Cross-examined by Mr U’Leary, witness said lie could find no milk in the stomach, lie experimented and found that veronal would dissolve in half a cup of milk either warm or cold. Six tablets dissolved in warm milk in about live minutes. Witness knew

that one well in authority had stated that veronal should never be given in a solid form or in milk, and knew that veronal would be readily soluble in sal volatile. A normal person might take veronal without tasting it, but he thought they would taste it. Mr O’Leary: I am informed that the average lethal close is 50 grains? Witness: That is so. Mr O’Leary: Gan you say if the average lethal dose was taken?—Yes, but I would prefer to leave that to the medical witnesses. What quantity of milk would be required to dissolve one hundred grains? —I experimented and found that, eight tablets could be dissolved in a cupful of milk. To dissolve more would make the milk “ porridgey.” The foreman of the jury: What colour would the milk be if heavily impregnated with veronal?—There would be no colour change. Thickness would be noticeable and not the colour. This would be caused by starch in the tablets. At His Honour’s request witness agreed to carry out further experiments with the dissolution of veronal in milk. Dr. Gllmour’s Conclusions, Dr. Walter Gilm.our, pathologist at the Auckland Hospital, detailed a postmortem examination carried out by him. All the appearances indicated an overdose of a hypnotic drug. There was no evidence .of any disease. The appendix was healthy. His conclusion was that death was due to veronal poisoning. A person taking veronal would fall asleep about half an hour later, remaining asleep for about six or eight hours. If heavier doses were taken, a deep sleep would probably be followed by a coma. Referring to the happenings on the Saturday night before the death, witness said these indicated quite clearly that Mrs Mareo was recovering from a dose, She was able to awake on her own account and ask for a drink of water. There could be no doubt that treatment at that stage would have brought about her complete recovery. Her falling asleep could only be accounted for by another dose of veronal. From the description of her condition that night it would have been impossible for her to get out of bed, and even had she been within easy reach, he thought, it would have been impossible for her to take veronal herself. The amount extracted by the analyst indicated that Mrs Mareo had had a.fatal dose. Dr. Gilmour estimated that she had probably had at least 100 grains. (Proceeding.)