SHOOTING IN PARK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22923, 3 July 1936, Page 10

SHOOTING IN PARK

REPORT CLEARS OFFICER CONDUCT NOT IMPROPER LABOUR MEMBER'S COMPLAINT (United Press ABBoelntion) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) MELBOURNE, July 2. (Received July 2, at 10.20 p.m.) The report of Mr Justice Macindoe, who inquired into the shooting of Superintendent Brophy at Royal Park on May 22, was tabled in Parliament to-day. The report found that there had been no impropriety on the part of Superintendent Brophy in taking two women when he went to meet informers. There was nothing immoral or improper in Superintendent Brophy's conduct. Dealing with the evidence of Sir Thomas Blarney, chief of the Victorian police, the judge said that, having regard to the nature and number of the wounds, he could not accept Sir Thomas Blarney's statement that he believed it was an accident when it was first reported to him. " I am forced to the conclusion," the judge stated, " that Sir Thomas Blarney was told the truth, that Superintendent Brophy was held up and shot, and I believe that, being jealous of the reputation of the force he commands, he thought that its reputation might be endangered if the whole truth were disclosed." The judge commented upon the contradictions in the evidence of the reporters with respect to the interviews at which information regarding the shooting was sought. He did not believe Sir Thomas Blarney ever said that 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. He was satisfied that Superintendent Brophy's original story of the accident was prompted by his desire to safeguard the reputation of the two women who were with him when he was shot.

The report was submitted to Parliament to-day. Mr M'Kenzie (Labour) made a statement in which he referred to the vendetta between the Melbourne press and the police. He said that since the inquiry certain Melbourne journalists had been shadowed by police officers.

Mr M'Kenzie said that Sir Thomas Blarney, in reply to a question earlier in the week, admitted that one journalist who was suspected of a c'ertain offence had been placed under surveillance. "It is obvious," said Mr M'Kenzie, "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 procedure he 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 M'Kenzie.