MELBOURNE GANGSTERS

Evening Star, Issue 22347, 25 May 1936, Page 8

MELBOURNE GANGSTERS

POLICE SUPERINTENDENT WOUNDED SHOT IN FACE AND ARM Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright MELBOURNE, May 23. Superintendent John O’Connell Brophy, who began duty as chief ot 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 Brophy s cheek, another his right arm. and the third the back of his neck. The fourth was over the heart, but it was deflected by something in Brophy s pocket. He is not in a serious condition. . A Police Press Bureau official, in a statement, declared that Brophy had been accidentally shot in the right arm while handling his own pistol at police headquarters. Newspaper reporters, however, who were banned at the detective office, ascertained that Brophy was shot by a hold-up gang, who mistook him for a prominent Melbourne bookmaker who habitually carries a large sum of money. He resides at the suburb of Parkville. OFFICIAL STATEMENT MELBOURNE, May 24. An official police statement declares that Brophy went to Royal Park on Friday night to try to catch car bandits who were operating in that locality. He was himself held up by two armed men, who apparently recognised him and fired three shots before Brophy could manipulate his own revolver, which jammed. One bullet passed through Brophy’s lower jaw, just missed a vital artery, and emerged at the back of the neck. Another broke his right Wrist. The third was deflected from his heart by the buckle of his braces.