PARK SHOOTING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22461, 3 July 1936, Page 11

PARK SHOOTING

ROYAL COMMISSION

OFFICIAL EXONERATED

I'OLICE CHIEF'S ACTION

TRUTH NOT DISCLOSED

By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received July 2, 11.25 p.m.)

MELBOURNE, July 2

The report of Mr. Justice Macindoe, the Royal Commissioner who inquired into the shooting of Superintendent J. O'C. Brophy in Royal Park on May 22, was tabled in Parliament to-day.

The Commissioner found that there was no impropriety on the part of Mr. Brophy in taking two women when he went to meet an informer. There was nothing immoral or improper in Mr. Brophy's conduct. Dealing with the evidence of Sir Thomas Blarney, Commissioner of Police, His Honor said that, having regard to the nature and number of Mr. Brophy's wounds, he could not accept Sir Thomas' statement that he believed it was an accident when it was first reported to him.

"1 am forced to the conclusion that Sir Thomas was told the truth, namely, that Air. Brophy had been held lip and shot," said the Royal Commissioner, "afid I believe that, being jealous for the reputation of the police force which, he commands, ho thought that reputation might bo endangered if tho whole truth were disclosed.

Ilis Honor commented upon contradictions in the evidence of reporters at the interviews when information regarding the shooting was sought. He did not believe Sir Thomas ever said no steps were being taken to investigate' the shooting. The police were in possession of very few facts which would lead to the identification of the criminal. The Royal Commissioner said he was satisfied that Mr. Brophy's original story of an accident was prompted by his desire to safeguard the reputations of the two women who were with him when he was shot.

At the opening of the inquiry by the Royal Commission, Superintendent Brophy, head of the Criminal Investigation branch of the Victorian Police, said he was wounded when he went to Royal Park, near the city, on the night ofMay 22, expecting to meet a police informer, who had offered by telephone to give information about armed hold-ups. Mr. Brophy stated that he promised to meet the informant at a road junction in J'oval Park. On his way home from the office that afternoon Mr. Brophy said ho called at Tattersall's Hotel, where he had a conversation with the licensee, Mrs. Orr, and an employee, Meagher. Ho arranged with Meagher to use Mrs. Orr's car that night to "do a little job." He preferred to use a private car, as police cars 'were too well known. Mr. Brophy explained that his family and Mrs. Orr's family were very friendly and that he was allowed to use Mrs. Orr's car at any time. Mr. Brophy then described how he arranged to meet Meagher with the car at 9.30 p.m. Mrs. Orr and a Mrs. Phillips were with Meagher and the women asked to be taken to St. John's Church, Clifton Hill, where the bodies of two friends who had heen killed in an accident were lying. They were taken there first,, but 011 arrival it was found that the church was locked. Mr. Brophy said he then suggested that the women should go for a short run to Royal Park. On arrival at the place where he was to meet the informant the lights of the car were turned off. About 15 minutes later, said Mr. Brophy, Mrs. Orr noticed a man standing at the side of the car. The shooting then occurred, Mr. Brophy being wounded.

The reasons why several conflicting reports about the shooting were issued to the press were asked of Mr. Brophy. The first report stated that Mr. Brophy had been wounded accidentally in his office while handling a pistol, but Mr. Brophy said the only account he had authorised was that he had been held up by gunmen, and that inquirers should bo told that it was an accident. He realised that that story was only a stop-gap and thai it would bo a lie to say the shooting was accidental. He admitted that a desiro to safeguard tho reputation of the women might have been a governing reason in the issuing of a false report. He and Mrs. Orr were in the back of the car. Mrs. Orr was a widow, whoso husband had been a great friend of his. Mrs. Phillips' husband was also very friendly with him.

PRESS AND POLICE

ALLEGED VENDETTA

JOURNALIST SHADOWED

(Received July 2, 11.5 p.m.)

MELBOURNE, July 2

Just before the report of the Royal Commissioner on the shooting of Mr. Brophy was submitted to Parliament to-day, Mr. \Y. G. McKenzie (Labour— Wonthaggi), made a statement in which lie referred to an alleged vendetta between the Melbourne press and the police. He said that since the inquiry certain Melbourne journalists were being shadowed by police officers.

Mr. McKcnzie said that Sir Thomas Blarney, in reply to a question earlier in the week, admitted that one journalist who was suspected of a certain offence had been placed under surveillance. "It is obvious," said the member, "that the suspicion was that the journalist was obtaining information from certain members of the police force. The police have been camping on the tail of the journalist's car and following it all over the suburbs. When the journalist became aware of the pro codure, ho led the police on a hide and seek expedition all over Melbourne "It is a sinful waste of public money to take the police from their regular work for this sort of thing," said Mr. MeKenzio.