MASKED MEN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 11 June 1936, Page 7

MASKED MEN

POLICE OFFICIAL’S ENCOUNTER SHOOTING OF INSPECTOR BROPHY ROYAL COMMISSION AT MELBOURNE (United Press Association-By Electric ' Telegraph—Copyright) MELBOURNE, 10th June. His encounter with two masked men at a rendezvous prearranged with a member of the underworld was described by Superintendent Brophy at the opening of the Royal Commission which is inquiring into the shooting of Brophy and the authenticity of police statements connected with it. Judge Macindoe is Royal Commissioner. . „ Mr L. Stretton, who is assisting tne Commissioner, said the whole incident was thick with confusion and mystery. . „ Brophy, whose arm was in a sung, related that on the night of 22nd May he received a telephone message from a member of the underworld, who offered to give information regarding “gunmen” operating around the city * and the Royal Park in the vicinity of Parkville. Brophy agreed to meet at a spot arranged by the informer. , Judge Macindoe asked for the man s name and Brophy undertook to supply the name privately in order to protect the informer from the vengeance of his companions. Later that evening Brophy sought the use of a private car belonging to Mrs Orr, wife of the licensee of Tattersall’s Hotel, as it was not desirable to use police cars, the numbers of which the underworld were familiar with. A barman at Tattersall’s Hotel, named Maher, drove the car and Mrs Orr was a passenger. The car was stopped at the spot in the Royal Park arranged by the informer, when suddenly Mrs Orr exclaimed to Maher, “There’s a man alongside the car, Billy.” Brophy said that at the moment he noticed a man on each side of the car, one of whom was masked. The other flashed a torch into the car and called out “hands up! Keep quiet, He also exclaimed, “It’s Brophy. Brophy added: “I dived for my pistol, which is a small calibre one, and the man shouted ‘don’t shoot.’ I did not hesitate and I fired. The man fired back, the bullet shattering my wrist. I fired again, and I’m practically certain I wounded him. He .continued firing, four bullets striking me. The other man disappeared.” Judge Macindoe: “Were they both shooting?” , , , Brophy: “Yes. One shot punctured a tyre.” Brophy explained that the men sped away iii a car. Maher pursued them until compelled to stop by a flat tyre. Brophy explained that the reason why he gave an incorrect account of j the shooting in the first place was that he did not want to compromise Mrs Orr and another woman friend of Mrs Orr’s, nor did he want his own wife and daughter, who were practically invalids, to hear that he had been shot by bandits. Brophy said he was convinced that the informer was not associated with the shooting. Mr Stretton asked: “Didn’t it occur to you that it was unusual for a man of your rank to go out on ordinary duty?” DID ORDINARY DUTY Brophy: “I do ordinary duty if necessary. It is done in other States. Mr Stretton: “Didn’t it occur to you that there was a certain amount of danger that night?” Brophy: “If I thought there was the slightest danger I would. not have taken the two ladies. I believe it was as big a surprise to the criminals as to me.” Mr Stretton: “Could you not have picked a trusted policeman to drive your car?” .. Brophy: “I would not trust brother detectives in a case like this.” Brophy added: “It was no use calling local police or a patrol to search for the attackers as they would not know who to search for.” Mr Wilbur Ham, K.C., who Is apA pearing for the Melbourne “Herald” and its reporters, said he was going to suggest that the original accident theory was a subterfuge to hide the fact that Brophy was out with women. Brophy interjected: “There was nothing sinister. I was not in the car with one but with two women.” He said he was not responsible for the accident story told to the reporters, and he had no intention of deliberately deceiving the police chief, Sir Thomas . Blarney. Mr Ham suggested that Brophy did . everything possible to help the assail- ; ants, to which Brophy replied that if ■ he had given full information his as- : sailants could have been in Hong- ! Kong before he was aware of their ■ movements. Brophy added that there had been : several hold-ups in the Royal Park, i but some were not reported in the interests of women whose reputations were at stake. The story told at police headquarters that he had accidentally shot himself with his own pistol was a stop-gap excuse and a pure fabrica- • tion. It was realised that the real • truth would have to come out, but not necessarily for the public. The hearing was adjourned.