Tom Robinson's Trial

Looking back at history we find that many trial cases have been unsolved, one in particular being the William Robinson case which took place in Salt Spring Island British Columbia in 1868. The death of William Robinson, a black man, resulted in the conviction and inherent execution of a Native man named Tshuanahusset (trial name “Tom”). The trial and thereafter death of “Tom” has caused much controversy in historical studies. With many different stories and recollections of said crime it was hard to say what actually happened during 1868 other than “Tom” being convicted as guilty of murder. I am here to prove that based on circumstantial evidence that the evidence that was provided against “Tom” does not beyond a reasonable doubt prove he was

In the book To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, Tom Robinson has been accused of beating and raping Mayella Ewell. Tom was married and has three kids. He works for Link Deas picking cotton, pecans, and doing work around the yard for him. Tom acquired an injury one day in Mr. Dolphus Raymond’s cotton gin when he was little. Tom passes by the Ewell place every day to get to work. Tom is put on trial for his life because the claim made by the Ewells of rape. The case is basically the Ewell’s word verses Toms. During the case Mayella slips up on what really happen. Because of the type of injury Tom has, Mayella’s slips up on the stand, and the fact that Tom was already married, the jury should acquit Tom- finding him not guilty.

From the article “Former Pediatrician Appeals ‘Waterboarding’ Conviction”, Melvin Morse, a former pediatrician, did not get a fair trial. Similarly, Tom Robinson from To Kill a Mockingbird also did not get a fair trial. A fair trial is a courtroom with an unprejudiced jury that listens to both sides of the situation without being biased. It’s a place where everyone is treated equally despite their looks and race. However, the prejudicial jury knew Tom Robinson is guilty before the trial begins. The jury judge Tom Robinson base on his looks and skin color instead of judging him on his statements. If a white person places himself in Tom Robinson’s shoes, they will realize Robinson is just like them, and he should not be treated like an animal.

In the middle of the book To Kill a Mockingbird Tom Robinson is treated very differently due to the color of his skin as there was no evidence to prove Tom Robinson was guilty of touching Mayella. As Time Rosa got disrespected in the courtroom multiple times he still sat there and didn't say a word from looking at this part of the story we can tell that back in those days African Americans were treated very differently and were looked at as Liars and that they couldn't be trusted. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Tom Robinson was accused of sexually harassing a young lady named Mayella. Mayella says that she called Tom Robinson inside the fence that evening and offered him a nickel to break up a dresser for her and that once he got inside the house he grabbed her and took

How would you feel if you were shamed over things you couldn’t control? Based on only prejudice and stereotypes, some people hate others. Internalized intolerance can exist in everyone, mentally and legally. Court cases and trials can distinctly show this. To Kill A Mockingbird focuses around an unfair trial of Tom Robinson, who was wrongfully arraigned for raping a white woman. Although clear evidence pointed to Tom being innocent, he was still found guilty. Trials from the 1930s to today can compare to this. Many trials compare to Tom Robinson’s case on accounts of false accusations, discrimination, and unfair verdicts.

The residents of Maycomb have mixed feeling about the Tom Robinson trials outcome. The majority of the town is behind the verdict while the children were disgusted by it. Poor Atticus was heartbroken by the verdict but not at all shocked by the outcome.

Gentleman of the jury, I would like you to take a look at this man, the man I am defending. His name is Tom Robinson. Tom is a diligent man. On a daily basis, he would walk to work, and when the time came after a day of long, hard work, he would walk home. He did it to provide for his family. Now, every day, on his journey to and from work, Tom would pass by the Ewell home, and Mayella Ewell would call him, from her yard, for help. Like anyone else in this town would’ve, Tom decided to help. He never wanted to harm Mayella. In fact, he felt sorry for her. How peculiar, in our society, for a black man to feel sorry for a white woman, a person who has more privileges and rights. Yet, he still felt sorry, and have had a good reason to feel sorry

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I urge you to bring back a verdict to of guilty for Tom Robinson.

A trial that that was never meant to happen. A trial in To Kill a Mockingbird, where prejudice lives in that courtroom. A trial in which Tom Robinson is held responsible for raping, young Miss Mayella Ewell. Atticus Finch is Tom Robinson’s lawyer in the trial and has to prove Tom Robinson’s innocence against two white people. Atticus’s purpose is to convey the concept that racism and prejudice is still occurring in Maycomb and as a county they haven’t done anything to change their ways of living.

Rape racism and a town murder are just a few of the chilling events that occurred in the town of Maycomb. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout, Jem and Dill learn, that people don't always feel the same way about somethings.

To Kill a Mockingbird: The Tom Robinson Trial Tom Robinson stands accused of raping the daughter of Robert (Bob) Ewell, Mayella Ewell. Despite Atticus Finch’s, Robinson’s attorney, powerful testimony. Tom Robinson’s verdict was guilty. While Atticus, the children, and the townspeople saw the same trial they all have a very diverse perspective of Tom Robinson's trial and it’s outcome.

Bob Ewell created the perfect lie about Tom Robinson that most people in Maycomb believed. Bob Ewell convinced many people that Tom Robinson was a bad person and this contributed to the death of Tom Robinson. “Atticus had used every tool available to free men to save Tom Robinson, but in the secret courts of men’s hearts Atticus had no case. Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella opened her mouth and screamed” (Lee, 1960, Pg. 276). In the 1930’s the idea of a black man raping a white woman was absurd, the lie that was forced upon Mayella to tell was sure to get Tom Robinson killed.

Mayella Ewell, who accused a black man by the name of Tom Robinson of rape. Atticus, who defends Tom in court, knows that Tom is a good man, even though the citizens of Maycomb think otherwise. Miss Mayella Ewell wasn’t raped by Tom Robinson, she was raped and beaten by her father, Bob Ewell. However, because of growing up in the south where people of color were hated on, Mayella thought she could put the sin on Tom. While in court, Mayella was questioned by her attorney, Mr. Gilmer. Mayella testified by saying, “ I said come here, nigger, and bust up this chiffarobe for me, I gotta nickel for you. He coulda done it easy enough, he could. So he come in the yard an‘ I went in the house to get him the nickel and I turned around an ’fore I knew it he was on me. Just run up behind me, he did. He got me round the neck, cussin‘ me an’ sayin‘ dirt—I fought’n’hollered, but he had me round the neck. He hit me agin an‘ agin— … “-he chunked me on the floor an‘ choked me’n took advantage of me” (183). Atticus, Tom Robinson’s attorney, steps up to ask Mayella some questions, particularly about her home life. Mayella testified that Tom grabbed her by the throat and chocked her, but when Atticus asked Tom to stand up, the whole courtroom say that Tom was a crippled and there was no way he could have chocked her. Through ongoing questions, Atticus and the courthouse find out that Bob Ewell, Mayella’s

To Kill a Mockingbird centres around Tom Robinsons trial. This means that the rest of the book is either the build up or the aftermath of the trial. Harper Lee uses part one of the book to prepare us for the events of the trial and also to set up the atmosphere and the feelings that we will have towards the characters. The main way the author does this is by introducing the themes and motifs that occur throughout the book, there are three main themes throughout the book; Prejudice, Courage and Childhood, these ideas are important during the trial.

There were several legal issues present before and during this particular case that prevented any sort of a fair trial from taking place. The largest legal issue that can be seen in the demise of Tom’s true innocence, sometimes blatantly, is that of perjury. The definition of perjuring oneself is “to make false or misleading statements under oath”, or basically lying when you have promised to tell the truth. As I stated earlier, this lack of honesty can truly break down the integrity of the justice system, because it is built on gaining facts and building an accurate picture of the case currently being tried. If everyone were to lie and tell their own story about what had taken place, we would never be able to put the puzzle together and allow the jury to fairly judge the defendant. And albeit the trial of Tom Robinson was never to be tried in a just and unquestionable manner, the further lies made by those that testified made it even harder for Atticus to prove innocence.