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Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 206, 28 May 1936, Page 9

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Inquiry Into Shooting Of Detective (Received May 28, 1 a.m.) Melbourne, May 27. It is practically certain that the State Cabinet will appoint a Royal commission to inquire into the shooting of Detective-Superintendent Brophy and possibly into the administration of the Police Department. Ministers fire said to be dissatisfied with the conflicting stories attending Brophy’s injuries and the attitude of the commissioner, Sir Thomas Blarney.

A cable published on Monday stated that Superintendent John O’Connell Brophy, who began duty ns chief of the Victorian Criminal Investigation branch a week previously. wno shot in the face and right arm in some mysterious manner. The Police Department was exceedingly reticent.

It was reported that four shots Were fired by n gangster from a car, one bullet striking Mr. Brophy’s cheek, another his right arm, a third the back of his neck, and the fourth over the heart, but was deflected by something in his pocket. He was not in n serious condition. A Police Press Bureau official in fl statement, declared Me. Brophy was accidentally shot in the right arm while handling his own pistol nt police headquarters. Newspaper reporters, who arc banned at the detective office, however, ascertain 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.

An official police statement declared thnt Mr. Brophy went to Royal Park on Friday night to try mid catch some ear bandits who had 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.