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           Itwaseitherastraightacquittalornothing."

           Jemwasshakinghishead."Iknowit’snotright,butIcan’tfigureoutwhat’swrong—mayberapeshouldn’tbeacapitaloffense...."

           Atticusdroppedhisnewspaperbesidehischair.Hesaidhedidn’thaveanyquarrelwiththerapestatute,nonewhatever,buthedidhavedeepmisgivingswhenthestateaskedforandthejurygaveadeathpenaltyonpurelycircumstantialevidence.Heglancedatme,sawIwaslistening,andmadeiteasier."—Imean,beforeamanissentencedtodeathformurder,say,thereshouldbeoneortwoeye-witnesses.Someoneshouldbeabletosay,‘Yes,Iwasthereandsawhimpullthetrigger.’"

           "Butlotsoffolkshavebeenhung—hanged—oncircumstantialevidence,"saidJem.

           "Iknow,andlotsof‘emprobablydeservedit,too—butintheabsenceofeye-witnessesthere’salwaysadoubt,sometimesonlytheshadowofadoubt.Thelawsays‘reasonabledoubt,’butIthinkadefendant’sentitledtotheshadowofadoubt.There’salwaysthepossibility,nomatterhowimprobable,thathe’sinnocent."

           "Thenitallgoesbacktothejury,then.Weoughtadoawaywithjuries."Jemwasadamant.

           Atticustriedhardnottosmilebutcouldn’thelpit."You’reratherhardonus,son.Ithinkmaybetheremightbeabetterway.Changethelaw.Changeitsothatonlyjudgeshavethepoweroffixingthepenaltyincapitalcases."

           "ThengouptoMontgomeryandchangethelaw."

           "You’dbesurprisedhowhardthat’dbe.