6 December 1895

'A Miscarriage of Justice'

In the early night of 6 December 1895 three burglars break into a Frisian farmhouse to steal money. The farmhand wakes up and tries to stop them. During the fight the burglars fire their revolver and on the run they have to leave their dark lantern behind. Three socialists, the brothers Wiebren, Keimpe and Marten Hogerhuis are arrested. There is convincing evidence that revolver nor lantern has ever been touched by a Hogerhuis. But judicial authorities fail to acknowledge all discharging statements and proof. The Hogerhuis brothers are jailed for years. Socialists speak of class justice and the young lawyer Pieter Jelles Troelstra perceives 'a miscarriage of Justice'. The Hogerhuis affair has been called the Dutch Dreyfus affair.

See also:

•  About the Hogerhuis affair (in Dutch)
•  The Hogerhuis brothers (in Dutch)

Today in the Biographies Dutch Labour Movement