POLICE CHIEF RESIGNS

Southland Times, Issue 22938, 10 July 1936, Page 7

POLICE CHIEF RESIGNS

Sequel To Brophy Case (United Press Assn.— Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 10.45 p.m.) Melbourne, July 9. The Commissioner of Police (Sir Thomas Blarney) tendered his resignation to the Premier this afternoon, and it was accepted by Cabinet. Cabinet has been discussing police affairs for the last three days, following the report of Judge Macindoe on the shooting of Superintendent J. O. C. Brophy, the complaint made in Parliament about the shadowing of journalists and the criticism of the Chief Justice of the Victorian Supreme Court about the police methods in the questioning of accused persons. Cabinet will possibly decide on Monday to invite a high official of Scotland Yard to submit a report on the reorganization of the Victorian Police Department, but not necessarily a successor. The police force in the meantime will be temporarily controlled by Supertendent Mooney, the present senior superintendent of the force. Sir Thomas Blarney’s salary was £1250, with £250 as an allowance. He will retire on a pension of £5 a week. In his report to Parliament on the shooting of Superintendent Brophy, Judge Macindoe said that considering the nature and number of wounds received by Mr Brophy, he could not accept Sir Thomas’s statement that he believed that the shooting was an accident when it was first reported to him. “I am forced to the conclusion that Sir Thomas was told the truth.—that Mr 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.” Judge Macindoe commented upon the contradictions in the evidence of the reporters at interviews at which information about the shooting was sought. He did not believe that Sir Thomas 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.