SHOT BY GANGSTERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22427, 25 May 1936, Page 11

SHOT BY GANGSTERS

POLICE SUPERINTENDENT SENSATION IN MELBOURNE DEPARTMENT'S RETICENCE (Received May 24, 5.5 p.m.) MELBOURNE, May 24 A sensational shooting affair is reported in which Superintendent John O'Connell Brophy, who began duty as chief of the Victorian Criminal Investigation Department a week ago, was the victim. It is stated that four shots were fired by gangsters from a car, and that one bullet struck one of Mr. Brophy's cheeks, another his right arm, a third the back of his neck and a fourth his chest over the heart. The last bullet was deflected by something in his pocket. He is not in a serious condition. The Police Department is extremely reticent. Its press bureau in an official statement said that Mr. Brophy was accidentally shot in the right arm while handling his own pistol at police headquarters. Reporters, however, who were banned at the detective office, ascertained that Mr. Brophy was shot by a hold-up gang who mistook him for a prominent Melbourne bookmaker who habitually c'arries a large sum of money and resides in the suburb of Parkville.