POLICE INQUIRY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 205, 12 June 1936, Page 5

POLICE INQUIRY

STATEMENT T 0 NEWSPAPERS.

EVIDENCE BY CHIEF OF FORCE.

IMPORTANT CLUBS

United Press Associa’cion—Copyright) MELBOURNE, June 711.

l The Royal Commission which is inquiring into the .shooting of Superin—tendent John O’Connell Brophy (Chief of the Victorian Criminal Investigation Branch) continued its session' today. Judge Macindoe is the commissioner. and Mr L. iStretton is assisting him. Sir Thomas Blamey, Chief of the Victorian Police, said he saw Brophy at the hospital after the shooting. Brophy told him he had an accident with his own revolver in a car in Royal Park, and that two women were with him, and also the driverJ Maher. After later investigations Sir Thomas Blamey had a conference with Detective McKerral, when it was agreed to issue a statement to the press. that Brophy went to Royal Park in response to a message and while there had been seriously wounded by two bandits. He authorised no other statement. On the following day', Monday, he gave an interview to four representatives of the press, telling them all he knew of the shooting up to that stage. The. “Age” newspaper then said he would not continue the investigations into the shooting. That was wrong. “We had important clues, and I would not divulge them,” said Sir Thomas. “The chief secretary later called for a. report on the whole circumstances, which I suppliedf.’

Mr Stretton: Do you thinli it proper that Brophy should take two women and a. man with him. Sir Thomas Blamey: I see no impropriety in it. It would have been risky to take a taxi because of the driver, also risky to take a. policeman in plain clothes. Brophy would, in normal circumstances, have taken steps 'to have his assailants arrested, but in this instance he had four bullet wounds.

Asked why he did not supply the: names of the women in his report to‘ the chief secretary, Sir Thomas said:l “Scandal mongering is not the business of the police. Their names were omitted to shield them because these reports go through. many hands.” Mr Stretton: 'When asked by the newspaper men about the accident, did you say you (lid not know where the report came from, that nobody seemed to know anything about it? Sir Thomas Blamey: I said something to that effect Mr Stretton: If you said it, it would be an obvious untruth. ‘ . Sir Thomas Blarney: Yes. If I said it. Mr Wilbur Ham, :KJC. (for the Melbourne “Herald”) asked whetheig Sir Thomas Blamey attempted to stifle in—formation regarding the shooting at the hospital. . Sir Thomas Blakey answered: “76 were anxious that no wrong reports should be disseminated, We wanted to ensure accuracy. _ ‘

Mr Ham: Or to ensure inaccuracy. Sir Thomas Blamey: I replied to the reporters’ questions without intending to be candid. Mr Han-1: Then your intention was to mislead. Sir'Thomas Blamey: No. ‘ Definitely to parry.