DETECTIVE SHOT

Southland Times, Issue 22898, 25 May 1936, Page 7

DETECTIVE SHOT

Narrow Escape From

Death

(United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 7.30 p.m.) Melbourne, May 22. Superintendent John O’Connell Brophy, who began duty as Chief of the Victorian Criminal Investigation Branch a week ago, was shot in the face and right arm in a mysterious manner. The Police Department is reticient.

It is reported that four shots were fired by a gangster from a car. One bullet struck Mr Brophy’s cheek, another his right arm, and a third the back of his neck; the fourth bullet hit him over the heart, but was deflected by something in his pocket. He is not in a serious condition. An official of the Police Press Bureau in a statement declared that Mr Brophy was accidentally shot in the right arm while handling his own pistol at police headquarters. Newspaper reporters, who are banned at the detective office, ascertained that Mr Brophy was shot by a hold-up gang who mistook him for a prominent Melbourne bookmaker who habitually carries a large sum of money and resides in Parkville, a suburb. An official statement by the police declares that Mr Brophy went to Royal Park on Friday night to try to catch car bandits who were operating in that locality, and was himself held up by two armed men, who apparently recognized him and fired three shots before Mr Brophy could use his own revolver, which jammed. One bullet passed through Mr Brophy’s lower jaw, just missed a vital artery, and emerged at the back of his neck; another broke his right wrist; and the third was deflected from his heart by a braces buckle.