New-York tribune., 1922-12-29
ROOmer jailed
In Killing of
Brooklyn Girl
PostofFice Clerk Admits Bull
let From One Of His
Three Revolvers Caused
Theresa McCarthy's Death
Not There at Shooting
Arrest Of Clerk Fails 10
Help Police in Solving
Mystery of Girls Death

Ten-year-old Theresa Mccarthy was
i'lled b. bullet from a .22-ealibsr re-
,oiver with a nieklc handle, which be-
ionged 20 Benjamin Prenderville.
roomer At her home at 562 Morgan Ave
nue. Brooklyn. and which was one Of
three revolvers he Kept in a bureau
drawer in his room.
This was established BY detectives
in Brooklyn last night when Prender-
willie. weary from an all-day grilling'
admitted that he had taken the Peal
Der revolver and hurled II, with bis
two others-both .92-ealiber weapon
into a vacant lot in Olive Street. not
far from the Mccarthy home. after he
had entered the dining room Of the
Mccarthy apartment and a beam Of
light from the kitchen disclosed the
body OF Theresa on the floor
Prenderville was arrested. He is
charged with homicide and violation Of
the Sullivan Law. Il was this very law
that he had stood in fear Of, Prender-
Vile said, inasmueh IS he already had
criminal record. Investigation
showed that he had been arrested sew
eral times. and that in 1915 he was
sentenced TO one years Imprisonment
for violation Of parole.
Detectives Are Satisfied
Although the statement Of Prender-
willie completely satisfied detectives as
20 the weapon with which Theresa NC
Carthy was shot, they still were con
fronted with the problem Of determin-
ing Just how the revolver was as
charged, and by whom. Several OF the
Investigators were Of the BELIEF that
ths child accidentally shot hersei
sfter finding the shiny weapon pc
meath the pillow on Prendervilles bed,
where. according 70 his story nc piaeeo
q before daybreak Tuesday morning
Other detectives clung 70 the theoIy
that a child playmate OF Theresa 8, ao-
mitted 10 the apartment by theresa
discharged the revolver as tney eA-
smined il. As result Of last nights
developmepts the detectives we're de-
termined. they said, 70 give closer az
tention 10 the length Of time Iheresa
might have lain dead before freneeI
vile, Mrs. Mccarthy and Charles Nell
Theresa's thirteen-year-oid COUSIN, en-
tered the apartment Tuesday night
some Of the detectives were inciineu
20 believe that the child might nave
been killed earlier than about noon
PrCnderville denied knowing any
thing as to how Theresa met her
death His story was told 70 Captain
Daniel J. Carey and other detectives
al the detective bureau a. Ralph Ave
noe and Quincy Street Brooklyn.
Party at Mccarthy Home
Christmas night, Prenderville said.
there was a party AZ the Mccarthy
nnartment. During the evening Prem
dervillc displayed three revoivers.
Little Theresa cvinced interest In
them and her interest ccntered upon
fhs little one with the shiny handle.
prendcrville refused TO allow her 20
play with them, although she pleaded
with him.
About 1855 o'clock Tuesday morning,
Prendcrville said. he left the house.
Mrs Mccarthy had already gone to
work. Theresa was asleep. He forgot
thc revolver beneath the pillow. When
be- returned home in the evening (it
has been definitely established that he
was at the postofhco all day. he found
Mrs. Mccarthy and Charles Nell wait
ing 20 get into the apartment. he
opened the dining-room door with his
key. he said. and his foot struck some
thing. causing him 10 stumble. He
lighted Che gas In the kitchen and
ray Of light showed the body OF The
rosa, bullet wound In her left breast
Prenderville said that he then found
the % calibcr revolver on the bed.
The pillow had been disturbed lie
gave Young Nell 25 cents TO telephone
for the police lie gathered up the
three rcvOlyers and raced out OF the
house 20 n lot and threw the weapons
a. far az he could. Then he returned
90 the house.
Young Nell. a sturdy. ruddy.chccked
boy Of thirteen, corroborated prcnder.
Nllo's statement about the % cents.
llc told the police also that he saw
lrenderulle pick up something" but
couldn't say what it was.
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