Maycomb Tribune
Thursday, August 5th, 1935 Neema Motamedi
Tom Robinson On The Brink Of Execution
Yesterday evening the Tom
Robinson trial took place in the Maycomb
courtroom. Tom Robinson was accused of
rapping Mayella Ewell on the November
21st, 1934 incident. Atticus Finch defended
Tom Robinson while Mr.Gilmer from
Abottsville defended Mayella Ewell.
(To
m Robinson going to court)
Mr. Heck Tate was the first person
to be inquired. Tate was dressed in a navy
blue suit, black velvet shoes and crystal
white dress pants. Mr. Tate said Mr. Bob
Ewell told him to report to the Ewell home
because Mayella had apparently been
rapped by a n***r. Tate claims when he
found Mayella lying on the floor he didn’t
call a doctor because “It wasn’t necessary.”
He also added that when he arrived at the
Robinson’s hesitation proves costly
Ewell place “her arms were bruised, and
there were definite finger marks on her
gullet.” Mr.Ewell was ragging with anger
throughout his testimony. Mr.Ewell
insisted that he saw Tom Robinson rape his
daughter through one of the house
windows. “I seen that black n***r yonder
ruttin’ on my Mayella!” He also added he
did not call a doctor because it would have
cost him five dollars. Judge Taylor noticed
that Mr. Bob Ewell was left handed and
Mayella’s right eye was blackened. Mr.
Bob Ewell stated he is not ambidextrous.
Mayella embarrassed herself
during her inquiry by crying multiple
times, furiously ranting and childishly
accusing Finch of taking advantage of her.
She insisted that Robinson chunked her on
the floor, chocked her and took advantage
of her. At certain points Mayella decided to
refuse to answer Finch’s questions. She
even said once “No, I don’t recollect if he
hit me.” Before hesitating then saying
“yes”. Mayella did not respond to Finch’s
question when he asked her why her
scream did not make the children come
running into the house or if it was possible
her father abused her.
Robinson was anxious throughout
his testimony. His were shoulders
motionless stiff, eyes shining bright white
and feet numb in his shoes. Robinson once
received a sentence of thirty days in prison
for disorderly conduct. When Finch asked
Robinson “What happened after you turned
the chair over?” Tom hesitated for a while
before responding. He began to sweat and
his skin reflected brightly against the
white, pale light. Mr. Link Deas who is
Tom’s boss shouted in the middle of the
trial “That boy’s worked for me for eight
years an’ I ain’t had a speck of o’trouble
outa him.” Robinson cut wood for Mayella
out of sheer goodness he claimed. He
stated he didn’t earn a penny out of cutting
wood for her. He also said he did it
because he felt sorry for her. After hours of
discussion the jury came to a verdict that
Tom Robinson was guilty of rapping
Mayella Ewell.