HIGH POLICE OFFICIAL WOUNDED

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 203, 25 May 1936, Page 11

HIGH POLICE OFFICIAL WOUNDED

Melbourne Mystery

GANGSTERS SAID TO HAVE MADE A MISTAKE

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received May 24. 7 p.m.) Melbourne, May 24. Superintendent John O'Connell Brophy, who began duty as chief of the Victorian Criminal Investigation branch a week ago, was shot in the face and right arm in some mysterious manner, The Police Department is exceedingly reticent. It is reported that four shots were fired by a gangster from a car, one bullet striking Mr. Brophy’s cheek, another his right arm, a third the back of his neck, and tlie fourth over the heart, but was deflected by something in it is pocket. H<. is not in a serious condition. A Police Press Bureau official in a statement, declared Mr. Brophy was accidentally shot in the right arm while handling his own pistol at police headquarters. Newspaper reporters, who are banned at the detective office, however, ascertained that Mr. Brophy was shot by a hold-up gang who mistook him for a prominent Melbourne bookmaker who habitually carries a large sum of money and resides in Parkville suburb.

ATTACKED BY BANDITS

(Received May 25, 12.28 a.m.)

Melbourne, May 24

An official police statement declares that Mr. Brophy went to Royal Park on Friday night to try and catch sojne car bandits who have been operating in that locality and was himself held up by two armed men who apparently recognised him and fired three shots before Mr. Brophy could manipulate his own revolver, which jammed. One bullet passed through Mr. Brophy’s lower jaw, just missed a vital artery, and emerged at the back of his neck Another broke his right wrist and a third was deflected from his heart by. the buckle of his braces.