Mayella Ewell is called to the stand. She testifies that she asked Tom Robinson to chop up an old dresser for a quarter in return and that's when he attacked her. In cross-examination, Atticus shows that Mayella is very lonely. When Atticus asks Mayella to identify Tom, and Tom stands up, it becomes clear that Tom's left arm is useless: it was destroyed in an accident. If Tom can't use his left arm, then how could he have beaten and raped Mayella? Atticus ask Mayella wasn't Bob Ewell who beat her up and she refuses to answer.
Chapter 19
Atticus calls Tom Robinson to the stand. He says he often helped Mayella with her chores. On this occasion he says Mayella threw herself at him. He tried to leave, but was scared to push her out of the way. Suddenly Bob Ewell showed up and yelled at Mayella, "You goddamn whore, I'll kill ya." Tom ran. Link Deas stands up in the crowd and says that Tom is a good man. Judge Taylor expels Deas from the courthouse.Mr. Glimer cross-examines. He calls Tom "boy" in a nasty tone, and tricks him into saying he felt sorry for Mayella, which causes a murmur of anger and disgust in the courtroom. Mr. Gilmer asks why Tom ran if he was innocent. Tom says that a black man has to run in any bad situation. Dill starts to cry and Scout takes him outside. Dill says he can't stand the way Glimer was talking to Tom.
Chapter 20
Outside the courthouse, Mr. Dolphus Raymond Sympathizes with Dill about the way white people treat black people without even stopping to think that blacks are people too. Raymond is an eccentric rich white man. He gets little respect from the white people in the town because he's always drunk and lives with a black woman and has fathered interracial children. But Dill and Scout learn that Raymond isn't actually a drunk: he only drinks Coca-cola. Mr. Raymond explains that he fakes being a drunk so people won't bother him for living the way he wants. Atticus is making his closing remarks when Dill and Scout get back to their seats. Atticus notes the prosecution's lack of evidence, then says the courtroom is the one place in America where every man is equal, and ask the jury to "do its duty."
Chapter 21
Calpurnia enters the courtroom. She tells Atticus that Jem, Scout, and Dill are missing. Mr. Underwood says they're sitting in the balcony. Atticus tells them to go home and eat lunch, but relents and says they can come back for the verdict if it hasn't already been delivered.An hour later, Scout, Jem, and Dill get back to the silent, tense courtroom. The jury is still deliberating. Jem is confident of victory because all the evidence is in Tom's favor.Keck Tate calls the court to order. The jury comes back and does not look at Tom. Scout knows this means the verdict is guilty. It is.
Chapter 22
Jem cries. He can't understand how the jury could convict Tom. Atticus says they've done it before and they'll do it again and only the children will weep. Jem cries. He can't understand how the jury could convict Tom. Atticus says they've done it before and they'll do it again and only the children will weep.That afternoon, Jwm tells Miss Mauie he used to think the people of Maycomb were the best people in the world, but no longer does. Miss Maudie says the trial was a step in the right direction, and that there are good people in Maycomb. For instance, it's no coincidence Judge Taylor appointed Atticus to take Tom's case.Suddenly Miss Stephanie Crawford runs up with gossip: Bob Ewell just threatened Atticus and spit in his face.
Chapter 23
Jem and Scout are terrified Ewell will attack Atticus. Atticus, thinks Ewell has already gotten the need for revenge out of his system, though Aunt Alexandra isn't so sure.Meanwhile, Tom Robinson is in prison. Atticus thinks he has a good shot of winning on appeal. If he loses, though, Tom will be executed. When Jem expresses disdain for the jury that convicted Tom, Atticus says that one man on the jury, a Cunningham, almost voted for acquittal. This news inspires Scout to declare she's going to invite Walter Cunningham to dinner, but Aunt Alexanfra forbids it. She says the Finches are too good for the Cunninghams. Later that night, Scout and Jem try to figure out why people are prejudiced. They come up with all sorts of reasons but none seems sufficient. Jem realizes Boo Radley stays in his house because he wants to.
Chapter 24
One Saturday, Aunt Alexandra invites company, and tells Scout to help Calpurnia serve. At the event, Mrs. Grace Merriweather talks about helping the poor oppressed people of Africa, then turns around and blames "some people" for her maid's "sulkiness" since the Tom Robinson trial. Miss Maudie shames the woman for talking badly about Atticus while enjoying his hospitality.Just then, Atticus comes home and tells Calpurnia, Aunt Alexandra, Miss Maudie, and Scout that Tom tried to escape from prison and was killed. Calpurnia leaves with him. Aunt Alexandra, Miss Maudie, and Scout return to the party and act as if nothing has happened.
Chapter 25
A few nights later, Scout spots a roly-poly bug. Jem won't let her squash it because it didn't do anything to her. Scout remembers that Jem was present when Atticus told Helen Robinson that Tom had died, and Helen collapsed in grief.That Thursday, Mr. Underwood publishes an editorial in his newspaper comparing Tom's death to the "senseless slaughter of songbirds."When he hears Ton has died, Bob Ewell is overheard saying "one down and about two more to go." The rest of the white people in Maycomb thinks it's just like a black man to try and escape even though he has an appeal pending, and soon moves on to other things.