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Tom Robinson Trial Report

698 Words3 Pages

On August 26, 1935, I witnessed Maycomb County Court turn the United States Court System into a monstrosity. Thomas Robinson, 25, was accused for the alleged rape and molestation of Mayella Violet Ewell, a white woman (citizen of Maycomb, Alabama). As I entered the courtroom, I realized that Maycomb had been inundated with racism and supported the segregation of public facilities, as do most Southern states. This was my first trip to Alabama, but I have never seen so many people at a trial before. I’d say 80% of the courtroom was Caucasian, with the minority making up the convict’s family or friends. I conducted a thorough background investigation on Tom Robinson and discovered that he was falsely charged with disorderly conduct. Otherwise, …show more content…

Naturally, Tom would be seen as the guilty party in this situation, but here’s why he isn’t. Mayella Ewell, the so-called victim, Heck Tate, Bob Ewell, and Tom Robinson all had different accounts on what happened on the twenty-first day of November. Heck Tate, the sheriff of Maycomb County, took the stand first in this trial. Heck was dressed formally in a suit and tie. However, when Mr. Gilmer and Atticus Finch approached him to question him, he became nervous and stiff. Heck testified that he was on his way home from his office when Bob Ewell hollered at him to assist Mayella. Heck’s duty as sheriff is to give every citizen a fair chance, but this was not the case. He continuously doubted himself when recalling Mayella’s injuries. Atticus asked him which eye was blackened, he reluctantly muttered, “‘Let’s see,’ … ‘Can’t you remember?’ Atticus asked. … ‘Her left.’ ‘Wait a minute, Sheriff,’ said Atticus. ‘Was it her left facing you or her left looking the same way you were?’ Mr Tate said, ‘Oh yes, that’d make it right. It was her right eye, Mr. Finch.’” (Lee 185). Heck’s credibility was extremely low, as I and the other reporters around me could see. Also, Mr. Finch made an interesting point in saying that he never called a doctor, which was perplexing given Mayella’s condition after Tom had beaten her. I believed that Tom was innocent at this point, but I needed a bit more to confirm

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1434 Words | 6 Pages

He proceeded to investigate with his own personal biases, thus causing the situation to escalate. These poor investigating skills lead to Mr Tate also being at fault for the eventual death of Tom Robinson. Furthermore, from the trial, Heck Tate said that Mayella was badly beaten up and blames it on Tom. Heck Tate also explains that Mayella fainted at the scene. However, they failed to provide a doctor to examine her health and prove that she was actually raped by Tom Robinson.

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468 Words | 2 Pages

This act of hers has left Tom in jail, and his children and wife alone. We hope you listen carefully and thoughtfully to seek the truth of Mayella Ewell's crime. Now, jury members, I will go over the evidence while the county reviews it. Mayella Ewell was under oath on August 21st, over the case of Tom Robinson when she lied. She is said to have called Tom over to bust her chiffarobe, when he had gotten on top of her, then attacked and taken advantage of her.

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954 Words | 4 Pages

He instills fear in Mayella, therefore she feels obligated to lie during the court trial, blaming Tom Robinson for raping and choking her, causing the bruises along her neck and face. Mayella stutters when being interrogated by Atticus, almost revealing a sliver of truth when she says, “No I don’t recollect if he hit me. I mean yes I do, he hit me” (Lee 248). This proves to Atticus and those viewing the trial that Mayella is indeed untruthful and nervous to deliver answers with her father overseeing her. Because she was present for the court trial, Scout Finch learns that Bob Ewell is guilty, especially after Atticus reveals that Bob is left handed.

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1010 Words | 5 Pages

Tom Robinson testifies that on November 21, Mayella asks for him to fix up a loose door, so he goes in to help her. When Tom Robinson was told to stand on a chair to retrieve a box on top of a chiffarobe Mayella had wrapped her arms around him and he jumped off the chair in fear and shock, so the only thing that was ‘slung around’ in that room was the chair Tom Robinson was once standing on. Afterwards Mayella had kissed him and Mr. Ewell had seen that through the window, so he yelled at Mayella calling her a whore and how he would kill Miss Mayella. And from what Mr. Robinson felt when repeating what Bob Ewell had said that day to miss Mayella, it seems to be clear that he never wanted to be the reason why Miss Mayella would have to deal with her fathers cruel actions. He wanted to help miss Mayella but never expected this would come from his

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268 Words | 2 Pages

Tom Robinson’s Innocence In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Tom Robinson’s innocence is proven by Mayella’s injuries, Bob Ewell’s history, and lack of physical evidence. First of all, Mayella’s injuries are not consistent with Bob Ewell and Heck Tate’s testimonies. Bob and Heck both claim that Tom Robinson beat Mayella and her right eye was bruised.

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806 Words | 4 Pages

But before I digress any further, I believe that Tom Robinson had been dealt with an unfair trial in TKAM, which is largely due to the heavy amounts of bias within the jury, although he was allowed to hold a public trial. The root of unruly judgement is known as bias. For instance in Ch. 16, the jury had men dressed in the Cunningham’s formal wear, hinting that the men whom tried to kill the defendant Tom the night before, was in the jury. This just further proves my thoughts, because those that hate you, and or dislike you, will judge you with false accusations.

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259 Words | 2 Pages

Once the trial starts the prosecutor, Mr. Gilmer, calls Heck Tate to the stand. Heck testifies and says that he found Mayella Ewell badly beaten and she said that Tom Robinson raped her. Heck admits that no doctor was summoned, as well as saying that Mayella’s bruises

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835 Words | 4 Pages

Atticus cheated Tom out of a fair trial by making the jury think Tom is capable of harming Miss. Mayella Ewell even with his bad arm. Atticus told the jury that Tom was completely capable of cutting wood. So why wouldn’t he be able to hurt Miss. Mayella. ANTICIPATE THE DEFENSE

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1255 Words | 6 Pages

During the court case, Bob Ewell was asked by Mr. Gilmer if he saw Mayella being raped by Tom Robinson, and he replied "yes, sir, I did." Mr. Gilmer also asked Mr. Ewell what he did when she saw her being raped, and he said that " I immediately ran to the sheriff, Mr. Heck Tate", yet again, another lie made up by Bob Ewell. By him lying like this, he was successful in covering up the fact that he was the one who beat up Mayella. Also, by his deceptiveness, he figured that he would be successful in getting Tom Robinson killed, whether him being in prison or the death.

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462 Words | 2 Pages

Tom Robinson was declared guilty and there wasn’t even a doctor exam that said that Mayella was raped. Lee states “ I shut my eyes. Judge Taylor was polling the jury: “Guilty...guilty...guilty...guilty…” I peeked at Jem: his hands were white from gripping the balcony separate stb between them” (282). There was hardly any evidence of anything the Ewells were saying but their own

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420 Words | 2 Pages

A Shocking Revelation in the Tom Robinson Case: Ewell’s Perjury Exposed in Court Maycomb, Alabama – In a dramatic turn of events, Bob Ewell’s perjury in the trial of Tom Robinson was exposed in court yesterday, shedding new light on the case that has gripped the small town for months. During yesterday’s proceedings, Atticus Finch, the defense attorney for Tom Robinson, made a damning accusation against Ewell, stating that he was the true perpetrator of the crime for which Robinson had been accused. The defense’s claim was supported by compelling evidence, including testimony from Robinson himself, who testified that he had not attacked Mayella Ewell, the alleged victim. As the trial continued, it became clear that Ewell had fabricated the entire story of the alleged rape, and had in fact abused his daughter Mayella himself.

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199 Words | 1 Pages

In chapter 18 of To Kill a Mockingbird, Mayella Ewell is on the stand in the Tom Robinson versus Mayella Ewell case. Atticus begins by asking Mayella about the night of the supposed rape, but is shut down by the fearful cries of Mayella, who claims Atticus is scaring her. Eventually, Mayella responds with her side of the story, claiming Tom Robinson attacked and took advantage of her until the details became hazy and she passed out. Next thing she knew, Bob Ewell was standing over her asking who had done it.

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657 Words | 3 Pages

He is accused of rape by Bob and Mayella Ewell. During the trial Atticus Finch agrees to be Robinson's lawyer. The accusation was false and Mayella Ewell had kissed Tom butcher then realized, in the words of Atticus, “She did something that in our society is unspeakable.” Mayella could have potentially even been in love with Tom as he helped her with lots of things out of the kindness of his heart. As soon as she realized and her father saw her, she completely changed because what she was doing was not normal amongst the people of the town.

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373 Words | 2 Pages

The Tom Robinson trial that occurred during the summer of this year was a result of an accusation of rape against Robinson by the Ewell family. According to Sheriff Heck Tate’s testimony, he was called to the Ewell residence on the night of November 21st. He found Miss Mayella Ewell beaten up and sprawled on the ground. “Found her lying on the floor in the middle of the front room, one on the right as you go in”(190). After questioning by Robinson’s lawyer, Atticus Finch, he stated that despite Miss Ewell’s injuries, a doctor had not been called.

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866 Words | 4 Pages

First, Tom Robinson should have been found not guilty because he was right handed. Mayella the victim, was punched in the face on the night of the crime. On page 235, Mr. Heck Tate stated that Mayella had a black eye on her right eye

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