He had provided himself with duplicate keys of all the locks in the house, the interior of which he was very well acquainted with.
Cooney, who had throughout his life always taken a subordinate part in the various depredations in which he had been engaged, had consented to become the tool of the head waiter.
He entered the hotel with the keys provided by his principal, and laid his hands on the most portable and valuable articles within reach, while the waiter waited outside the hotel, and generally contrived to take the lion’s share of the plunder.
He guessed what was up when he beheld Cooney handcuffed, pass out of the hostelry in company with Mr. Wrench. He did not stop to inquire, but made off without a moment’s hesitation, leaving the unfortunate Cooney to his fate.
The case against the prisoner was as clear as it well could be.
Mr. Wrench’s evidence was more than enough to ensure a conviction.
So convinced was the robber of this that he pleaded guilty, and threw himself upon the mercy of the court.
He was told by the detectives that if he chose to give up the names of his accomplices, he would be dealt with more leniently and receive a lighter sentence.
He said that he had but one accomplice, this being the head waiter whom he named.
In the course of a few days the latter was hunted down and taken into custody. He was convicted, and sentenced to five years’ penal servitude, for a considerable portion of the property previously stolen from the hotel was found in his possession.