MURDER CHARGE

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19900, 1 June 1936, Page 8

MURDER CHARGE

RETRIAL OF MAREO. A FORTNIGHTS HEARING. CROWN’S CASE OUTLINEL. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Monday. Sentenced to death on February 26 for the murder of his wife, Thelma Clarice Mareo, aged 29, by administering a hypnotic drug, Eric Mareo, aged 45, musician, stood in the dock in the Supreme Court this morning for retrial on the grounds that fresh evidence had been discovered. Mr Justice Callan presided. The Crown case was conducted by Mr V. R. Meredith, who at the time of the first trial was travelling as manager of the All Blacks, and with him Mr F. McCarthy, while the defence was again conducted by Mr H. F. O’Leary, of Wellington, Mr Trevor Henry and Mr K. C. Aek'ins. No evidence was called for the defence at the last trial but several witnesses will be called on this occasion, including three from Australia. It is expected that the trial will last about a fortnight. Casual public interest was shown this morning, a small queue of men waiting outside the doors and a few women being seated in the gallery set aside for them. Mareo stepped briskly into the dock and after smiling at- his counsel stood watching carefully the empanelling of the jury. He was neatly dressed and looked fit and bronzed. Nine applications for exemption from the jury were received, four being granted and fifteen being set aside by the Crown. The defence exhausted its right to challenge. The Court was adjourned to allow the jurymen to make their business and domestic arrangements. Crown Case Opens. tv. Mereditl v opening the case for the Crown, said if a person took an overdose of veronal he would go into a coma and when recovering would not have a relapse. Mrs Mareo, who had been married only eighteen months, was a very talented lady. She graduated B.A. at the University Of Queensland and was an actress of charm, while with the Ernest Rolls Revue Company she met Mareo whom she married in Wellington in October 1933. she died in April 1935 at her home in Tenterden Avenue, Mount Eden, where she had lived with her husband, his son Graham by a former marriage, and a girl known as Betty Marco, aged 21, who was a daughter of Dr. Grey and Mrs Grey, of England. One of the many witnesses to be called would be Miss Freda Stark, a close friend of Mrs Mareo and a frequent visitor to the house. Another, Miss Eleanor Brownlee, who met Mareo when she started to take lessons in orchestration from him, also acted as accompanist in his orchestra and his private secretary. At the time of the marriage Mrs Mareo had saved £SOO which she handed to her husband. At the time of his wife’s death Mareo was financially embarrassed, and was out of permanent employment. There had been three serious quarrels between Mareo and his wife shortly before her death. Story of Quarrels. “ Mareo was a heavy drinker,” declared Mr Meredith, and used to ceme home under the influence of liquor.” He described an occasion after a cabaret party when Mareo came , home under the influence and there was a row in which Mareo verbally' attacked his wife, saying, “ get out on j the streets where you belong,” and she j replied “ give me back my £500.”; Mareo replied: •‘Cant do that. Would take me two years.” On another ocassion there was a row between them in the bathroom, ’ Mrs Mareo leaving the house with Freda Stark and spending the night at her friend’s place. Eleanor Brownlee, who had brought Mareo home in her car, slept that night in the house. Purchase of Veronal. Mr Meredith described a further quarrel when Mareo came home one night and ordered Freda Stark out of the house. The evidence would show that Mareo purchased veronal, stating that he had been suffering from insomnia. Just prior to the fatal sleepthc accused had purchased veronal. On Friday his wife was in bed all day. Betty returned home and had tea with her father and brother. Mrs Mareo got up and washed the tea things. Mareo went to the bathroom and wrote a note which lie gave to Betty, telling her she was the daughter of Dr. Grey and il' anything happened to communicate with a solicitor. Written on Hie envelope was an instruction that it was not to be opened unless she heard of his death. The letter would show I hat Mareo was in either a morbid or desperate mood. The same evening Mrs Mareo went into a sleep and finally died. When Freda Stark left the house that night she kissed Mrs Mareo and did not notice a smell of liquor. Evidence would -be given by two women that they saw Mareo after his wife’s death, lie told them he had given his wife some veronal on Friday night. That night Freda Stark noticed that Mareo, on awakening, staggered in his gait, but there was no smell of liquor on him. Mrs Mareo was still sleeping. Freda Stark suggested getting a doctor but Mareo said if she did not wake soon he would get a doctor. He said if he got a doctor he would get into trouble because of the medicine he had got her that night. Before Mareo went for a drive with Miss Brownlee Miss Stark again suggested getting a doctor. Mrs Mereo’s Condition. After he had been out about half-an-hour Miss Stark heard Mrs Mareo call out ‘ Freda” and she went to her. She did not seem to have power in her limbs but her mental activities were all right. On Saturday night on the suggestion of Miss Stark sal volatile was given Mrs Mareo, who became brighter. A cup of milk was brought in, the accused handing it to Miss Stark to give his wife. When Miss Stark attempted to give the rest of the milk Mrs Mareo clenched her teeth and declined to drink it. She was soon again asleep. Next morning Miss Stark again suggested getting a doctor. The court adjourned for lunch at this stage. (Proceeding .