MAREO TRIAL

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 9817, 22 February 1936, Page 7

MAREO TRIAL

WIFE MURDER CHARGE. PATHOLOQIBT’B EVIDENCE. DR. GILMOUR’S CONCLUSIONS.

(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. Dr. Walter Gilmour, 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. No Sign of Alchollsm. Dr. Gilmour quoted the amounts of veronal recovered after death in various recorded cases of veronal poisoning. The amounts recovered —in each case from various organs—were 6.58 grains, 5.19, 9.83, 1.12, and 6.09 grains. The last case was that of a woman addict who had been in the habit of taking veronal regularly. These findings illustrated that in fatal cases only small quantities were recovered from the internal organs after death. Tolerance was not developed in those who took veronal habitually. Tolerance meant that one became definitely able to take larger and larger doses without suffering undue effects. “ A notable example is morphia,” he said. “ Such tolerance is never acquired in the case of veronal.” Mr Johnstone: Did your post-mor-tem examination disclose any. evidence of alcoholism? —No, there was no evidence of alcoholism. I take it that does not absolutely exclude the possibility of it?—No. If she had been taking two bottles of sherry a day was the post-mortem appearance consistent with that?—No, I should say not. Witness said the symptoms as described by Mareo and Freda Stark did cot suggest alcoholism. A ooma resulting from alcoholism lasted only a few hours. Potency of Drug. Cross-examined by Mr O’Leary, witness said that after hearing evidence in the lower Court he did not form the opinion then that the last dose -was taken in the milk. It was impossible to say. Mr O’Leary: A person giving veronal to a friend to take would not have the same significance as giving arsenic or strychnine?—Oh, no. One person takes veronal will recommend it to another?—lt is not unknown. Without any sinister intent?—With the best of intentions. I submit that the average person does not know of the possible fatal consequences of taking veronal?—My impression is that the knowledge of its possibly fatal results is widely known. Witness thought that of deaths from veronal poisoning, misadventure was the preponderating cause; then suicide. Murder was rare. It is really a uncertain murderous weapon?—lt is very uncertain until you get up to 100 grains. Doses Taken by Mrs Mareo. Do you think veronal could he administered in tablet form to a person In a normal state without the person knowing?—No. And in powder form? —Yes, perhaps. Say, in food. Dissolved in liquid it has a soda taste? —Yes. You agree It is soluble in milk?— Yes. As far as Mrs Mareo is concerned, you could not 'say whether any was taken in milk?—No. In your opinion she had a dose on the Saturday morning?—Yes. And another dose In the evening?— Yes. Did you form any opinion of the extent of the dose in the morning?— She must have had between 20 and 30 grains. What do you think was the quantity she had on the Friday night?—She might have had up to 20 grains. Now, you should be able to tell us the final dose? —She must liave had enough to make the total about 100 grains. So then. 20 grains on the Friday, 25 on the Saturday morning and 55 on the Saturday night?—lt could not be said definitely.* Elimination of Veronal. Mr O’Leary: I put it to you. doctor. that she could not have had 80 grains or 50 grains on that night, or anything like It? —Might I put it another way, that from ihe specimen recovered, "totalling 6soz.. Mr Griffin got 2.8 grains. She was eliminating more than that. The normal rate of elimination is 40 or 50oz. in 24 hours. If the last dose was on Sunday night the rate of elimination in the first 24 hours would be greater than In the second. It was impossible for tho analyst to recover completely the veronal that had been distributed over the garments and bedding. What percentage do you think he missed? Double it, treble it, quadruple it. where do you get your 50 to 60 grains in 40 hours?—l am not as far away as you suggest. If he got even 50 per cent of what was in the mattress he had nothing near the quantity of which you speak? You cannot accept the quantity got from garments like that as being the whole quantity. Dr. Gilmour was asked if he agreed with the statement that if a patient had become confused by the taking of a barbituric acid compound he might continue to take further and possibly fatal doses without realising the consequences. Witness: Yes, that sometimes occurs with a person taking veronal. Dr. Richards records three cases. Mr O’Leary read these cases of persons continuing to take these drugs without knowing what they wore doing. Witness agreed that was a possible explanation of Mrs Marco’s couduet when she was standing swav--4 mg before .her dressing table on the Saturday morning. Evidence of Recovery. ’ Mr O’Leary asked if there was not at least one c-tse in Ihe books of a taking > ■' apparently re- j covering and then relapsing into a I

I fatal coma. 41 Not that I know of,” , said witness. I Mr O'Leary referred witness to a ■ case quoted in Taylor’s Jurisprudence, ! but witness said he knew the case and lit did not contradict what he had j said. Mr O’Leary read details of the J case and suggested that the patient i looked to be definitely recovering. Witness: He never ceased to be comatose. He could be roused, but not of his own accord. He never became awake. In addition to veronal he had another drug so that it does not in anyway contradict my statement. Mr O’Leary: In principle I suggest to you it is the same as Mrs Mareo's case? —I disagree with you. You say he did not rouse on his own accord? —Yes. On whose evidence did you take it that Mrs Mareo had? —That of Miss Freda Stark. She asked for a drink of water and she was awake for two hours. There could be only one interpretation of that—that she was recovering. The waking up of Mrs Mareo on her own is one of the strong factors J of your argument?—No, but it is a j factor. J She died of what was a fatal dose | for her. You do not take into account that she may have been a susceptible person?—She died of what I regard as the usual fatal dose. What was your conclusion on the possible effect of the sal volatile? — That that was not the cause of her death. That it was necessary to assume that another fatal /dose was given on the Saturday night. 44 It is my opinion that a dose of 25 grains would account for her sleeping for 24 hours,” said witness. The cross-examination of Dr. Gilmour had not been completed when an adjournment was made.