Faced with this dilemma, some juries would acquit the defendant in order to spare his life.

The trial judge had misdirected the jury, but the conviction was safe because no reasonable jury could have acquitted the defendant.

However, occasionally jurors find the law to be invalid or unfair, and on that basis acquit the defendant, regardless of the evidence presented that the defendant violated the law.

As a result, the jury acquitted the defendant.

Following the judge's instructions, the jury needed only nineteen minutes to acquit the defendants.