hue and cry

plural hue and cries · plural hues and cries

1. historicaluncountableusuallyThe public pursuit of a criminal, accompanied by shouts to warn others to give chase.

   Because he that firſt raiſeth a hue and cry, where no felony is committed, that is, he who giveth the falſe information, is ſeverely puniſhable by fine and impriſonment, if the information be falſe.

   1797, Richard Burn, John Burn (corrections and updates), The Justice of the Peace, and Parish Officer, Volume II, 18th Edition, page 753

   2 more examples

   For the levying of hue and cry, although it is a good course to have a justice's warrant, where time will permit, in order to prevent causeless hue and cry; yet it is not necessary, nor always convenient; for the felon may escape before the warrant be obtained.

   1809, William Nicholson, “HUE and CRY”, in The British Encyclopedia, or Dictionary of Arts and Sciences; […], volume III (E … I), London: Printed by C[harles] Whittingham, […]; for Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme, […], →OCLC, column 1

   That in case of a hue and cry once raised and levied upon supposal of a felony committed, though in truth there was no felony committed; yet those, who pursue hue and cry, may arrest and proceed as if a felony had been really committed.

   1846, Matthew Bacon, Sir Henry Gwilliam, Charles Edward Dodd, John Bouvier, A New Abridgment of the Law with Large Additions and Corrections, volume 4, page 693

2. broadlyuncountableusuallyA loud and persistent public clamour, especially one associated with protest or the making of some demand.

   And because I haven't written off easily, a great hue and cry has gone up that there is something wrong with our whole system of administering justice.

   1955, Caryl Chessman, Trial by Ordeal, quoted in 1956 September, Walter P. Armstrong, Jr, book review, American Bar Association Journal, page 854