POLICE INQUIRY

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 138, 12 June 1936, Page 9

POLICE INQUIRY

EVIDENCE BY CHIEF

MELBOURNE SHOOTING CASE

WHAT PRESS WAS TOLD United I'ress Association—By Electric Telegraph— Copyright MELBOURNE, June 11. Before the Royal Commission which is inquiring into the shooting of Superintendent Brophy and the authenticity of police statements connected with it, Sir Thomas Blarney, Chief of the Victorian Police, said he saw Brophy at the hospital after the shooting. Brophy told him that he had had an accident with his own revolver in a car in Royal Park, and that two women were with him, also the driver, Maher. As the result of later investigations, said Sir Thomas, he had a conference with Detective McKerral, and, 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 I 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 that he would not continue investigations into the shooting. That was wrong. "We had important clues, and II would not divulge them," said the I police chief. "The Chief Secretary later called for a report of the whole circumstances, which I suppliedi" Mr. L. Stretton, who is assisting the Commissioner: Do you think it proper that Brophy should take two women and a man with him? Witness: I see no impropriety in it. It would have been risky to take a taxi, because of the driver, and 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. TO SHIELD THE WOMEN, 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 newspapermen about the accident, did you say you did not know where the report came from and that nobody seemed to know anything about it? Witness: I said something to. that cfiect. Mr. Stretton: If you said it, it would be an obvious untruth? Witness: Yes, if I said it. Mr. Wilbur Ham, K.C., who is appearing for the Melbourne "Herald," asked whether Sir Thomas attempted to stifle information regarding the shooting at the hospital. Witness answered: "We were anxious that no wrong reports should be disseminated. • We wanted to ensure accuracy." Mr. Ham: Or to ensure inaccuracy. Witness: I replied to reporters' questions without intending to be candid. Mr. Ham: Then your intention was to mislead? Witness: No, definitely. To parry. Replying to Mr. Ham, Sir Thomas Blarney said that when the shooting was originally reported to be accidental h> did not ask Brophy how he came to be wounded all over the body. Mr. Ham: Didn't you think it strange? Witness: Yes. The Commission adjourned.