MYSTERY SHOOTING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 138, 12 June 1936, Page 7

MYSTERY SHOOTING

VICTORIAN INQUIRY AUTHENTICITY OF POLICE STATEMENTS SIR T. BLAMEY’S STORY [By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) Received June 11, 10.30 pm. AIELBOUkXE, juue 10. His encounter with two masked men at a rendezvous preunanged with member of the underworld was described by {superintendent Brophy at the opening yesterday of the Royal Commission which is inquiring into the shooting of fejuperintenuent Biophy and the authenticity of police statements connected with it. Judge Alacindoe is Royal Commissioner. Air. L. Stretton, who is assisting the commisbioner, said that the whole incident was thick with confusion and mystery. Sir Thomas Blarney, chief of the Vic- 1 torian police, said he saw Superintendent Bruphy at the hospital after the shooting. Brophy told nim he had an accident with his own revolver in a car in Royal Park and that two women were with him, also the driver of the car, named Alaher. As a result of later investigations Sir Thomas : had a conference with Detective AlcKerrall, when it was agreed to issue a statement to the press that Brophy went to Royal Park in response to a message, and while there nad been seriously wounded oy two bandits. He authorised no other statement. Ou the following day, Alcuday, he gave an interview to four representatives of the press, telling them all he knew of the shooting uj> to that stage. The Age newspaper then said that he would not continue investigations into the shooting. That, was wrong. “We had importiuit clues and I would not. divulge them,’’ said Sir Thomas. “The CHiief Secretary later called for a report of the whole circumstances, which I sup- . plied. ’ ’ Air. Stretton; Do you think it proper that Brophy should take two women and a man with him? Sir Thomas Blarney: 1 see no im propriety in it. It would have been risky to U’lke a taxi, because of the driver. Also it would have’ been risky to take a policeman in plain clothes. Brophy would, in normal circumstances, have taken steps to have his assailants arrested, but in this instance he had four bullet wounds. No Scandal-mongering. Asked why he did not supply the names of the women in his report to the Chief Secretary, Sir Thomas said that scandal-mongering was not the business of the police. Their names had been omitted to shield them because such reports went through many hands. Air. Stretton: When asked by the newspapers about the accident did you say you did not know where the report came from and that nobody seemed to know anything about it? Sir Thomas: 1 said something to that effect. Air. Stretton: If you said it, it would be an obvious untruth? Sir Thomas: Yes, if 1 said it. Air. Ham, K.G., asked whether Sir Thomas attempted to stifle information regarding the shooting when he saw Brophy at the hospital. Sir Thomas answered: We were anxious that no wrong reports should bo disseminated. We wanted to ensure accuracy. Air. Ham: Or fo ensure inaccuracy? Sir Thomas Blarney: I replied to the reporters’ questions without intending to be candid. Air. Ham: Then your intention was to mislead? Sir Thomas: No. Definitely, to parry.