SHOOTING AFFRAY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 152, 12 June 1936, Page 9

SHOOTING AFFRAY

Police Chief’s Story at Melbourne REPORTS TO THE PRESS By Telegraph—Press Assa.—Copyright MELBOURNE, June 11. Sir Thomas Blarney, Chief of the Victorian Police, gave evidence today at the inquiry into the shooting of Detective-Superintendent J. O’C. Brophy and the authenticity of the statements made by the police in connection with it. Sir Thomas stated that his statements to newspaper reporters were not intended to be candid. He was trying to parry their questions so as to ensure eventual accuracy.

Sir Thomas said he saw Mr Brophy at the hotpital after the shooting, Mr Brophy told him that he had had an accident with his own revolver in a far in Royal Park and that there were two women with him, also the driver, Maher. As a result of later investigations, Sir Thomas had a conference with Detective McKerral, when it was agreed to issue a statement to the Press that Mr Brophy went to Royal Park in response to a. message and, while there, had been seriously wounded by two bandits. Ho authorised no other statement.

On tho following day, Monday, he gave an interview to four representatives of the Press, telling them all he knew of the shooting up to that stage. The reporter for “The Age” newspaper then said that he would not continue his investigations into the shooting. “We had important clues,” continued Sir Thomas, “and I would not divulge them. The Chief Secretary later called for a report on the whole circumstances, which I supplied ” Mr Stretton, who is assisting the Commissioner: Do you think it proper that Mr Brophy should take two women and a man with him?

Sir Thomas: I see no impropriety in it. It would have been risky to take a taxi because of the driver and also risky to take a policeman in plain clothes. Mr Brophy would in normal circumstances have taken steps to have his assailants arrested, but in this instance he had suffered four bullet wounds.

Asked why he did not supply tho names of the women in his report to tho Chief Secretary, Sir Thomas said: “Scandal-mongering is not the business of the police. Their names were omitted to shield them, because these reports go through many hands.” Mr Stretton: When asked by tho newspapermen about the accident, did you say you did not know where tho report camo from, that nobody seemed to know anything about it? Sir Thomas: I said something to that effect. Mr Stretton: If you said it, it would be an obvious untruth.—Yes; If I said it. Mr Ham (who appears for the “Sydney Morning Herald” and for reporters) asked whether Sir Thomas attempted to stifle information at the hospital regarding the shooting. Sir Thomas answered: “We were anxious that no wrong reports should be disseminated. We wanted to ensure accuracy.” Mr Ham: Or to ensure inaccuracy. Sir Thomas: I replied to the reporters’ questions without intending to be candid. Mr Ham: Then your intention was to mislead. Sir Thomas: No; definitely to parry. Sir Thomas, replying to Mr Ham, said that when the shooting was originally reported to be ace‘dental he did not ask Mr Brophy how he came to be wounded all over his body. Mr Ham; Did you pot think it strange, Sir Thomas?—“Yes.” Tho hearing was adjourned,