SHOOTING OF POLICE OFFICER.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 13 June 1936, Page 3

SHOOTING OF POLICE OFFICER.

OCCUPANTS OF CAR CLOSELY QUESTIONED. TWO WOMEN GIVE EVIDENCE AT INQUIRY. (By Telegraph-Press Assn.-Copyright) Received Friday, 9.15 p.m. MELBOURNE, June 12. Before the Royal Commission which is inquiring into the shooting of Superintendent Brophy and the authenticity of police statements connected with it. Mrs, Madeline Orr, a widow, licensee of Tattersalls’ Hotel, near detective headquarters, gave evidence that she had known the Brophy family for years and often visited them. Witness corroborated the story of the shooting, and during cross-examination by Mr. Stretton said the car lights were switched off while they were parked at Royal Park.

Mr. Stretton: Did it not seem a mysterious way for an old friend like Superintendent Brophy to act?

Witness: No. Mr. Stretton: What did you do —have a jdeasant chat in the dark? Witness: We did not have time; it was only a matter of minutes when.the bandits appeared. Mr, Stretton: You passed a police station after Superintendent Brophy was injured. Why didn’t you give information?

Mr. Stanley Lewis, who is appearing for the Melbourne Herald, asked Mrs. Orr whether she treated Maher more as a friend than an employee, to which she replied: “He is merely an employee in my bar.” Mr. Lewis; You and Mrs. Phillips were in the back seat of the car, but when it stopped Airs. Phillips changed places with Superintendent Hrophy. What was the reason?

Witness: There ivas no particular rea-

Witness added that Superintendent Brophy’s last words were: “You leave this to me. I think they have got me; 1 am riddled with bullets. ’ ’

Airs. Elsie Phillips, of Aliddle Park, gave similar evidence. She added that, when the firing began, Alaher cried to her to bob down, and pushed her head down.

Mrs. Phillips’ husband then entered the witness box. He declared he was still on good terms with his wife, aficl that there was no dissension as a result of the car incident.

William Alaher, who is a barman at Airs. Orr’s hotel, detailed the conversation when Superintendent Brophy asked for the use of Airs. Orr’s car on the night of May 22. Alaher said Airs. Orr and Airs. Phillips on the same evening wanted to be driven to Clifton Hill, whereupon Maher told them that Superintendent Brophy wanted the car. Airs. Orr exclaimed, “Oh, dash it!” Alaher then related the happenings in Royal Park.

Maher added that he had not reported the shooting to the police because he was '‘leaving everything to Brophy.” Altogether about ten shots were fired, he said. Detective W. It. Boulton, who was subjected to a searching cross-examina-tion as to why the police did not immediately make inquiries into the shooting, said that soon after the affair he saw (Superintendent Brophy in hospital, when Superintendent Brophy told him his wounds were accidental.

Mr. Lewis asked: “Was it not perfectly clear to you that Superintendent Brophy had not been accidentally shot?

Detective Boulton: No. Mr. Lewis: You are a detective and your powers of observation as a detective should have enabled you to decide whether it was accidental.

Detective Boulton: Superintendent Brophy told me it was an accident and I believed him.

Mr. Lewis: Was the fact that Superintendent Brophy was your superior officer what prevented you from making inquiries? Detective Boulton: Inquiries have been made.