In the spring of 1836, the London press reported a spate of shop thefts carried out by women employing a particular fashion accessory. One of these involved Jane Hathaway, 47, who was charged with stealing two small bottles from a Westminster grocer.

According to Ralph Carter, a store employee who testified in court, Ms Hathaway:

“Came on the 17th of February and inquired for two ounces of tea… I saw her take up a bottle of raspberry vinegar and a bottle of essence and put them into her muff.”

Hathaway was found guilty and sentenced to five days’ confinement in Newgate. Press archives reveal at least three other muff-related thefts in early 1836. Testifying in another case involving the theft of cufflinks, a London detective named Harris urged shopkeepers to be “ever vigilant” of “fingers, hands and muffs”.

Source: London Morning Post, March 5th 1836 and other dates; Central Criminal Court – Minutes of Evidence, 1836. Content on this page is © Alpha History 2019-23. Content may not be republished without our express permission. For more information please refer to our Terms of Use or contact Alpha History.