DRAMA IN PARK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22443, 12 June 1936, Page 11

DRAMA IN PARK

WOUNDED OFFICIAL METHODS OF POLICE DEALINGS WITH PRESS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received June 11, 11.15 p.m.) MELBOURNE, Juno 11 The Royal Commission which is inquiring into the shooting of Superintendent J. Brophy, of the Victorian Criminal Investigation Department in Royal Park, near Parkvillc, on May 22 sat again to-day. Mr. Justice Macindoe presided. Mr. Brophy said there had been several hold-ups in Royal Park but some were not reported in the interests of women whose reputations were at stake. The story that witness had accidentally shot himself with his own pistol, which was told at police headquarters, was a stop-gap excuse and a pure fabrication. It was realised that the real truth would have to como out but not necessarily for the public. .Sir Thomas Blarney, Chief of Police, said he saw Mr. Brophy in hospital after the shooting. Mr. Brophy told him he had ; had an* accident with his own revolver in a car in Royal Park, that two women were with him and that the driver was Maher. Details Not Divulged to Press j

As the result of later investigations, said Sir Thomas, he had had a conference with Detective McKcrral when it was agreed to issue a statement to the press that Mr. Brophy went to Royal Park in response to a message and while there was seriously wounded by two bandits. Witness said he authorised no other statement. On the following Monday he gave an interview to four representatives of the press and told them all he knew of the shooting up to that stage. The Age newspaper then stated that witness would not continue the investigations into the shooting. That was wrong.

"We had important clues," said Sir Thomas, and I did not divulge them. The Chief Secretary later called for a report on the whole circumstances, which I supplied. Mr. L. Stretton, who is assisting the Commissioner: Do you think it proper that Mr. Brophy should have taken two women and a man with him?

Witness: I see no impropriety in it. It would have been risky to take a taxi because of the driver, and also risky to have taken a policeman in plain clothes. Mr. Brophy, in normal circumstances, would have taken steps to have his assailants arrested but in this instance he had four bullet -wounds.

Motive for Withholding Facts Asked why he had not supplied the names of the two women, in his report to the Chief Secretary, Sir Thomas said: "Scandalmongering is not the business of the police. Their names were omitted to shield them, because these reports go through many hands. Mr. Stretton: When you were asked by reporters about the "accident" did you say you did not know where the report came from and that nobody seemed to know anything about it? Witness: I said something to that effect. If you said that it would be an obvious: untruth ?—Yes, if I said it. Mr. Wilbur Ham, K.C., counsel for the Sydney Morning Herald, asked whether Sir Thomas had attempted to stifle information about the shooting at the hospital. Witness: We were anxious that no wrong reports should be disseminated. We wanted to ensure accuracy. Or to ensure inaccuracy?—l replied to the reporters' questions without intending to be candid. Then your intention was to mislead? —No, definitely to parry the questions.