So many people were crying out their innocence at the beginning but they were all on their own. Social media wasn't so developed back then and no one knew about this one little incident. It wasn't until Mr Bates started coordinating things, then many single incidences became one big issue and scandal.
The TV series highlighted a few of the many cases, including a sub postmaster who walked in front of a bus and killed himself. Then the Post Office went to visit his widow and paid her a sum of money in return for her keeping silent 🤬. That's hope bad it is