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Shealy Wright

Mrs. Weaver

LNG301

29 March 2011

Tom Robinson’s trial was unfair and he deserves a second chance because

there is no medical evidence to prove a rape occurred, inconsistent testimonies

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.

There is no medical evidence to prove the victim was raped. Medical

evidence is a strong factor in a rape case and without it there should be no

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
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handed. He also confirmed that Bob Ewell is left handed and is capable of abusing

Mayella on the right side of her face.

The inconsistencies in the defendant’s testimony should be noticed and

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

himself against a jury full of white men, it’s unfair.

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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

consistencies to convict Tom.