WOUNDED POLICE CHIEF

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 126, 29 May 1936, Page 8

WOUNDED POLICE CHIEF

RECENT MELBOURNE AFFAIR COMMISSION OF INQUIRY STATE CABINET CONSIDERING By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) MELBOURNE, May 28. It is practically certain that th< Slate Cabinet will appoint a Royal Commission to inquire into the shooting of Detective-Superintendent Brophy and possibly ino the administration of the Police Department. Alinisters are dissatisfied with the conflicting stories attending Mr. Bro phy’s injuries and the attitude of the Commissioner, Sir Thomas Blarney. A Melbourne message on Alay 24 stated: 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 some mysterious manner. The Police Department is exceedingly reticent. It is reported that four shots were fired by . gangster from a car, one bullet striking Mr. Brophy’s cheek, another his right arm, a third the back of his neck, and the fourth over the heart, but was deflected by something in his pocket. He is not in a serious condition. A Police Press Bureau official in a statement declared that Air. 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, however, ascertained that Air. Brophy was shot by a hold-up gang who* mistook him for a prominent Alelbourne bookmaker who habitually carries a large sum of money and resides in Parkville suburb. Later an official police statement declared that Air. Brophy went to Royal Park on Friday night to try and catch some car bandits who have been operating in that locality, and was himself held up by two armed men .who apparently recognised him and fired three shots before Air. Brophy could manipulate his own revolver, which jammed. One bullet passed through Air. Brophy’s lower jaw, just missed a vital artery, and emerged at the back of his neck. 21nother broke his right wrist, and a third was deflected from his heart by the buckle of his braces.