VICTORIAN POLICE ,

Evening Star, Issue 22350, 28 May 1936, Page 11

VICTORIAN POLICE ,

SHOOTING OF SUPERINTENDENT BROPHY COMMISSION OF INQUIRY EXPECTED. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright MELBOURNE, May 27. (Received May 28, at 1.30 a.m.) 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 are dissatisfied with the conflicting stories attending Superintendent Brophy’s injuries and the attitude of the Commissioner, Sir Thomas Blarney. [A. message received on May 25 stated: 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 the 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 holdup gang, who mistook him for a prominent Melbourne bookmaker who habitually carries a large sum of money. He resides at the suburb of Parkville.]