SHOOTING INCIDENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22904, 11 June 1936, Page 9

SHOOTING INCIDENT

WOUNDING OF POLICE OFFICER

EVIDENCE AT INQUIRY

(United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright)

MELBOURNE, June iO. (Received June 10, at 11.13 p.m.)

His encounter with two masked men at a rendezvous prearranged with a member of the underworld was described by Superintendent Brophy at the opening of the Royal Commission which is inquiring into the shooting of Brophy and the authenticity of police statements

connected with it. Mr Justice Maclndoe is the Royal Commissioner. Mr L. Strctton, who is assisting the commissioner, said the whole incident was thick with confusion and mystery,

Brophy, whose arm was in a sling, related that on the night of May 22 he received a telephone message from a member of the underworld who offered to give information with regard to “gunmen” operating around the city and Royal Park, in the vicinity of Parkvillc. Brophy agreed to be at (he spot arranged by the informer.

Mr Justice Maclndoe asked for the; man’s name, and Brophy undertook to supply the name privately- in order to protect the informer from the vengeance of Ids companions. Later that evening Brophy sought the use of a private car belonging to Mrs Orr, wife of the licensee of Tattersall’s Hotel, as it was undesirable to use police cars, (he numbers of which the underworld was familiar with. A barman from Tattersall’s Hotel named Maher drove the ear. and Mrs Orr was a passenger. The car was stopped at a spot in Royal Oak Park arranged by tlie informer, when suddenly Mrs Orr exclaimed to Maher, “There’s a man alongside the ear, Billy.” Brophy said that at that moment he noticed a man on each side of the ear, one of whom was masked. The other flashed a torch into the ear ami called out, “ Hands up and keep quiet.” He also exclaimed, “ It’s Brophy! ”

Rrophy added. “ I dived for my pistol, which is a small calibre one, and the man shouted, 4 Don't shoot.’ I did not hesitate. I fired and the. man fired back, the bullet shattering my wrist. I fired again, and am practically certain that 1 wounded him. He continued to fire, four bullets striking me. The other man disappeared.” Mr Justice Maclndoc: Wore they both shooting?

Rrophy: Yes. One shot punctured a tyre.

Rrophy explained that the men sped away in a car. Maher pursued them until compelled to stop by a flat tyre. Rrophy explained that the reason why ho gave an incorrect account of the shooting in the first place was that he did not want to compromise Mrs Orr and another woman friend of Mrs Orr, nor did he want his own wife and daughter, who are practically invalids, to hear he had been shot by bandits. Rrophy said he was convinced that the informer was not associated with the shooting.

Mr Strelton asked: “Didn’t it occur to you that it was unusual for a man of your rank to go out on ordinary duty? ”

Rrophy: I do ordinary duty if nccessarv. It is done in other States.

Mr Strelton: Didn't it occur to you there was a certain amount of danger that night? Rrophy: If I thought there was the slightest danger I would not have taken two ladies. 1 believe it was as big a surprise to the criminals as it was to me.

Mr Strelton: Could you not have picked a trusted policeman to drive your car?

Rrophy: I would not trust brother detectives in a case like this.

Rrophy added: “It would l>e no use calling the local police or patrol to search for the attackers, as they would not know who to search for. 1 thought 1 was doomed, as I was unable to give them information.”

Air Wilbur Ham, K.C., who is appearing for the Herald and their reporters, said he was going to suggest that the original accident theory was a subterfuge to hide the fact that Rrophy was out with women.

Brophy interjected: “There was nothing sinister. I was not in the car with one, but two women.” He said he was not responsible for the accident story told to the reporters, and he had no intention of deliberately deceiving the police chief, Sir Thomas Blarney. Mr Ham suggested that Brophy did everything to help his assailants, to which Brophy replied that, if ho had given full information, his assailants could have been in Hongkong before he was aware of their movements.

There had been several hold-ups in Royal Park, added Brophy, but some were not reported in the interests of women whose reputations were at stake, The story told at police headquirters that he accidentally shot himself with his own pistol was a ston-eap excuse and a pure fabrication. He realised that the real truth would have to come out, but not necessarily for the public. The commission adjourned.