Shouting In The Street By Shopmen

At Hitchin Petty Sessions on Tuesday, Edward Kirkby and Harry Harrison, shopmen, employed by a firm of butchers carrying on business in Hitchin market place, were summoned for hooting and yelling on the highway to the annoyance of passengers, on March 3rd. P.C. Smith said the defendants stood on the footpath outside the shop of the Premier Meat Company, and shouted with the view to attracting customers.  The noise could be heard a quarter of a mile away.  Several complaints had been made of the annoyance caused thereby on that morning.  Mr Henry Barham, ironmonger, Sun Street, gave corroborative evidence.

Kirkby denied shouting ; Harrison said there was so much competition in the meat trade that he had to shout out the prices.  Supt Reynolds said the police did not wish to press the case, they only wanted to stop the annoyance.  The Justices convicted, and ordered the defendants to pay costs of 5s. each.