+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| |
| _TRIAL_ |
| OF |
| JANE LEIGH PERROT, |
| AT |
| TAUNTON ASSIZES, |
| ON |
| Saturday the 29th of March, 1800; |
| |
| CHARGED WITH |
| STEALING a CARD of LACE, |
| |
| IN THE SHOP OF |
| ELIZABETH GREGORY, |
| _Haberdasher & Milliner, of the City of Bath_, |
| |
| AS TAKEN IN SHORT HAND. |
| |
| |
| BATH: |
| PRINTED and SOLD by W. GYE, and to be had of |
| the BOOKSELLERS in TOWN and COUNTRY. |
| |
| _Price 6d._ |
| |
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
COUNSEL FOR THE PROSECUTION.
Vicary Gibbs, Eſq. King’s Counſel—and James Burrough, Eſq.
Solicitor, Mr. Cheeſman, of Bath.
COUNSEL FOR THE PRISONER.
Robert Dallas, Eſq. King’s Counſel—N. Bond, Eſq. ditto.
Joſeph Jekyl, Eſq.—Albert Pell, Eſq.
Solicitor, Mr. Watts, Bath.
NAMES OF THE JURY.
Charles Tucker, Poſtmaſter, of Chard, Foreman.
J. Mitchell, Innholder, Chard—J. White, Schoolmaſter, ditto.
J. Hill, Currier, of Chard—Joſhua Cuff, Coombe St. Nicholas,
Soap-Boiler—Edward Murley, Weſt Chinnock, Linman.
Henry Baker, Weſt Coker, Sail-Cloth Maker.
William Shattock, Wellington, Baker—William Sercombe, of
the ſame Place, Tallow Chandler.
Thomas Gore, Wellington, Serge Maker—John Nurton, ditto.
And George Harding, of Milverton, Miller.
_Trial of Jane Leigh Perrot._
About half past Seven o’Clock, the Priſoner, attended by a number
of Ladies, walked from their Lodgings at the London-Inn, in two or
three different Parties, to the Aſſize Hall, where they waited in the
anti-room to the Grand Jury Room, till the Judge came, about Eight
o’Clock. She then went into the Priſoners Pen, accompanied by her
Huſband and ſeveral ladies. Mrs. Leigh Perrot appeared very pale and
emaciated, between 50 and 60 Years of Age. She was dreſſed in a very
light lead-colour Peliſſe, a Muſlin Handkerchief on her Neck, with a
Cambric Cravat; her hair of a dark brown, curled on her Forehead; a
ſmall black bonnet, round which was a purple ribbon, and over it a
black lace veil, which was thrown up over her head; while the Jury was
called and ſworn, ſhe appeared perfectly calm and collected, converſing
with her Counſel and Friends.——The Indictment conſiſted of four Counts,
varying the owner of the Property charged to have been ſtolen. Her
Counsel requeſted ſhe might be allowed a chair, which was granted.
THE PROSECUTION HAVING BEEN OPENED BY Mr. BURROUGH, ... Mr. GIBBS
STATED THE CASE FOR THE PROSECUTION.
_That on the 8th of August, the lady at the bar came to the shop of
Elizabeth Gregory, the prosecutrix, in Bath-Street, Bath, where having
purchased some black lace, she contrived whilst the shopman Charles
Filby, who had been serving her, was gone to procure change of a five
pound note she had given him, that she took from a box at the end of
the counter, furthest from that at which they had been standing, a card
of white lace, that Filby saw her take it, that he would swear it was
not by mistake put into the paper parcel of black lace he gave her,
that Sarah Raines would confirm him in this; that Elizabeth Gregory
seeing the prisoner pass by her shop, in about 20 minutes after, and
walking with her husband, went out and accused her of having the lace,
that she denied it, but said if it was in the parcel, the shopman must
have put it up by mistake, that the parcel was examined and the white
lace was found in it; Mr. Leigh Perrott readily told his address; the
parcel was not in the state when found in Mrs. Perrott’s possession
as it had been folded up by Filby for her; and that they, Gregory and
Filby, went immediately before the Mayor, to lodge an information, but
in consequence of the number of Soldiers who were passing through
Bath, for the expedition in Holland, the magistrates could not attend
to them ’till the week following._—These were the leading facts of the
case, for the prosecution.
ELIZABETH GREGORY, EXAMINED by Mr. BURROUGH.
On the 8th. of August, kept a haberdasher’s shop, in Bath-Street, Bath,
had an apprentice, named Sarah Raines, a shopwoman, named Leeson, and a
journeyman, named Charles Filby, he had liv’d with her about 6 months,
at 50 guineas a year; shop, fronts Bath-Street, and as you enter the
shop from Bath-Street, on the right hand there is a counter, beyond the
counter and at a little distance from it is a desk; on the left hand
there is another counter, towards the further part of which, from the
door, is a brass railing, upon which goods are sometimes hung; from
the entrance to the brass railing, there is about 2 yards and half of
counter, and about the same length of railing, at the bottom of the
left hand counter is a door, which goes down stairs. On the 8th. of
August, Mrs. L. P. came to the shop, between one and two, ask’d to look
at the black lace which she had seen the day before, and if the lace
expected from town had arrived? Witness said no, shewed her the black
lace, which she took down on the counter, at the further end of the
brass railing; on the brass railing, veils, shawls and handkerchiefs
were exhibited, with which it nearly covered, so that they intercepted
the view; at the time witness brought the black lace to Mrs. Leigh
Perrott, she was standing at the further end or bottom of the counter,
on the outside, and witness on the inside, Mrs. P. fixed on some of
the black lace, at that time Filby was at the top, or upper end of the
counter, on the left hand side, measuring _white_ Lace, they were then
taking stock; when Mrs. P. had fixed on the black lace, witness called
Filby to measure what was sold her, which he came down the counter to
do, he then stood at the bottom of the counter, and in the inside,
witness went to the desk, leaving Filby measuring the lace; afterwards
she ordered Sarah Raines to clear away the box from counter, which she
did, witness sat down at the desk, her face to the counter she had just
left, she could see to the end of the shop, and whilst sitting there
Filby came for change of a five pound note, given by Mrs. P. in payment
of one pound nineteen, for the lace, gave him the change, which he took
back to Mrs. P. Witness then went down to dinner, could not say at the
time she was going down, where Mrs. P. was, only knows she was gone
from the bottom of the counter; little business at that time of the
year is done in Bath; no goods were on the right hand counter, nor on
the left hand counter, but the veils, &c. on the railing, the box at
which Filby had been employed at the upper end, and the box of black
lace, taken down for Mrs. P. Sarah Raines at this time was down by the
desk, and Miss Leeson was in the shop; Filby shortly afterwards came
down stairs, then witness in about ten minutes went back to the shop,
saw Mrs. P. pass by the shop in about a quarter of an hour.
At that time she had reason to think lace had been stolen; Mr. P. was
with the prisoner on the other side of the street, she went across to
them, spoke to her, said, “Pray Ma’am, hav’nt you a card of white lace
as well as black?” she said no, I have not a bit of white lace about
me; witness said, see in your pocket; Mrs. P. then said, pulling a
paper from under her arm, “if I have it, your young man has put it up
by mistake;” the paper produced, was not doubled up at the end; Mrs. P.
turned red and trembled; witness turned down one of the corners of the
paper, and saw the card of white lace, and the black above it; the
card of black lace was about an inch shorter, but of the same width;
at that time she examin’d the card, and found the shop mark on it, and
she said, “It is mine, I will swear that to be the shop mark.” On
discovering the lace, denied that it had been put up by mistake, and
said, “You have stolen it;” this Mrs. L. P. denied; witness took away
the white lace. Within half an hour after, went before the magistrates
with Filby, but the mayor had left the Town-hall, and no information
could be lodged that day; said the Town clerk and deputy mentioned to
them the reason of coming, they told her to call the day following, she
went, but could not get to the Town-hall, as it was full of soldiers,
could not see any of the magistrates; went every day but could only be
heard on the Wednesday. Mr. Gye has had the lace one day, since it was
taken from Mrs. P. is sure it is the same card of lace now produced.
CROSS-EXAMINED BY Mr. DALLAS.
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.
Lived as shopman with Miss E. Gregory, has been twice a bankrupt, has
been with Miss Gregory for 6 months: remembers Mrs. P. coming into
the shop on the 8th of August: was at the time, measuring a box of
white lace at the upper end of the left-hand counter on the inside,
the lace was folded round pale blue cards, which were marked: placed
the bottom of the box on his right hand, and the lid on the left: the
cards unmeasured were on the cover, those measured, marked and ticketed
were put in the box: on the tickets were the quantities measured: when
Mrs. P. came in no customer was there: but one person came in for a
few minutes only, Miss Gregory was at the bottom of the right-hand
counter, Mrs. P. asked if the laces were come from London, Miss G. said
no, Mrs. P. then desired to see the lace she had seen the day before,
Mrs. P. looked over part of the laces Miss G. had taken down, and made
choice of what she had fixed on the day before: Miss G. called him from
the place at which he had been sitting, to measure the laces, which
he did: had measured and passed 6 cards of white lace from the lid
into the bottom of the box, when he was called by Miss G.—remembers
that the last card he had put into the box was very much defaced:
did not use the old card but took a new one, and put the shop mark on
it: the 6 cards just filled the bottom of the box, the last card was
put in the corner of the box, the farthest from the door, was in the
act of measuring the seventh when he was called: put the cover with
the unmeasured laces on the chair, and on them put the seventh card:
measured the black lace Mrs. P. bought: Raines was desired to put the
loose black laces into the box, which she did in the inside of the
counter, Mrs. P. was on the outside: rolled the bought lace on a small
piece of card, some paper was close by, put the lace in it & folded the
paper up, (the witness shewed the way with another piece of paper, in
which he had folded it) delivered the paper to Mrs. P. who gave him a
5l. note for it, which he carried to Gregory to change: had not stirred
from the spot on which he stood, ’till he delivered the lace to Mrs. P.
and when Gregory had given the change, she went down below; when he
received the change from Gregory he turned round and observed that
Mrs. P. removed to the other end of the counter, standing with her face
down the shop, and the box of white lace on her left hand: passed up to
her in the inside, the shawls on the railing first obscured his sight,
but when he got up far enough to see her, he saw her left hand come
out of the white lace box, with the card of white lace in her hand,
which she drew under her cloak; in drawing her hand so quick under her
cloak, she rather drew the cloak on one side, which discovered the
corner of the card, she had it in her left hand, the card of black
lace was in her right: after this Miss G. was down stairs, still Miss
Raines & Miss Leeson were in the shop: at that time he did not examine
the box of white lace, is certain he saw her take it and under her arm:
had conversation with Miss Gregory down stairs afterwards, who came up
stairs, he shortly after returned too, he then saw Miss G. with the
card of white lace in her hand, which had the private mark he had put
on it: he went out and saw Mr. and Mrs. L. P. together, they were apart
afterwards, in attempting to speak to Mrs. P. she went to her husband:
witness asked his name, said he lived in Paragon-Buildings: witness
went to the Town-hall to lay the complaint, but the Magistrates were
gone: they were afterwards much occupied with the soldiers who were
passing through for the expedition to Holland, attended almost daily
till the information was laid.
CROSS-EXAMINED BY Mr. BOND.
Smith had left Bath before witness was hired by Mrs. Smith: the
goods were the property of E. Gregory, Mrs. Smith was in Cornwall:
witness was brought up in the haberdashery line, was a journeyman
once in St. Paul’s Church-Yard: never had dealings with one Crouch,
a pawnbroker: never brought goods to Crouch: was not in the house
of Moore and Terry, but was a partner with Terry, who is now gone
to Lisbon; they, when together, sent hard-ware to Lisbon, but never
himself saw or knew any thing of the goods sent: never look’d into
the books, though a partner; their goods sent to Lisbon were bartered
for goods; goods were got by them in the City and Birmingham: never
dealt with one Caldwell; if Caldwell sent goods through their hands
to Lisbon, he knew nothing of it, Mr. Terry alone managed the books,
at length they were bankrupts, afterwards became partners with one
Crout about 5 months after the said bankruptcy; they were together
about 18 months, then this house also was a bankrupt, his certificate
is signed yet only by 7 out of 10 creditors; before Christmas there
was no name to the certificate, the certificate was never refused by
any one; he believes his creditors and commissioners were satisfied,
but he believes the solicitor to the commissioners was not: being the
confidential servant of the shop, he took the best care he could of
every thing: does not know he ever put up in a parcel more things than
had been purchased: knows _now_ a Miss Blagrave, and recollects when
once she purchased a veil at the shop; this happened after Mrs. P’s
affair, he put up Miss B’s veil, Miss B. came back the next morning,
and asked if he remembered serving her with a black veil the night
before; he said yes, she said you ought to be very careful after
Mrs. P’s affair, how you do such things; when the veil came back,
received it, would not have received the veil if he had not imagined
it belonged to the shop: did not tell Miss B. that he had not put up
the veil, thinks he told her he did not put it up: knows of no other
instance: knows of no person of the name of Kent, who deals in their
shop, or any lady who bought gloves in her shop some days before
Mrs. P. was there: will say upon his oath that no person complained a
few days before that more gloves were put up in a paper than she had
bought, very few customers came there at that time, still recollects
that nothing of the sort or that any lady cautioned him, but cannot
possibly say it did not happen: put the 6th card the left hand corner
of the box, and is sure of it, because there was a vacancy in the box
when he came to look into it: Miss Raines and Miss Leeson were in such
a situation as not to be able to see Mrs. P. is positive Mrs. P. had a
cloak on, under which he saw a corner of the card: when he brought back
the change Mrs. P. had the black lace in her hand: is positive she did
not put the money in her purse: Paragon-Buildings is about a quarter of
a mile from the shop: saw her in 20 minutes after it was served; there
was time for her to have gone home had she liked it: was in the kitchen
about 5 minutes, when he returned he saw Miss G. in the shop, with the
card she had taken from Mrs. L. P.
RE-EXAMINED BY MR. GIBBS.
Does not know that he ever put up two veils, or that two were ever
put up, knows that a veil was brought back, only one veil was brought
back by Miss B; when he went from one end of the counter to the other
to measure the black lace, is sure that the card in question, was
placed in the box, in the corner; from that time had never been nearer
the box, than where he stood to give change, Mrs. P. did not, he is
positive, put the change in her purse. The only two persons remaining
in the shop, were Sarah Raines, and Miss Leeson, he went up to them,
and afterwards down to Miss Gregory.
SARAH RAINES EXAMINED BY Mr. BURROUGH.
She, Miss Leeson, and Miss Gregory were at the bottom of the shop,
Filby at the top; when Mrs. P. came, she asked to look at the lace she
had seen the day before, this was shewn her; then Raines was desired by
Miss Gregory to put the lace away, in which she was employed, whilst
Filby was measuring, saw him wrap it up in the paper, and he was in the
act of putting it into Mrs. P’s hand, when witness went to the bottom
of the shop to the desk, to work; remembers Miss Gregory’s going down
stairs, Filby came to her; Miss Leeson as soon as Mrs. P. went out
of the shop, then went down stairs, Miss G. came up first in about
10 minutes, then Filby came up to Miss G. she having returned with lace
in her hands; has been in the habit of seeing Filby put up things, he
does it carefully, and laces in particular; is positive he only put up
the black lace.
CROSS EXAMINED BY Mr. JEKYLL.
She was bound apprentice to Mr. Lambe; Miss G. called her to put away
the black lace, which she was employed in all the time she was absent
from her work, to this her attention was principally directed, nothing
particular led her to attend to putting up the lace; she did not see
Mrs. P’s purse in her hand, or Mrs. P. put any money into it.
RE-EXAMINED BY Mr. BURROUGH.
Although you were apprenticed to Mr. Lambe you served Miss Gregory
always.