Ewell V. Robinson: The Rape Case That Rocked The Nation

Ewell v. Robinson, The Rape Case that Rocked the Nation
By: Hailey Ellwanger

After hours of jury deliberation, the case of Ewell v. Robinson has reached its conclusion. The jury finding the defendant Tom Robinson guilty of raping Mayella Ewell. This case is a prime example of the injustice that can occur when juries listen to their prejudices instead of the evidence. The two different sides of the story vastly differ, the jury ruling in favor of the Ewell’s. Bob Ewell claiming to see his daughter being assaulted by Tom on the evening of November 21st. Mayella corroborates this story explaining further that she invited Tom in to chop up a chifferobe for her and he forced himself on her. Bob stormed into the house and Tom immediately fled the scene, and Bob proceeded to call the sheriff Heck Tate. When Heck arrived neither he nor Bob called a doctor to check on Mayella, a curious detail that lacked explanation when both Bob and Heck were questioned on the stands.

On the 21st Robinson says that Mayella told him that she needed him to fix a door inside of their house. While inspecting the door Tom noticed that there was nothing wrong with it and when he turned around to tell Mayella this she jumped on him. Tom explains that she hugged him around the middle against his will and tried to kiss him, Robinson not wanting to hurt her could do little to defend himself without looking guilty. This is when he says Bob Ewell say them from the window and came storming in yelling at Mayella, this is when Tom left the scene from fear of being