Gentlemen of the jury, you have heard the story of what occurred on the evening of August 21st last year from multiple perspectives. You have heard from Sheriff Tate, who described that Mayella Ewell was “pretty well beat up” (TKAM 1:09:42-1:09:45). He goes on to describe the degree of her injuries, including that “she had a black eye startin’” and “beaten up on that [right] side of her face” (TKAM 1:10:35-1:11:06). Bob Ewell has also agreed to Sheriff Tate’s statement that those were in fact her injuries. However, both Sheriff Tate and Bob Ewell failed to get a doctor to check on the severity of the beating. Because of this, “the state has not produced one iota of medical evidence” (TKAM 1:32:08-1:32:13) to demonstrate that this crime even occurred. Now, assuming that Mayella was beaten in the way that both Sheriff Tate and Bob Ewell describe, there is substantial evidence that Tom Robinson was not the person to beat her. How can a man who cannot use his left arm choke a woman with both hands? You see him right in front of you, his left arm is useless, and he would be unable to beat anyone on the right side of her face. Purely based on physical evidence, it is clear he was physically unable to commit the crime of beating and raping Mayella Ewell. Even if he was, what would move Tom Robinson to harm Miss Mayella Ewell? Now, Tom Robinson has a family that he loves and supports, and is trying to get through these tough times just as the rest of us are. In fact, Tom Robinson is similar to each and every one of us, whether or not you wish to admit it. He may be a black man, but he is human. While you may see him as inferior due to his race, he is still human. Any man raised with manners and kindness would help a woman who asked for a favor. After helping the woman, this man would not require payment, for he is doing a favor. Tom Robinson is this type of man. He saw a woman who was in need of assistance and helped her in the way that he could. He did not expect payment or anything else from Miss Mayella. Just as any other good man would feel pity on her, so did Tom Robinson, causing him to be moved to help her. Now some of you may think that he had no reason to be sorry for her, as she is a white woman, and he is a black man. Whether it was right or wrong for him to feel this way, you can see that he had no reason to beat Mayella Ewell. A man does not beat a woman if he is sorry for her, which is the case with Tom Robinson. Now, it may be difficult to see that Tom Robinson is innocent although the evidence is clear. He is a black man up against two white witnesses. The case was unfair from the start, as he is inferior in many of the minds of the people of this courtroom. They believe that Bob and Mayella Ewell’s testimonies must be correct simply because they are white and Tom Robinson is black. But I ask of you gentleman, remember this man is human just like you and me and every other body in this courtroom. He wishes to go home to his family, so he can continue to provide for them and love them, just as you and I do everyday. I ask of you, think not about this man’s race. Look at the clear evidence that he did not harm Mayella Ewell. Allow Tom Robinson to do something that each of you will do at the end of the day today: go home to a loving family and care for them. Tom Robinson did not beat or rape Mayella Ewell. I hope you all remember this, and are able to use this truth to make the right decision.

To Kill a Mockingbird. Dir. Robert Mulligan. Universal International, 1962. Digital Campus. Web. 13 September 2017.