Legal Definitions - hue and cry

Hue and cry refers to a historical legal practice, primarily in English common law, where a person who discovered a crime was expected to immediately raise a loud alarm. This alarm served as a public call to action, obligating other citizens to join in the pursuit and apprehension of the suspected offender. It was a communal duty to assist in law enforcement.

• Example 1: Imagine a medieval village where a farmer wakes to find his barn broken into and his prize horse missing. He immediately shouts "Thief! Thief!" at the top of his lungs, alerting his neighbors. Hearing his cries, several villagers grab their tools and join the farmer in tracking the horse's hoofprints and pursuing the suspected thief out of the village.

  Explanation: The farmer's loud shouts constitute the "hue and cry," and the neighbors' immediate response to join the chase demonstrates the communal obligation to pursue the criminal under this historical system.

• Example 2: During a journey along a country road in the 17th century, a merchant is ambushed and robbed by highwaymen. As the robbers flee, the merchant, though shaken, begins to yell loudly for help, describing the direction the culprits took. A passing cart driver and a group of local woodsmen hear his distress and, understanding their duty, quickly join forces to follow the trail of the highwaymen, hoping to catch them before they escape.

  Explanation: The merchant's vocal alarm after the robbery is the "hue and cry." The cart driver and woodsmen joining the pursuit illustrate the historical expectation that citizens would respond to such a call and participate in apprehending criminals.

• Example 3: In a bustling market town centuries ago, a watchman on patrol discovers a known pickpocket attempting to flee after snatching a purse. The watchman blows his horn and shouts "Stop thief! Hue and cry!" alerting everyone in the vicinity. Market vendors, shoppers, and other watchmen immediately turn their attention to the fleeing suspect, some blocking paths, others joining the direct chase, all contributing to the effort to capture the individual.

  Explanation: The watchman's horn and shouts represent the "hue and cry," serving as an official and public declaration of a crime in progress. The collective response of the market-goers and other watchmen to pursue and apprehend the pickpocket exemplifies the communal enforcement aspect of this historical legal concept.