POLICE INQUIRY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 182, 3 July 1936, Page 9

POLICE INQUIRY.

THE FINDING TABLED. LACK OF IMPROPRIETY. MELBOURNE, July 1. The report of Judge Maeindoe, who inquired into the shooting of Superintendent Brophy at Royal Park on May 22, was tabled in Parliament today. The report found no impropriety on the part of Brophy in taking two women when he went to meet the informer. There was nothing immoral or improper in 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, ho could not accept Sir Thomas Blarney’s statement that he believed the shooting was an accident when it was first reported to him. “I am forced to the conclusion that Sir Thomas Blarney was told the truth that Brophy was held up and shot and I believe that, being jealous of the reputation of the force he commands, he thought that its reputation might be endangered if the whole truth were disclosed.” Judge Maeindoe commented upon contradictions in the evidence of reporters on interviews at which information regarding the shooting was sought. He did not believe that Sir Thomas 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 identification of the criminal. He was satisfied that Brophy’s original story of the accident was prompted by his desire to safeguard the reputations of the two women who were with him when he was shot.

Just before the report was submitted to Parliament to-day, Mr McKenzie (Labour) made a statement in whicli he referred to the vendetta between the Melbourne Pressand the police. He said that since the inquiry certain Melbourne journalists were being shadowed by police officers. Mr McKenzie' said- that Sir Thomas Blarney, in reply to a question earlier in the week, admitted that one journalist who was suspected of. a certain offence 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. Police have been camping on the tail of the journalist’s car and following it all over the suburbs. When the journalist became aware of the 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 their regular work - for this tiling,” said Mr McKenzie. THREATS TO COUNSEL. BOMBING OF HOUSES. Received July 3, 8.5 a.m. MELBOURNE, July 2. Tt was revealed to-day that, during the sitting of the police commission, threats by telephone and anonymous letters were received by Mr L. E. B. Stretton, counsel assisting the Commissioner and Mr Ham. counsel for the Melbourne Herald, warning them to be careful or their houses would lie bombed. Mr Ham received three telephone messages and a letter, while Mr Stretton received two telephone messages. At the inquiry both severely crossexamined police witnesses, demanding the name of the informer whom Superintendent Brophy went to see on the night of the shooting His name was revealed to the Judge alone.