POLICE INQUIRY

Grey River Argus, 3 July 1936, Page 5

POLICE INQUIRY

BROPHY EXONERATED Commissioner Criticised (Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.) (Received Julv 2, at 10.20 p.m.) AIELBOURNE. July 2. The report of Judge Alaciiidoe, who inquired into the shooting of Superintendent Brophy, at Royal Bark, on May 22nd. was tabled in Parliament to-day. The. repori. found that there was no impropriety on thc part, of Superintendent Brophy in taking the two women in the car, when he went to meet the informers. The Judge found that there was nothing immoral, or improper, in Superintendent Brophy's conduct. Dealing with the e vidence of Sir Thomas Blarney, the Judge said that, having regard to the nature ami number of the wounds, he could not accept Sir Thus. Blarney's statement that he belipved it was ail accident when it was first reported to him. He added: “I am forced to the conclusion that Sir Thus. Blarney was told th 0 truth that Superintendent Brophy was held up and shot, and I believe I hat, being jealous of the reputation of the force h e commands, Sir T. Blarney thought, that, its reputation might be endangered if th e whole truth were disclosed.”

Judge AlacTndoe commented upon the 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 Thos. Blarney ever said that no steps were being taken to investigate the shooting. The police were in possession of 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 thc police inquiry report was submitted to Parliament today, Air AleK.enz.ie (Labour) made a statement, in which he referred to the vendetta between the Aielbourne Press and the police, lie said that, since the inquiry, certain Aielbourne journalists were being shadowed by police officers. Air AlcKenzie said Sir Thos. 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. ‘Hit is obvious,” said Air AlcKenzie, “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 expdltion all over Aielbourne. It is a sinful waste of public money to take the police from Tegular work for this sort of thing,” said Air AlcKenzie.