A Mansfield newsboy William Moody was fined for shouting “war specials” in Westgate on Sunday Morning, January 31st 1915.
P.C. Kitchen said he heard the lad shouting
Mr J H Collins: Has anyone complained?
Inspector Dye: Yes sir, several people. There were ten boys shouting in Westgate at the time. I have warned this boy before.
The Clerk (to the boy): You have been shouting on Sundays. What have you to say about it?
The boy: I was not shouting very loud, there were more shouting than me.
The Inspector: Yes there were ten, and this boy was the ringleader of the lot.
The Clerk (to the boy): You are not supposed to shout at all. You might ask people if they want to buy a newspaper.
Mr J H Collins told the boy his offence was a serious one; and there had been many complaints lately of boys shouting out papers on Sundays. They would deal leniently with him on this occasion, only fining him one shilling and costs, but if he came there again he would be dealt with more severely, as would other boys who shouted out Sunday newspapers.
Extracted from the Mansfield Reporter
Comments about this page
Just read this article and realised the boy in question, William Moody, was my 2nd cousin. I wonder if it was just a Sunday law? as I remember the newspaper sellers use to call out on the corner of the Market Place/West Gate in the 50’s and 60’s
Add a comment about this page