Regarding case outcomes, the proportion of defendants acquitted has declined significantly over time. In the first period (1860-1879), one in three of the defendants were acquitted, but by the time of the last period (1960-1979), one in nine of the defendants were acquitted; however, the number of noncustodial sentences increased in these years. This may have led to a public perception that sex offenders were not being sufficiently punished and were 'getting away with it', an attitude that usually reflects public dissatisfaction with the criminal justice system. Regarding the types of cases receiving newspaper coverage, cases that involved children being raped were reported in detail in the early years, including incest cases in which the parties were named. In later years, older victims were much more heavily featured. This study involved searching just over 6,000 editions of the Lancaster Guardian, which has served a very old town that received its first borough charter in 1193, becoming a city in May 1937. 5 tables, 4 notes, and 13 references