SHOT BY BANDITS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22433, 1 June 1936, Page 12

SHOT BY BANDITS

MELBOUBNE OUTKAGE

SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE AUTHORITIES' RETICENCE [from our own correspondent] MELBOURNE. May 26 Shot at four times and wounded, the new chief of tho Criminal Investigation Branch of tho Victorian Police Force, Superintendent J. O'C. Brophy, was the victim of a sensational attack at Royal Fark, about a niilo from tho heart of the city, on Friday night. All four bullets struck him, wounding him in tho neck, wrist and chest. The bullets were extracted, and Mr. Brophy is expected to leave hospital this week. It is alleged that tho shots were fired from a motorcar by bandits who havo operated freely in tho Melbourne area in recent months and have defied detection.

Mr. Brophy, who is regarded as an outstandingly efficient officer, was until recently in charge of tho Ballarat district, and ho began his duties as chief of tho Criminal Investigation Branch exactly a week beforo the shooting. Great secrecy was shown by tho police following the wounding of the superintendent, and an official report was actually released stating v that Mr. Brophy had been shot in the right arm accidentally while handling a revolver at headquarters. When this report was cancelled a day later, it was explained that it had been designed to suppress the true facts in the hope that the bandits would not be placed on their guard. Course of Bullets

Mr. Brophy had a remarkable escape from death, as one of the bullets, which inflicted a superficial wound near his heart, was deflected by a spectacle case in a pocket above his heart. Another ballot entered his choek nnd emerged at the back of tho neck after having passed within a fraction of an inch of a largo blood-vessel. Tho two other bullets fractured the bones of his right wrist.

The second official statement made by the police read as follows: —"Owing to information received Superintendent Brophy went to Royal Park in a car with the object of catching car bandits operating in that locality. There appeared at his car two bandits,- who attempted to hold up Mr. Brophy. Mr. Brojphy immediately drew his automatic pistol to fire, but it jammed. The bandits appeared to recognise Mr. Brophy and fired four shots at him. Owing to the dragnet placed round the bandits operating there for some time it was considered advisable not to release the true facts at the time. Owing to false reports which have been published it is now considered advisable to release the true facts." "Result oi Accident"

It is learned that, in spite of his wounds, Mr. Brophy did all in his power to assist the police by disguising tho facts of the attack in the hope that the culprits would be caught. He requested the St. Vincent Hospital authorities not to give information of the incident and he informed a doctor that the wounds were tho result of an accident. Mr. Brophy gavo the same explanation to his son-in-law, who visited him in hospital. Tho Chief Commissioner of Police, Sir Thomas Blarney, also requested that, in the interests of justice, no information of the shooting should be given at that stage. Mr. Brophy was taken to hospital by a passing motorist. Tho motorist said he was hailed by a man who was standing with one or two other persons beside a sedan motor-car. The man said that he was ill and ho asked the motorist to drive him to hospital. The other persons said they would follow, but they did not do so. It is believed Mr. Brophy proceeded alone to Royal Park after receiving certain information, but an unofficial report states that ho was driven there by another man, who narrowly escaped wounding. It is evident that the full facts of the shooting have yet to bo revealed, in the meantime senior members of the Criminal Investigation Branch are making every effort to capture tho bandits.

A message from Melbourne published on Friday said: "It is practically certain that the Victorian Cabinet will appoint a Royal Commission to inquire into the shooting of Superintendent Brophy and possibly into the administration of the Police Department. The Ministers are dissatisfied with the conflicting stories concerning Mr. Brophy's injuries and with tho attitude of the Commissioner, Sir Thomas Blarney."

MIGRATION AND CAPITAL NEED IN NEW ZEALAND DISCRIMINATING AMERICANS [from our own correspondent] By Air Mail LONDON. May 13 The increasing importance attached to Empire migration was illustrated by a meeting of the Royal Empire Society this week. Mr. B. S. B. Stevens. Premier of Now South Wales, initiated a discussion on overseas settlement and was followed by several other speakers, including Lord Bledisloe. Mr. Stevens said the problem of land settlement was not merely that of transferring man power from one centre to another. There was a great need to appreciate tho value of tho problem in terms of population and he would like to see the British-nation take the lead. It was not going to be politically easy, but Australia was very much interested in various schemes suggested. Tho problem was much bigger than any dealt 'with previously, but there were very big opportunities. Lord Bledisloe said Mr. Stevens had suggested that the problem should be tackled in a big and courageous way. "That is exactly what I. am confident wo have not done in regard to emigration for many years past," he added. "Our method has been casual, slipshod, unsystematic, without any careful consideration of economic possibilities." Lord Bledisloo said he would like to suggest that they should not bo too much afraid of political and temporarily political difficulties, for it might be dangerous to take too shortsighted a view. If there was one impression that ho had of what was most essential for Now Zealand it was that she should have a great augmentation of population from British sources ns soon as possible. There was no lack of valuable national resources, and in order to develop them New Zealand must have capital and business enterprise. Quite frankly, New Zealand had not got it; at an.V rate, it was got coming from British sources. There were millions of pounds lying idle in bapks in England on deposit at 1 per cent, when, overseas, they had a magnificent heritage, with resources that would return a percentage of 6 arid 7 per cent, while amply /remunerating those employed in the industries. Americans were more shrewd in this direction and some of tho most prominent exploitations of gold mines in New Zealand were in the hands of Americans, and were doing extremely well. He hated to think that the profits were passing into the pockets of the Americans, high as hit regard was for that race.