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Chapter 1
OfalldaysSundaywasthedayforformalafternoonvisiting: ladiesworecorsets,menworecoats,childrenworeshoes. ButtoclimbtheRadleyfrontstepsandcall,"He-y,"ofaSundayafternoonwassomethingtheirneighborsneverdid. TheRadleyhousehadnoscreendoors. IonceaskedAtticusifiteverhadany; Atticussaidyes,butbeforeIwasborn.
Accordingtoneighborhoodlegend,whentheyoungerRadleyboywasinhisteenshebecameacquaintedwithsomeoftheCunninghamsfromOldSarum,anenormousandconfusingtribedomiciledinthenorthernpartofthecounty,andtheyformedthenearestthingtoagangeverseeninMaycomb. Theydidlittle,butenoughtobediscussedbythetownandpubliclywarnedfromthreepulpits: theyhungaroundthebarbershop; theyrodethebustoAbbottsvilleonSundaysandwenttothepictureshow; theyattendeddancesatthecounty’sriversidegamblinghell,theDew-DropInn&FishingCamp; theyexperimentedwithstumpholewhiskey. NobodyinMaycombhadnerveenoughtotellMr.Radleythathisboywasinwiththewrongcrowd.
Onenight,inanexcessivespurtofhighspirits,theboysbackedaroundthesquareinaborrowedflivver,resistedarrestbyMaycomb’sancientbeadle,Mr.Conner,andlockedhiminthecourthouseouthouse. Thetowndecidedsomethinghadtobedone; Mr.Connersaidheknewwhoeachandeveryoneofthemwas,andhewasboundanddeterminedtheywouldn’tgetawaywithit,sotheboyscamebeforetheprobatejudgeonchargesofdisorderlyconduct,disturbingthepeace,aultandbattery,andusingabusiveandprofanelanguageinthepresenceandhearingofafemale. ThejudgeaskedMr.Connerwhyheincludedthelastcharge; Mr.ConnersaidtheycussedsoloudhewassureeveryladyinMaycombheardthem.
