PARK SHOOTING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22444, 13 June 1936, Page 14

PARK SHOOTING

Melbourne case CAR STANDS IN DARK // 'APPEARANCE OF BANDITS NO TIME FOR A CHAT By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received Juno 12, 10.35 p.m.) MELBOURNE, Juno 12 The Royal Commission which is inquiring into the shooting of Superintendent J. Brophy, of the Victorian Criminal Investigation Department, in Royal Park, near Parkviile, on May 2-2 sat again to-day. Mr. Justice Macindoe presided. The Chief of Police, Sir Thomas Blarney stated that when the shooting was originally reported to be accidental he did not ask Mr. Brophy how he came to be wounded all over iho body. Mr. Wilbur Ham, K.C., counsel for fcho Sydney Morning Herald and its reporters: Did not you think it strango? Sir Thomas: Yes. Evidence of Woman Passenger Mrs. Madeline Orr, widow of the late licensee of Tattersall's Hotel, which is near tlio detective headquarters, gave evidence tliat she had known Mr. Brophy and his family for years and often visited them. Witness corroborated the story of the shooting. Cross-examined by Mr. L. Stretton, who is assisting the Commissioner, she said the lights of the car were switched olf while it was parked in Royal Park. Mr. Stretton: Did not it seem a mysterious way for an old friend like Mr. Brophy to act? Witness: No.

* What did you do? Did you have a pleasant cliat in the dark P —We did not have time. It was only a matter of minutes when the bandits appeared. You passed the police station after Mr. Brophy had been injured. Why did not ypu give information? —Wo were acting under Mr. Brophy's instructions, which were to save us women. Mr. JBrophy'asked us to leave it to him. Official "Riddled With Bullets" Mr. Stanley Lewis, who is also appearing for the Sydney Morning Herald, •asked Mrs. Orr whether she treated the barman Maher, who was driving the car, more as a friend than an employee. Witness replied: He is merely an ■employee in my bar. You and Mrs. Phillips were in the back seav of the car, but when it if/topped Mrs. Phillips changed places ■with Mr. Brophy. What was the rea- * ton ?—There was no particular reason. Mr. Brophy's last words were: "You leave this to me. I think they have got 'me. I am riddled with bullets."

Second Woman and Her Husband

Mrs. Elsie Phillips, of Middle Park, fjgave similar evidence. She added that when the firing began Maher cried to her: "Bob down," and pushed her head ■down.

Witness said she did not scream when she heard the shots fired, nor did Mrs. \Orr.

Mrs., Phillips' husband then entered the witness-box. He said he was still on good terms with his wife and there was no dissension as the result of the car incident. William Maher related a conversation when Mr. Brophy asked for the use of Sirs. Orjr's car on the night of May 22. He said that Mesdames Orr and Phillips on the same evening wanted to be driven to Clifton Hill, whoreupoji witness told them Mr. Brophy wanted the car. Mrs. Orr exclaimed: "Oh, dash it." Maher then described the happenings hi Royal Park.

Detective Gross-examined Maher said he had not reported the shooting to the police because he was "leaving everything to Mr. Brophy." Altogether, about 10 shots were fired, he said./ Detective W. R. Boulton, who was subjected to a searching cross-examina-tion as to why the police did not immediately make inquiries into the shooting, saiA that soon after the affair he saw Mr. Brophy in hospital, when he told witness his wounds were accidental. Mr. Lewis: Was \iot it perfectly clear to you that Mr. Brophy had not been accidentally shot? Witness: No. You are a.detective, and your powers of observation as a detective should have enabled you to decide whether it was accidental. —Mr. Brophy told me it was an accident and I believed him. Was It the fact that Mr. Brophy is your superior officer that prevented you making inquiries?—lnquiries have been made. , The hearing was adjourned.