VICTORIAN POLICE

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 July 1936, Page 7

VICTORIAN POLICE

REPORT ON INQUIRY

COMMISSIONER CRITICISED

[BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.]

MELBOURNE, July 2.

Tho report of Judge Maclndoe, who inquired into the shooting of Superintendent Brophy, at Royal Park, on May 22, was tabled in Parliament today.

The report found that there was no impropriety on the part of Superintendent Brophy in taking the two women in the car. wjien he went to meet the informers. The Judge found that there was nothing immoral, or improper, in Superintendent Brophy’s conduct.

Dealing with the evidence of Sir Thomas Blarney, the Judge said that, having regard to the nature and number of the wounds, he could not accept Sir Thomas Blarney’s statement that he believed it was an accident when it was first-reported- to him.' He added: “I am forced to the conclusion that Sir T. Blarney was told the truth, that Superintendent Brophy was held up and shot, and. I believe that, being jealous of the reputation of the force he commands, Sir T. Blarney thought that its reputation might be endangered if the whole truth were disclosed.” Judge Maclndoe commented upon tho contradictions there were in the evidence of the reporters as to their interviews, at which information regarding the shooting was sought. He did not believe Sir T. Blarney ever said that no steps were being taken to investigate the shooting. The police were in posseesison of a very few facts which would lead to the identity of the criminal. He was satisfied Superintendent Brophy’s original story of the accident was prompted by his desire to safeguard the reputation of the two women who were with him when he was shot.

Just before the police inquiry report was submitted to Parliament today, Mr. McKenzie (Labour) made a statement, in which he referred to the vendetta between the Melbourne Press and the police. He said that since the inquiry, certain Melbourne journalists wore being shadowed by police officers.

Mr. jyicKenzie said Sir T. Blarney, in reply to a question earlier in the week, admitted there was one journalist who is suspected of a certain offence, and he had been placed under surveillance. “It is obvious,” said Mr McKenzie, “that the suspicion was that the journalist was obtaining information from certain members of the police force. The police have been camping on the tail of this journalist’s car, following it all over the suburbs. When the journalist became aware of this procedure, he led the police on a hide-and-seek expedition all over Melbourne. It is a sinful waste of public money to take the police from regular work for this sort of thing.”

COUNSEL THREATENED.

(Recd. July 3, 8 a.m.). MELBOURNE, July 2.

It was revealed, to-day, that during the sitting of the Police Commission, threats by telephone and anonymous letters were received by Mr. E. B. Stretton, counsel assisting the Commissioner, and Mr. W. Ham. counsel for the “Herald” newspaper, warning them to be careful or their houses would be bombed. Mr. Ham received three telephone messages and a letter, and Stretton two telephone messages. '

At the inquiry, both severely crossexamined the police witnesses, demanding the name of the informer, whom Brophy went to see on the night of the shooting. The name was revealed to the Judge alone.