POLICE CHIEF SHOT

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 12870, 25 May 1936, Page 5

POLICE CHIEF SHOT

MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR. OFFICIALS STATE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. REPORTERS ALLEGED MISTAKE BY GANGSTERS. fU.P.A. by Elec. Tel. Copyri^ht^. i Received May 21, 6. 50 p.m.). MELBOURNE, May 24. Superintendent John O’Connell Brophy, who began duty as Chief of the Victorian Criminal Investigation branch a week ago, was shot in the £ae:< and right arm in same mysterious manner. The Police Department are exceedingly reticent. It} is reported that four shots wei ? fired by a gangster from a car, on : ; bulbt striking Mr. Brophy’s cheekanother his right arm, and a third in tho back of the neck. A fourth, wont over the heart, hut was deflected by something in his pocket. He is not in a serious condition. A. Police Prc's Bui ran official, n a statement, declared that Mr. Brophy was accidentally shot- in tho right arm while handing his own pistol at police headquarters. Newspaper reporters, who wore banned at the detective office, however, ascertained 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.

A LUCKY ESCAPE.

MELD UP BY TWO ARMED MUX

(U.P.A. by Elec. Tel. Copyrigbti (Received. May 24, 12.28 n.m.U

MELBOURNE, May 24.

An official police statement declares that Air. Brophy went to the Royal Park on Friday night to fry to catch car bandits, who wen. l opcrit.ng in that locality. Ho was n.mself hold-up hv two allaied men who, apparently; recognised him arid fired three shots liefoi‘3 Brophy manipulated his own revolver which jammed. One bullet passed through Brophy’s lower jaw and just missed a vital artery, omerg ing at the back of the neck. Another broke his right wrist and the third was deflected from his h:art by his braces buckle. •