PARK BANDITS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19038, 11 June 1936, Page 5

PARK BANDITS

POLICE CHIEF ATTACKED INQUIRY AT MELBOURNE FALSE STORY EXPLAINED WOMEN IN PRIVATE CAR (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) MELBOURNE, June 10. His encounter with two masked men at a rendezvous pre-arranged with a member of the underworld was described by Police-Superintendent J. O. Brophy at the opening of the Royal Commission which is inquiring into the recent, shooting of Superintendent Brophy and the authenticity of the police statements connected with it. Mr. Justice Maclndoe is the Royal Commissioner. . .

Mr. L. Stretton, who is assisting the Commissioner, said the whole incident was thick with confusion and mystery.

Superintendent Brophy, whose arm was in a sling, related that'on tho night of May 22, ho ieccived a telephone message from a member of the underworld who offered to give information regarding "gunmen" operating around the city and the Royal Park in the vicinity of Parkville. Superintendent Brophy agreed to meet him at a spot arranged by the informer.

REQUEST FOR NAME Mr. Justice Maclndoe asked for tho man's name.

Superintendent Brophy undertook to supply the name privately in order to protect, the informer from the vengeance of his companions. Later that evening the witness sought the. use of a private car belonging to Mrs. Qrr, wife of the licensee of Tattersall's Hotel, as it was undesirable to use u police car, the number of which the underworld was familiar with.- A barman at Tattersall's Hotel named Maher drove the car and Mrs. Orr was a passenger.

The car was stopped at the spot in the Royal Park arranged by the informer, when suddenly Mrs. Orr exclaimed to Maher: "There's a man alongside the car, Billy."

MASK AND TORCH Superintendent Brophy said that at that moment he noticed a man on each side of the car. One of them was masked and the other flashed a torch into the car and called out: "Hands up! Keep quiet!" He also exclaimed " It's Brophy.'' "I dived for my pistol, which was a small calibre one and the man shouted, "Don't shoot," continued the superintendent.. "I did not hesitate. I fired and the man fired back, the bullet shattering my wrist. I fired again and am practically certain that I woutided him. He continued firing, four bullets striking me. The other man disappeared." Judge Maclndoe: Were they both shooting? Superintendent Brophy: Yes. One shot punctured a tyre. Superintendent Brophy explained that the men sped away in a car. Maher pursued them until compelled to stop by a flat tyre.

j incorrect Account Superintendent Brophy explained that the reason why he gave an incorrect account of the shooting in the first place was that he did not want to compromise Mrs. Oit and another woman friend of the Orrs. Nor did he want his own wife and daughter, who were practically invalids, to hear he had. been shot by bandits. Superintendent Brophy said he was convinced his informer was not associated with the shooting. Air. Stretton : Didn't it occur to you it was unusual for a man of your rank to go out on ordinary duty?

Superintendent Brophy: I do ordinary duty if necessary. It is done in other States. , Mr. Stretton: Didn't it occur to you •: that there was a certain amount of danger that night? Superintendent Brophy: If I had thought there was the slightest danger, I would not have taken two ladies. I believe it was as. big a surprise to the criminals as to us. Mr. Stretton: Could you not have picked a trusted policeman to drive yOur car? '. i Superintendent Brophy: I would not trust brother detectives in a case like this.

SUBTERFUGE SUGGESTED Superintendent Brophy added that it was no use calling the local police or a patrol to search for the attackers, as they would not know who to search for. "I thought I was doomed as I was unable to give them information," he added. Mr. Wilbur Ham, K.C., who is appearing for. the Melbourne Herald and its reporters, said that he was going to suggest that the original accident theory was a subterfuge to hide the fact that Superintendent Brophy was. out with women. Superintendent Brophy : There is nothing sinister. I was not in the car with one but with 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 Superintendent Brophy did everything to help the assailants.

Superintendent Brophy replied that if he had given full information his assailants could have been in Hongkong before the police became aware of their movements.

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