Chapter 19

           ThomasRobinsonreachedaround,ranhisfingersunderhisleftarmandliftedit.HeguidedhisarmtotheBibleandhisrubber-likelefthandsoughtcontactwiththeblackbinding.Asheraisedhisrighthand,theuselessoneslippedofftheBibleandhittheclerk’stable.HewastryingagainwhenJudgeTaylorgrowled,"That’lldo,Tom."Tomtooktheoathandsteppedintothewitnesschair.Atticusveryquicklyinducedhimtotellus:

           Tomwastwenty-fiveyearsofage;hewasmarriedwiththreechildren;hehadbeenintroublewiththelawbefore:heoncereceivedthirtydaysfordisorderlyconduct.

           "Itmusthavebeendisorderly,"saidAtticus."Whatdiditconsistof?"

           "Gotinafightwithanotherman,hetriedtocutme."

           "Didhesucceed?"

           "Yessuh,alittle,notenoughtohurt.Yousee,I—"Tommovedhisleftshoulder.

           "Yes,"saidAtticus."Youwerebothconvicted?"

           "Yessuh,Ihadtoserve‘causeIcouldn’tpaythefine.Otherfellowpaidhis’n."

           DillleanedacrossmeandaskedJemwhatAtticuswasdoing.JemsaidAtticuswasshowingthejurythatTomhadnothingtohide.

           "WereyouacquaintedwithMayellaVioletEwell?"askedAtticus.

           "Yessuh,Ihadtopassherplacegoin’toandfromthefieldeveryday."

           "Whosefield?"

           "IpicksforMr.LinkDeas."

           "WereyoupickingcottoninNovember?"

           "Nosuh,Iworksinhisyardfallan’wintertime.Iworksprettysteadyforhimallyearround,he’sgotalotofpecantrees’nthings."