Complex sentence: Although the proceedings were legitimate jury trials (many were abandoned due to lack of evidence and 30 men were acquitted), they were certainly intended to act as show trials, intended to deter other Luddites from continuing their activities.
Split into simpler sentences: Although the proceedings were legitimate jury trials, many were abandoned due to lack of evidence and 30 men were acquitted. These trials were certainly intended to act as show trials to deter other Luddites from continuing their activities.