POLICE ENQUIRY IN MELBOURNE

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21807, 12 June 1936, Page 11

POLICE ENQUIRY IN MELBOURNE

CHIEF OF FORCE GIVES EVIDENCE STATEMENT ISSUED TO NEWSPAPERS »• (UNITED TKISB ASSOCIATION —COPTBIGHT.) (Received June 11, 10.30 p.m.) MELBOURNE. June 11. The Royal Commission which is enquiring into the shooting of Superintendent John O’Connell Brophy (chief of the Victorian Criminal Investigation Branch) continued its session to-day. Judge Macindoe is the commissioner, and Mr L. Stretton is assisting him. Sir Thomas Blarney, chief of the Victorian police, said he saw Brophy at the hospital after the shooting. Brophy told him he had had an accident with his own revolver in a car in Royal Park, and that two women were with him and also the driver, Maher. After later investigations Sir Thomas Blarney 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 s *id he would not continue the investigations into the shooting. That was wrong. Important Clues “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 supplied.” Mr Stretton: Do you think it proper that Brophy should take two women and a man with him? Sir Thomas Blarney: 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: “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 did not know where the report came from that nobody seemed to know anything about it? Sir Thomas Blarney: 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, K.C. (for the Melbourne “Herald”) asked whether Sir Thomas Blarney attempted to stifle information regarding the shooting at the hospital. * Sir Thomas Blarney answered: We were anxious that no wrong reports should be disseminated. We wanted to ensure accuracy. Mr Hem: Or to ensure inaccuracy. Sir Thomas Blarney; I replied to the reporters’ questions without-in-tending to be candid. Mr Ham: Then your intention was to mislead. Sir Thomas Blarney: No. Definitely to parry.