Trial of Jane Leigh Perrot, at Taunton Assizes, on Saturday the 29th day of March, 1800; charged with stealing a card of lace, in the shop of Elizabeth Gregory, haberdasher & milliner, of the city of Bath — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
Trial of Jane Leigh Perrot, at Taunton Assizes, on Saturday the 29th day of March, 1800; charged with stealing a card of lace, in the shop of Elizabeth Gregory, haberdasher & milliner, of the city of Bath
John Stuart Mill · en
Has been in that shop two years, succeeded Mrs. Smith, her sister;
Smith was in London, carried on the business for her own self, and not
for Mr. and Mrs. Smith. When Mrs. P. was in the shop the day before,
believes Miss Leeson was in the shop, but does not know who besides.
Mrs. P. returned the next day to enquire if the lace expected was
come, & then desired to look at others. No customer was there when
Mrs. L. P. was served. Filby, when Mrs. L. P. entered the shop was
about 5 or 6 yards from the bottom of the counter, when called, came
from the top to the bottom to measure the lace; measured it, and made
it up in the parcel. The 5l. note was given to Filby after the black
lace was measured, who was then about 4 yards from witness at the
desk. Mrs. P. had on a black cloak, did not know who she was, that is,
her name, on either of the days. The best opportunity of taking, is,
when many people are in the shop, and some were there. The witness had
been examined before the mayor, said then, it was half an hour before
Mrs. P. returned by the shop, but cannot now say what time exactly
elapsed, between witness going down stairs, and Mrs. L. P. returning
to the shop, nor has been able to say this at any time since; no
person was present but Mr. and Mrs. L. P. when witness accused the
latter. W. Smith is the name still over the shop, notwithstanding an
advertisement was in the papers, stating the business to be carried on
by Mrs. Smith—it is carried on for the benefit of the witness, Smith’s
trustees gave the trade over to her, to pay 15s. in the pound.
RE-EXAMINED BY Mr. BURROUGH.
She has sold goods since that time, has paid debts, and has been
answerable for goods, and the 15s. in the pound has been paid into the
hands of Baron Dimsdale.
Judge Lawrence—“Put in the card of lace.”
CHARLES FILBY EXAMINED BY Mr. GIBBS.