MAREO 0N TRIAL

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19903, 4 June 1936, Page 8

MAREO 0N TRIAL

_ i FOURTH DAY'b HEARING. l 1 FREDA STARK'S EVIDENCE. ‘ \\‘IFE‘S TALK OF DIVORCE. 1 i (By Telegraph—Press Association.) { AUCKLAND, Thursday. ‘ The re-irial of Eric .\iareo, mush; clan, on a charge of murdering his wife, Thelma Clarice Mal'efl. 011 April 15, 193.3, entered on its fourth day in the Supreme Court to-claY- The prosecution is being conducted by Mr V, R. Meredith and Mr F. McCarthy, and .\iareo is being defended by Messrs H. F‘. O‘Leary, l\'.ij., T. Henry and l\. C. Aekins. ‘ Freda Stark, resuming her ewdence. detailed the week-end at Teuterden Avenue. She and Mrs .\iareo retired to bed on Saturday night. Later accused came home drunk with Eleanor Brownlec. He went to the bathroom. his wife following, but .\iareo told her to get out adding: "Eleanor can look after me.” .\irs .\iareo said .\lareo undressed but Eleanor went in, saying she had brothers or her own, remark—ing “it's all right, Eric." Thelma said: ‘11“ that‘s the case I‘ll get out," adding "this is sufficient grounds for divorce.” Thelma. and witness spent the night at the latter‘s home, returning next evening. Thelma went to her room to pack her clothes and Eleanor Browniee left. Thelma decided to remain and .\lareo told witness it was all right, he had convinced Thelma he did not love Eleanor Browniee, who, he said, had neither looks nor personality. \Vitnes-s detailed her visit on Friday evening, April 1?. Marco said his wife had been unwell. Thelma came out of the ibath and they talked about clothes. Thelma seemed in good health and did exercises. She took two pale, brown tablets out of a box beside the bed. Fall Out. of Bed. .\iareo invited witness out for the week~end when she arrived next after—noon. )lareo was unsteady and his speech was a little thick but witness could not detect liq-nor. He said Thelma had been asleep all day and in the morning had fallen out of bed. Witness said she ought to get a doctor. accused replying that she could not very well do that Just yet as he had bought some "dope" and might get the chemist into trouble. Thelma was still asleep when after tea Marco went out for a motor drive, Eleanor Brownies asking witness to tell Thelma he had gone out on business. Noise by Spectator-l. “hen the Court resumed after the forenoon break the foreman of the Jury complained to His Honour that the jury could not hear the evidence owing to the noise made by the crowd at the back of the Court. Mr Justice Callan, addressing the public. said: "Asitis of Vital import—ance that the Jury should hear every word of the evidence you will be re—quired to maintain strict silence." Freda Stark, continuing, described the giving of the milk to Mrs .\iareo on the Saturday night. When the ac- , cused came in with a cup of milk for this wire the latter drank about. half ithe cup. \Vitness spilled a little on ‘Thelma‘s nightgown and afterwards ‘ Graham tried to give her more. Thelma was sitting up in bed, drinking slowly. 1 Graham handed the cup back to witness, who tried to give Thelma more ‘ but all of a sudden she clenched her teeth, turned her head and would drink no more. When .\lareo attempted to help wit- . mess to the lavatory he stumbled and ‘i fell across the bed, saying he was very sleepy. Graham then assisted with ,Thelma, who while at the lavatory, iseemed to have fallen fast asleep. [There was no smell of liquor either ion Marco or his wife. \Vhen they re—turned to the bedroom. Marco was half—lying half-sitting at. the bottom of the bed. WitneSs suggested get— I ting a doctor but Mareo said: “ Won't hurt her to sleep tili morning." Refusal to Get Doctor. When Thelma started to gurgle witness called .\lareo loudly several times Ibut. she could not wake him. At no [stage during the night did Mareo or 'his wife awaken. Accused came out ! of a very heavy sleep at 9 o'clock next lmnrning. Witness again suggested getting a doctor but. .\lareo said if .‘Thclma did not awake when he re;turned from keepingr an appointment ; he would get one in the afternoon. She itold him ’l‘helma still had a rattle in {her throat and he had better get a doctor. He said it. was because she was lying on her bark and turned her over, after which the noise stopped. After lunch .\lareo slept till five o‘clock.

\Vitness I'lan never known .\ll's Mama to take drugs. \\'hon witness reached the House early on Monday afternoon Thelma was gasping for breath.

“ it was terrible.“ said witness. She telephoned the doctor‘s and finally got Dr. Dremlon but she could not» speak through her tears, i 1 neighlmur whose telephone she used chimp: the mes—sage. The lum‘henn adjournment was taken (ll this siage. VESTERDAV'S EVIDENCE. l‘inniinuinc his r‘\'illt‘ll|‘l‘ .\esir‘rriay, Hrahnm Erie \iuren. son ”1' [he mu rusril. snirl hr rehwmhr‘rmi quar—rels between his father nnrl Mrs .\iurvu. lie rr‘rnllwi one neeasiuu \\'hh‘h illf‘l‘i' \\ns n rmv in Lhe huihroom. but he «lid not remember what. lime his failwr rmne home that night. His father came home with Miss Brownlea “a hit tight.“ ilis father went. into the imthroom and Mrs Maren followed. "Everyone irooped along to the bathroom.“ said the witness, and he then specified himself. Freda Stark and Eleanor Bmwnlee. .\lrs Mareo was a bit, drunk. She must have got it at home. \\‘itness also recalled the night of a cabaret party held to celebrate the close of “Thr- lluchvss of Danzig" season. Mrs Maren and Freda Stark mme hmml first and Maren came home nt‘ivrwnrii ”Hill“. and there was a quarrel. llurin': iho urinal work—end ])i‘l‘l‘t‘tlill,k" .\lrs .\inreu‘s rlrnlh his filiill‘l' seemed very tired and lint quite himself. Mr U‘Lmry: Did you lcnnw of an imiiutinii lii‘(l]|]l‘ imhil'ti \\'ullier ihlti extended to Mrs .\[uren in go away \\ilh them at liusier‘l—Yes. .\ir H'lii-nry runliuuml tn cross—ox—:lmim‘ :zimui ments of the days immmiiult‘ly prm'mling .\irs .\lurmi's tieailL \\‘hen \\iint‘ss hrurii the first hump, in the front lmiirtmin on Fulurdu' morning. he said he ill‘ill'li his father in [he lmthrmim. (in the. sfli' nrtla) meninz Mrs .\iareu had not show) any signs or \\'gkening before

he went for the sol volatile. ‘He did not hear her call out for Freda Stark. It was nothing new to him to have a cup of milk before going to bed. After he had drunk his milk he drank some 0-! Freda Stark‘s so that it would not appear that she had refused it. The Past of her milk was thrown out of the window before his father returned to the room. His Honour: How did your father heat that milk?—l did not see him doing it. I did not remain in the kit— Chen. Afraid of Trouble. His Honour reminded witness that that morning he had said he rouid he more or less certain that. it was after the taking of the. milk that she was helped to the room. \\'itness said he was not absolutely certain whether she was halped to the. room before or after she had the milk. 0n the morning of Mrs Mareo's death his father said he was afraid of getting into trouble because of something he had bought for Mrs Alamo. witness added. \Vitness understood that “something" was to prevent her from having a child. Eleanor Brown—lee also tried to get a doctor that morning. His father and he went to Miss Brownie-o‘s room ahout. fl em. on Tuesday. ile lay down on the bed and his father and Miss Brownlee talked. Mr O'Loary: Did you ever hear Thelma threaten that she would commit suiclde it' a certain event happened‘2—Yes. Mr O'Loary: \Vhat was the event! ——She said if she ever had a ch‘lrl coming she would not go through with it. When they were both under the influence of liquor Marco and Mrs .\lareo had “busts up." \\'ltl'W‘E‘s‘ said. Both were under the lntluvuru of liq« nor during the quarrels prmiously de—scribed. lie did not \‘rry often see .\liss Brownloe as a visitor at 1 Tenlerden Avenue. She was known as “ Narnia" in the house, and had horn on quite friendly terms with Mrs .\larr‘o until the night .\lrs 3.13er and Freda Stark left. Freda Stark In Box. Freda Stork said she had ilrst mot .\lrs .\laren in tho lirur'sl llulls llcvun Compnuy, :«lluul St'irtrmhrr, lililii. Ellt‘ was a lli‘nl‘vssinnél] «tumor and had noon an artists‘ unulrl, .\ll‘s Harm, who was thou Thelma 'l‘rntt, was u singer with lho t'umpony, and ihry Maui to share tlw sumo tll'l‘fiSillf." rooms. ’l‘hry separated when the rumpauy lininhwl its New Zoulnud season at \\’olling ton. but it couple of months- later she met Mr and .\[rs Marco again in .-\uoli~ land. .\lrs .\lareo might have taken in drink at times Asked if she had ever seen Mrs .\lareo under the influence of liquor she said she might. have been so ours. but witness could not be sure as Mrs .\lareo was very exhausted at the time. Witness was .\irs Marco's special friend‘ for Mrs .\lareo knew no one else in Auckland. .\lrs .\lareo was the leading lady in “The Duchess of Dauzig'” prrt‘ormanrc and was not in good health (it tho limr. She Ill‘tlt“ tirally collapsed at the end ut‘ the season. \\‘itnrss desorlhmi a party hold at l'lixiulunxl in i'vlrlu'ull' lhv will of “The l'luvllt‘ss of lianzig‘" SI‘HMVH and said .\ll'r; .\lurro ninl shv \\vnl homo rarl): Maren rnme homo am hour lull-r \‘t'l'_\' drunl; and sturlrd abusing his wife. \\'llnrss run out at the room ri'ying, holding her l‘aro and sayin‘: that Min-p.) hail strut-l; hv‘i'. .\llll'wv l'wllnwwl :uill ll'lt'tl to drug hr‘i‘ (may, llv .‘nldt-d morn allitsr. lie was wry r\l'llrt‘l and started to laugh and lhvn «'l')‘. Graham pushed and pmn'luwl him .unl twirl—fined him down. 'l‘hn tmurt than dllJ‘JlllllQil until this M