Mrs. Leigh-Perrot. Image @JASA
At our September meeting, Regional Coordinator Kim Higgins mentioned an interesting article online about Jane Austen's aunt, Jane Leigh-Perrot, who had been arrested for shoplifting in August 1799. The article was written by author Paul Emanuelli.
Despite her personal wealth, Jane Leigh-Perrot was arrested for "grand theft," accused of stealing white lace from a shop in Bath. The lace was valued at four times the five shillings that carried the death sentence at that time!
For more on this interesting case, please visit the article, "Law & Order and Jane Austen's Aunt" at the Jane Austen's World web site. The direct link is http://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/2012/07/24/law-order-and-jane-austens-aunt-by-paul-emanuelli/.
Despite her personal wealth, Jane Leigh-Perrot was arrested for "grand theft," accused of stealing white lace from a shop in Bath. The lace was valued at four times the five shillings that carried the death sentence at that time!
For more on this interesting case, please visit the article, "Law & Order and Jane Austen's Aunt" at the Jane Austen's World web site. The direct link is http://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/2012/07/24/law-order-and-jane-austens-aunt-by-paul-emanuelli/.