Jan Primero (Premero) was murdered in 1641, and 8 slaves including Manuel de Gerrit de Reus confessed to the crime.     They drew lots to see which of them would be hanged for the crime, and Manuel drew the short straw.    He was hanged using 2 ropes, both of which broke, and Manuel fell safely to the ground.   The crowd called for mercy, as this must have been an act of God, and Manuel was set free.

It is not clear what prompted Jan's murder, further scholarship on this may provide more information.