Tom Robinson sent to court
On November 4 1934, Tom Robinson, a young black man, was sent to court by Bob Ewell, a 40 year old poor man. He was in court because Bob Ewell said that he raped his 19 year old daughter, Mayella.
Guilty or not guilty, everyone should know.
Mayella had been brutally injured on her face. Sheriff Heck Tate, an eye witness, said that the damage was dealt on the right side of Mayella's face and around the neck. This means that the beating was done by someone who exclusively lead with their left hand. But sheriff Heck Tate was not an eye witness of the beating, just of the injuries.
Tom Robison's lawyer, Atticus Finch showed that Mr. Ewell was a lefty himself by asking him to write his signature on a piece of paper. He also showed that Tom Robinson had no use of his left hand. The muscles in his arm got torn while he was working as a child. Now he can't even move his left arm.
Mayella and Mr. Ewell claim that Tom raped Mayella. They said that Mayella asked Tom do cut up an old cupboard with an axe for firewood, and when she went in to get a quarter for Tom, he jumped on her from behind. This seemed like it could be a true story, since Bob Ewell is still strong with one arm, but with the injuries on Mayella's right side it seems impossible. Tom Robinson claimed that this event occurred last year except he didn't rape her.
Tom's side of the story was much different, he said that Mayella said she had a thing for him to do inside, but then, she closed the door behind him and kissed him. Tom tried to get away from her but Bob saw it through the window. All Tom did was run, he was scared of Bob.
Usually, the jury would take a couple minutes in their room deciding on an African american's fate, but this time, it took a couple hours. Everyone thought that Tom Robinson was innocent on the inside, but they didn't show it on the outside. Tom Robinson was voted guilty. Why? Because he was African american. This should have never happened.