Jane Leigh-Perrot was married to Jane's maternal uncle James Leigh-Perrot. She is often famed with being Austen's criminal relation, but was this really the case?

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Much like Jane's brother Edward who inherited his fortune and changed his name to Knight, James added Perrot to his surname upon inheriting the Northleigh estate. He then went on to build a home called Scarlets in Berkshire where the couple would spend their summers, moving to Bath in the winter. The Leigh-Perrot's allowed Jane her first visit to Bath to see her aunt and uncle in 1797. 

 

In August 1799, whilst residing in Bath, Jane Leigh-Perrot visited a linen drapers to purchase a length of black lace. Knowingly or unknowingly, she also left with a card of white lace, worth twenty shillings. Whilst walking by the shop later that day she was accused of shoplifting by the shop clerk. Mrs Leigh-Perrot insisted that it had been put into her package by mistake but the clerk was adamant she was guilty. There were rumours that the shop-keeper had conspired to blackmail her for money. 

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She was arrested a few days later and imprisoned for eight months. As she was a gentlewoman she was not placed in the public gaol (jail), she was instead placed with the jailer and his family whilst awaiting her trial. It must have been quite scary as shoplifting was punishable by hanging or deportation to Australia for 14 years. Her husband stayed by her side throughout her ordeal. Mrs Austen offered to send her daughters to keep her company also, but she declined as she could not secure their accommodation nor did she wish elegant young women to be "inmates". 

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The trial took place on 29th March 1800 in the Great Hall at Taunton Castle where more than 2000 people went along (Jane Austen was not one of these) filling the venue to capacity, and the popular magazine of the era The Lady sent along a reporter to cover the trial. You can read the full account of the trial in The Lady magazine here: http://www.pemberley.com/pemb/Leigh-Perrot_trial.html

 

Speaking in her defense Mrs Leigh-Perrot stated: "Placed in a situation the most eligible that any woman could desire, with supplies so ample that I was left rich after every wish was gratified - blessed in the affections of the most generous man as a husband, what could induce me to commit such a crime?". Others also testified that they had been victims of the same scam. It took a matter of minutes for the jury to decide that she was not guilty.

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It seems strange that a woman of wealth who resided in Number One on the Paragon would want to steal a small piece of lace, but if she did in fact steal the lace, did she get off lightly because of her wealth and status? 

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It seems unlikely that the shopkeeper was trying to blackmail her, as they had gone straight to a magistrate, although they took several days to take notice because they were concerned with getting some boisterous soldiers out of town. There was another incident some years after in 1806, when it is said that Mrs Leigh-Perrot attempted to get a discount on a plant. When the shopkeeper refused she hid the plant under her cloak but a young girl spotted her and there was no further incident. It seems on this evidence that she may have actually been guilty, but whether it was a need to steal, or whether it is because she genuinely believed she was owed something in return for being overcharged is purely speculation. 

 

Jane talks about her aunt in her letters and describes her as miserly and moaned about how much money it has cost her to house the Austen's on visits. Perhaps she was the sort of woman who disliked spending a great deal in spite of her wealth.  

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In 1799, Jane Austen visited Bath with her mother and brother Edward and family. In her letters on 2nd June, Jane details a visit to the same shop which her aunt was accused of shoplifting just two months later. The Leigh-Perrots continued to reside in Bath after the incident and were happy when the Austen's joined them in 1801. 

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Following the death of Mrs Leigh-Perrot in 1836, the home Scarlets and the majority of her fortune was left to Jane Austen's nephew & biographer James Edward Austen Leigh. This is why he has the addition of Leigh to his surname.