Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Shealy Wright
Mrs. Weaver
LNG301
29 March 2011
Tom Robinson’s trial was unfair and he deserves a second chance because
among witnesses, and a prejudiced jury. In the summer of 1935, a black man
named Tom Robinson, pleaded not guilty to the raping of Mayella Ewell. Tom
Robinson was a strong, kind black man, with a good heart is accused of raping and
abusing Mayella Ewell, a young lonely girl, with many responsibilities. The incident
occurred November 21, 134 at the Ewell’s residence in Maycomb County. It seemed
as if every single person that lived in Maycomb County was present in the
courtroom. The lawyers in this case must fight for what is right. Atticus Finch is
defending Tom Robinson and Mr. Gilmer is defending the victim, Mayella Ewell.
conviction. Bob Ewell, Mayella Ewell’s father, ran to Heck Tate, the police office of
Maycomb County, after his daughter had been raped. Heck Tate’s testimony
confirmed that “she was bunged up on the right side of her face”. Atticus then
asked Mr. Tate, “Why didn’t you call a doctor” and Heck replied saying, “….wasn’t
necessary…she was mighty banged up.” There is proof Mayella had been beaten
but there was no evidence to prove she had been raped. With Heck Tate’s
testimony Atticus concluded that the person that beat her must have been left
Wright 2
handed. He also confirmed that Bob Ewell is left handed and is capable of abusing
considered by the jury. Mayella Ewell changed her story a few times during the time
she was testifying. Mayella testifies saying Tom was only on the property once to
break up a chiffarobe. Tom Robinson says when he broke up the chiffarobe, “it was
way last spring, way over a year ago” and that it was not the only time he had been
over the fence onto the Ewell’s property. Mayella also said that she only asked Tom
Robinson to do one chore for her and that is when she got attacked. Tom Robinson
was a goodhearted man and felt “just right sorry for her” because she had many
responsibilities and no one to help her. Tom testified saying he had helped her with
her chores many times before. The inconsistencies and time differenced in this case
were never questioned and they should have in a case like this.
A black man’s word must defend and face two white witnesses and a biased
jury. In the time period of 1930’s segregation is still occurring. In this trial it affected
the decision of if Tom Robinson was guilty or not guilty. Atticus makes a strong
point when he says “all men are equal” in court, and I don’t think the jury took
consideration. If a white man would have raped Mayella, it would have changed the
trial because there was not enough evidence to support the case. The jury suspects
that because Tom Robinson is black he is capable of abusing Mayella Ewell. It’s a
black man’s word against a white woman’s. Even though there was not enough
evidence to support that she was raped the jury still convicted Tom Robinson. Race
mattered back then, and for a full grown black man to have to protest and defend
It’s possible for the defendant to win this case if it is brought to a higher level
court system. Tom Robinson didn’t stand a chance against a county court system
because the jury believes he is capable of abusing Mayella Ewell. Tom Robinson’s
attorney, Atticus Finch, believes they have a good chance to win in an advanced
court, Supreme Court. There is not enough support in this case to prove Mayella is
raped. Though someone did abuse Mayella Ewell is was not necessarily Tom
Robinson. If Mayella had more evidence to prove a crime had been committed then
Tom Robinson would have been convicted and guilty as charged without another
chance to prove his innocence. Tom Robinson deserves a fair chance to win this
case in Supreme Court, because they will realize there is no evidence and to many