In chapter 17, Sheriff Tate takes the witness stand, and Atticus asks him to describe the extent of Mayella's injuries. Sheriff Tate tells Atticus that there was predominant bruising around her right eye and the majority of her bruises were to the right side of her face. Sheriff Tate also confirms that Mayella had bruises around her entire neck. When Bob Ewell testifies, he agrees with Sheriff Tate's testimony regarding the location of Mayella's injuries to the right side of her face. Atticus then has Bob Ewell write his signature, which reveals that Bob is left-handed. Atticus's argument is that a man who led predominantly with his left hand inflicted the injuries to the right side of Mayella's face. Since Tom Robinson has a crippled left hand that is useless, one could surmise that Bob Ewell was responsible for Mayella's injuries.
Mayella Ewell's facial injuries are concentrated on the right side of her face.
When Heck Tate describes Mayella's injuries to Atticus and Judge Taylor, he first says that her facial injuries were on the left side. Atticus asks him whether it was her left or Heck's left, since Heck was facing her. Heck corrects himself and explains that her injuries were concentrated on the right side of her face. Harper Lee writes:
“Wait a minute, Sheriff,” said Atticus. “Was it her left facing you or her left looking the same way you were?”
Mr. Tate said, “Oh yes, that’d make it her right. It was her right eye, Mr. Finch. I remember now, she was bunged up on that side of her face”
Mayella had a black eye, other facial damage, bruises on her neck, and damage to her arms. Mayella and her father both testify that Tom Robinson is the one who beat her. Atticus believes it was Robert Ewell, Mayella's father. Though Atticus makes his case to the jury, they still convict Tom Robinson because he is a black man and the Ewells are a white family.
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