By delaying the SENTINEL a few hours last week we were enabled to give the result of one of the most remarkable cases in some respects, ever tried in this court. After seven days spent in hearing testimony, during which time intense interest was manifested by this community, a verdict was returned in less than forty-five minutes after the jury left the court room. In saying that this trial was a great farce is but giving expression to an opinion entertained by three-fourths of the citizens of the county. The informalities which occurred during the trial; the conduct of the jury; the pressing of the case to a final termination after it was known to the court and the prosecuting attorneys that there could be but one conclusion, constitute a judicial farce that is nothing less than a mockery of justice. It is useless now to discuss the guilt or innocence of the prisoner, and our object in referring to this matter at this time is for another purpose. The position of juror has come to be regarded by most jurymen as one involving a very slight responsibility. JURORS, too, allow themselves frequently to be tampered with by interested parties. We have occasionally witnessed attorneys going over the list of jurors and marking one name after another, saying, at the same time, such and such a man is all right, this one has a certain religious belief, and that one is a good political friend. Surely this is placing a very low estimate upon the character of a juror, and is degrading and a humiliating [sic] to any man assuming the responsibilities of a juror's oath. The cause of justice, as well as the character of the court, has suffered immensely during the recent trials, but if the experience gained will impress the court with the necessity of hereafter holding, to the strictest accountability, officers and jurors, the administration of justice in this county will soon regain its lost prestige, and the price paid for this experience will not prove to be a total loss to the community.

Source:

Unknown, "The Wynkoop Trial," Valley Sentinel, Carlisle, Pa., Friday, 30 January 1880, page 4, col. 1.