BlackManAgainstWhiteTown

By:LukePeary

ThecasethatcouldtearMaycombapart,MayellaEwellaccusingTomRobinson,
anegro,ofrape.ThiswouldhavebeenaninandoutcaseifTomdidnthaveAtticus
Finchdefendinghim.AtticusandTomareupagainstMayellaEwellandherlawyer,
HoraceGilmer.ThistrialistakenplacebecauseofthestorythattheEwellstoldthe
sheriff.TheysaidMayellaaskedTomtohelpbustupachiffarobe.Whenshewentinto
thehousetogethimsomemoney,hesupposedlyfollowedherandattackedher.
StatementsfromMr.BobEwellsaythatshewasbeingbeatenandraped,andhetried
tohelpher.TomRobinsonissaidtohavefledthescenebeforeMr.Ewellcouldgetto
him.SheriffHeckTaterespondedtotheEwellshouseandherewearenow.
SheriffHeckTatewasfirstonthewitnessbeingquestionedbyMr.Gilmer.The
sherifftestifiedonbeingcalledtothescene.Mr.Ewellfoundhimandbroughthimtohis
house.Mr.TatesawMayellaonthefloorbeatup.Hequestionedherabouttheincident
andshesaidshewasbeatenandraped.thesheriffthenaskedwhodidit,gotan
answer,andwentandpickedupTomRobinson.Sheidentifiedhimastheone,soI
tookhimin.Thatsalltherewastoit,thosewerehisfinalwordsinhistestimony.
MayellaEwelllaterwentonthestand.Shestuckbyherstoryandhadcomplete
hatetowardsToRobinson.ShealsogotangryatAtticusformockingher.Hedidno
suchthinganditmadeherlookweak.Atticuskeptedginginonanewangleofthe
case,whichhebelievedMr.Ewellbeather.Whatdidyourfatherseeinthewindow,

thecrimeofrapeorthebestdefensetoit?Whydontyoutellthetruth,child,didntBob
Ewellbeatyouup?Sheburstintotearsandherquestioningwasclearlyover.Judge
Taylorcalledforashortbreak.
TomRobinsonwasthefinalpersononthestand.Hetoldhisstoryofwhat
happened.HebeganwithhowhebusteduptheEwellschiffarobemonthsbeforethe
incident.HewasaskedbyMayellatohelpfixsomethinginthehousewhentheincident
tookplace.Whilehewashelpinghergetwhatsheneeded,shewentforhimandtried
tokisshim.Withallhisrightsenses,hetriedtogetoutofthehousewhichiswhenhe
pushedMayelladown.HeheardMr.Ewellyellingathisdaughterandfuriouswithher.
Hedidntstaylongenoughtoseewhathappenedatthehouse.Atticuspointsof
MayellanotbeingrapedorbeatenbyTowereworkingoutinaveryfinemanner.No
doctorcheckedMayellaoutandshecouldntbeproventoberaped.AlsoTomcouldnt
beatherontherightsideofherbodybecauseofhiscrippledleftarm.
IcaughtupwithAtticuswhilethejurywasdecidingonTobeingguiltyornot.
Q:Howdoyoufeelwithyourdefenseanddoyouthinktheprosecutionhas
leveragewithanyevidence?
A:Ibelievethattheirstorieshavehadtoomanyerrorsandtheevidence
defendingTomRobinsonisthebestthatcanbeusedhere.
Q:Howdoyoufeelonthejuryaskingtherightdecision?
A:Ihaveconfidencethatthejuryismadeofgoodpeopleandtheywillmake
therightdecisionbasedontheevidencepresented.
ReadontomorrowafterweheartheverdictonTomRobinsonslife.