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Chapter 20
Ithasreliedinsteaduponthetestimonyoftwowitnesseswhoseevidencehasnotonlybeencalledintoseriousquestiononcross-examination,buthasbeenflatlycontradictedbythedefendant.Thedefendantisnotguilty,butsomebodyinthiscourtroomis.
"Ihavenothingbutpityinmyheartforthechiefwitnessforthestate,butmypitydoesnotextendsofarastoherputtingaman’slifeatstake,whichshehasdoneinanefforttogetridofherownguilt.
"Isayguilt,gentlemen,becauseitwasguiltthatmotivatedher.Shehascommittednocrime,shehasmerelybrokenarigidandtime-honoredcodeofoursociety,acodesoseverethatwhoeverbreaksitishoundedfromourmidstasunfittolivewith.Sheisthevictimofcruelpovertyandignorance,butIcannotpityher:sheiswhite.Sheknewfullwelltheenormityofheroffense,butbecauseherdesireswerestrongerthanthecodeshewasbreaking,shepersistedinbreakingit.Shepersisted,andhersubsequentreactionissomethingthatallofushaveknownatonetimeoranother.Shedidsomethingeverychildhasdone—shetriedtoputtheevidenceofheroffenseawayfromher.Butinthiscaseshewasnochildhidingstolencontraband:shestruckoutathervictim—ofnecessityshemustputhimawayfromher—hemustberemovedfromherpresence,fromthisworld.Shemustdestroytheevidenceofheroffense.
"Whatwastheevidenceofheroffense?TomRobinson,ahumanbeing.ShemustputTomRobinsonawayfromher.
