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The alleged manslaughter of Aletta Francina van Rooijen-Emmelot (The Case of Munsterkerhof)
View of north side of Munterkerhof with from left to right the orphanage, school and student society, by Anthony Grolman 1860. 39360/ collectie Het Utrechts Archief.
Introduction The alleged manslaughter of 59 year old Aletta Francina van Rooijen-Emmelot took place on the night of the 31st of may 1883. A group of students, members of the student society Utrechtsch Studenten Corps then located at Munsterkerkhof, nowadays Domplein, were alleged to have abused Van Rooijen-Emmelot and her husband resulting in her death six days later. Six law students were arrested after Aletta's husband claimed her death was the result of the beatings by the students six days before. The affair, or 'The Case of Munsterkerkhof' as it became known in the local and national newspapers brought to light the citizens' displeasure with the preferential treatment students received in judicial matters at that time, especially after the court ruling in february 1884.
Events leading up to the alleged manslaughter The rendition of the following events is based upon allogations made by Aletta's Jacobus Hendricus van Rooijen. In the night of 31st of may 1883 Aletta Francina van Rooijen-Emmelot had been cleaning the a school located at Munsterkerhof since 4 am when she was startled by a tumultuous party outside the Utrechtsch Studenten Corps' society at Munsterkerkhof around 5 am. Aletta took a look on the square when, after opening the door of her home, she encountered a group of drunk students. According to Aletta's husband Jacobus, the students started to beat the 59-year old woman with sticks in the hallway without provocation. Woken by his wife's screams Jacobus hurried to Aletta's aid, only to be met by more beatings by the students and both being pulled out of the house. The students went on to break some windows and left the couple beaten and frightened. Bystanders helped the couple inside and Jacobus called for the police, who were not able to arrest the students since all but one student, who proceeded to throw something heavy at the Van Rooijen's front door, had disappeared.
The day after, two of the students offered to pay for the damaged windows and door, but refused to do so when Jacobus asked 30 guilders for the damage.
Six days later Aletta died on the 6th of june 1883.Her husband claimed her death was the result of the beatings. Jacobus proceeded to take judicial action and filed a complaint at the Utrecht Court.
Alleged victims Aletta Francina van Rooijen-Emmelot and Jacobus Hendricus van Rooijen were both born in Utrecht respectively in 1824 and 1823. Aletta and Jacobus were married the 18th of july in 1849. While no occupation was written down on Aletta's death certificate she cleaned the Marnixschool at Munsterkerkhof where her husband was occupied as the school's custodian. Jacobus passed away fourteen years after his wife's death on the 10th march 1897 in his home on Abstederdijk Utrecht.
Alleged suspects All of the alleged six suspects were law students and members of the student society. J.E. Boddaert born in Middelburg 22 years old J.K.H. Turk from Amersfoort, 22 years old Jhr J.A.P.L. Ram, born in Utrecht 23 years old W. Grenfell, born in Hattem, 24 years old H.J.CJ. de Jong, from Utrecht 24 years old Jhr A.J. van Rijckevorsel van Kessel born in 's-Hertogenbosch 24 years old
Print of Interior of studenten society P.H.R.M. at Munsterkerkhof in Utrecht. The Utrechtsch Studenten Corps, by L.C. Hora Siccama 1835. 38223 /collectie Het Utrechts Archief.
Trial and sentencing The trial started 28 january 1884 in Utrecht and lasted two days. The court investigation showed that the suspected students had indeed been very loud and rowdy that night.