The Maycomb County Insight
August 3, 1936
Fire Burns Down Miss
Maudie’s House!
Late last night in Maycomb County,
Maudie Atkinson’s house was burning a
furious sunset orange color. e towns‐
folk swily gathered around in their
nightgowns to see what all the commo‐
tion was about. e fire was roaring, and
making furious snapping noises that
woke everyone in the area.
Nathan Radley, who lives nearby, was
quickly putting the fire out by pouring
buckets of water over it, and the fire de‐
partment from Abbottsville showed up
as well to put out the fire so that the
flames wouldn’t spread to the neighbor‐
ing houses. e townsfolk were all
shocked and concerned, wondering if
the fire would spread causing a catastro‐
phe throughout Maycomb. ey seemed
too scared to move.
Atticus Finch, a close friend, lawyer, and
neighbor, was the only one sensible
enough to save one of her most valuable
possession, which is her oak rocking
chair.
“What happened? How did this start?”
ere was talk of the possibility that this
fire was an act of arson rather than an
accident, as Ms. Maudie seemed to be
strangely calm about the event:
“Always wanted a smaller house. Gives
me more yard. Just think, I’ll have more
room for my azaleas now!”
One of her neighbors, 12 year old girl,
Scout Finch jumped into the conversa‐
tion and asked,
"You ain’t grievin‘, Miss Maudie?”
“Grievin’, child? Why, I hated that old
cow barn. ought of settin‘ fire to it a
hundred times myself, except they’d lock
me up....Don’t you worry about me, Jean
Louise Finch. ere are ways of doing
things you don’t know about!”
ere were no casualties reported due to
this fire, but it seems that Maudie Atkin‐
son’s house is completely destroyed. Peo‐
ple have gathered closer to see the
charred “hole” where her house once
stood.
Maudie Atkinson believes that she is go‐
ing to rebuild another house, smaller
than the one she had, so she can have
more room for her favorite hobby, gar‐
dening.
“Why, I’ll build me a little house and
take me a couple of roomers and gra‐
cious, I’ll have the finest yard in Alaba‐
ma. ose Bellingraths’ll look plain puny
when I get started!"
e Maycomb County Insight
2
Robinson
V.S. Ewell
Yesterday at around 11pm, Tom Robin‐
son who had been accused by Bob Ewell
of raping his daughter, Mayella Ewell, 19,
was charged for rape. e court case
took place at the Maycomb County
Courthouse and huge crowds of people,
both white and black, turned up to
watch the trial. e prosecutor was Mr.
Horace Gilmer and the defense lawyer
was Mr. Atticus Finch. e case was
presided over by Judge Taylor and a
hand-picked jury. e result of the trial
ended in favor of the plaintiff, the Ewell
family.
e crime took place on the evening of
November 21st near the town garbage
dump. e Ewells live behind the town
garbage dump for years which was once
a Negro Cabin. Bob Ewell, the father of
Mayella Ewell, survived on relief checks
to make ends meet. Mayella Ewell had
two or three years of education and was
the oldest of all the children in the Ewell
family. Her mother passed away a long
time ago and the children were in the
care of their father, Bob Ewell.
When the Sheriff, Mr. Heck Take was
called to the stand yesterday to give his
statements, he was questioned about the
physical injuries of Mayella Ewell. He
said that she was beaten around the head
and had bruises on her arms. Also, he
said that she had a " black eye" on her
right side and had "definite finger marks
on her gullet." However, a professional,
such as a doctor, was not called to care
for her wounds as Mr. Heck Take felt it
was unnecessary. Mayella’s wounds and
injuries were obvious.
Mr. Bob Ewell was called to the
court .He said he was in the woods when
he heard Mayella screaming so he said
that he ran as fast as he could through
the fence. He claimed he saw Tom
Robinson having sexual intercourse with
his daughter through the window. How‐
ever, Tom ran away as Bob Ewell was
distracted with Mayella to chase aer
him. en, he ran for the sheriff, Mr.
Heck Tate. He told the sheriff that Tom
was the culprit and Mr. Tate arrested
Tom Robinson based on Mr. Ewell's ac‐
count of the story.
While in court, Atticus asked Mr. Ewell
to write his name. It was then that he
found out Bob Ewell is le handed.
Mayella & Bob Ewell
According to Mayella Ewell’s statement,
she was certain that Tom Robinson had
raped her. On the evening of November
21, Mayella said she was standing on the
front porch of her house. She told the
audience that "there was this old dresser
in the yard Papa'd brought in to chop for
kindlin'.“ As she felt she was not strong
enough, she sought for help from Tom
Robinson who happened to be passing
by. She said that it was her first time ask‐
ing Tom Robinson to come through the
fence to help her. Tom Robinson passed
the Ewell’s house every day to go to work
in Mr. Link Deas' yard. Mayella offered a
nickel in exchange for Tom helping her.
en, as she was getting a nickel to pay,
she turned around, and Tom was “on
her" and he "got her round the neck."
She fought and hollered at him tooth
and nail but was unable to get him off of
her. en her father looked into the win‐
dow and realized what happened. She
then fainted while Tom Robinson “ran
away” before Mr. Ewell could get him.
Mr. Ewell then called the sheriff, Mr.
Heck Take.
Mayella was sure that Tom Robinson
had taken advantage of her. As a defense
to the accusation, Tom Robinson was
asked to stand. It was shown to all that
Tom Robinson’s le arm is 12 inches
shorter than his right. His le arm was
caught in a cotton gin when he was
younger. His le arm hung dead and
could not be used. At this point in the
trial, the accusation of Tom Robinson
raping Mayella Ewell came into serious
question. It was implied by Atticus, the
defendant, that it was unlikely for a per‐
son with a disabled le arm to be able to
hurt Mayella's right eye. ere is the
possibility of Bob Ewell hurting his own
daughter instead of Tom Robinson as he
is le-handed. When Mayella was ques‐
tioned by the defense lawyer as to
whether Tom or her father harmed her,
there was no response from her.
In contrast to Mayella’s story, Tom had a
very different tale to tell. He said he had
known Mayella Ewell for a while as he
had to pass by the Ewell’s house every
day to go to work in Mr. Link Deas’ yard.
Based on his statements, he said that he
had gone into the house to help Mayella
fix or help her out “lots of times." He did
work like chopping kindling for Mayella.
She offered him a nickel but he declined.
Apparently, Mayella asked him to fix the
door hinges as she said it was loose.
When Tom was at work, Mayella kissed
and hugged him. Every time Mayella in‐
vited Tom into the house, she sent the
children out to get ice-cream. is total‐
ly contradicts Mayella and her father's
side of the story.
However, aer the jury had listened to
both sides of the story, Tom Robinson
was charged with the crime of raping
Mayella Ewell. Tom Robinson is now
awaiting the death penalty in the May‐
comb jail.
Atticus Finch & Tom Robinson
e Maycomb County Insight
3
Mob
Attempts To
Lynch Tom
Robinson
on her gullet." However, a professional,
such as a doctor, was not called to care
for her wounds as Mr. Heck Take felt it
was unnecessary. Mayella’s wounds and
injuries were obvious.
Mr. Bob Ewell was called to the
court .He said he was in the woods when
he heard Mayella screaming so he said
that he ran as fast as he could through
the fence. He claimed he saw Tom
Robinson having sexual intercourse with
his daughter through the window. How‐
ever, Tom ran away as Bob Ewell was
distracted with Mayella to chase aer
him. en, he ran for the sheriff, Mr.
Heck Tate. He told the sheriff that Tom
was the culprit and Mr. Tate arrested
Tom Robinson based on Mr. Ewell's ac‐
count of the story.
While in court, Atticus asked Mr. Ewell
to write his name. It was then that he
found out Bob Ewell is le handed.
Yesterday at around 11pm, Tom Robin‐
son who had been accused by Bob Ewell
of raping his daughter, Mayella Ewell, 19,
was charged for rape. e court case
took place at the Maycomb County
Courthouse and huge crowds of people,
both white and black, turned up to
watch the trial. e prosecutor was Mr.
Horace Gilmer and the defense lawyer
was Mr. Atticus Finch. e case was
presided over by Judge Taylor and a
hand-picked jury. e result of the trial
ended in favor of the plaintiff, the Ewell
family.
e crime took place on the evening of
November 21st near the town garbage
dump. e Ewells live behind the town
garbage dump for years which was once
a Negro Cabin. Bob Ewell, the father of
Mayella Ewell, survived on relief checks
to make ends meet. Mayella Ewell had
two or three years of education and was
the oldest of all the children in the Ewell
family. Her mother passed away a long
time ago and the children were in the
care of their father, Bob Ewell.
When the Sheriff, Mr. Heck Take was
called to the stand yesterday to give his
statements, he was questioned about the
physical injuries of Mayella Ewell. He
said that she was beaten around the head
and had bruises on her arms. Also, he
said that she had a " black eye" on her
right side and had "definite finger marks
According to Mayella Ewell’s statement,
she was certain that Tom Robinson had
raped her. On the evening of November
21, Mayella said she was standing on the
front porch of her house. She told the
audience that "there was this old dresser
in the yard Papa'd brought in to chop for
kindlin'.“ As she felt she was not strong
enough, she sought for help from Tom
Robinson who happened to be passing
by. She said that it was her first time ask‐
ing Tom Robinson to come through the
fence to help her. Tom Robinson passed
the Ewell’s house every day to go to work
in Mr. Link Deas' yard. Mayella offered a
nickel in exchange for Tom helping her.
en, as she was getting a nickel to pay,
she turned around, and Tom was “on
her" and he "got her round the neck."
She fought and hollered at him tooth
and nail but was unable to get him off of
her. en her father looked into the win‐
dow and realized what happened. She
then fainted while Tom Robinson “ran
away” before Mr. Ewell could get him.
Mr. Ewell then called the sheriff, Mr.
Heck Take.
Mayella was sure that Tom Robinson
had taken advantage of her. As a defense
to the accusation, Tom Robinson was
asked to stand. It was shown to all that
Tom Robinson’s le arm is 12 inches
shorter than his right. His le arm was
caught in a cotton gin when he was
younger. His le arm hung dead and
could not be used. At this point in the
trial, the accusation of Tom Robinson
raping Mayella Ewell came into serious
question. It was implied by Atticus, the
defendant, that it was unlikely for a per‐
son with a disabled le arm to be able to
hurt Mayella's right eye. ere is the
possibility of Bob Ewell hurting his own
daughter instead of Tom Robinson as he
is le-handed. When Mayella was ques‐
tioned by the defense lawyer as to
whether Tom or her father harmed her,
there was no response from her.
In contrast to Mayella’s story, Tom had a
very different tale to tell. He said he had
known Mayella Ewell for a while as he
had to pass by the Ewell’s house every
day to go to work in Mr. Link Deas’ yard.
Based on his statements, he said that he
had gone into the house to help Mayella
fix or help her out “lots of times." He did
work like chopping kindling for Mayella.
She offered him a nickel but he declined.
Apparently, Mayella asked him to fix the
door hinges as she said it was loose.
When Tom was at work, Mayella kissed
and hugged him. Every time Mayella in‐
vited Tom into the house, she sent the
children out to get ice-cream. is total‐
ly contradicts Mayella and her father's
side of the story.
However, aer the jury had listened to
both sides of the story, Tom Robinson
was charged with the crime of raping
Mayella Ewell. Tom Robinson is now
awaiting the death penalty in the May‐
comb jail.
e Maycomb County Insight
4
"Racist" Trial
"Fair" Trial
If you were at Tom Robinson’s trial, you
could clearly see that his le arm was
completely crippled. When he was a
child, he got his arm caught in a cotton
gin, which caused him to not be able to
use it in future events. Tom Robinson
was clearly falsely accused of abusing,
and raping, Mayella Ewell. e stories
that Bob Ewell, the Sheriff, and Mayella
changed throughout the court session.
e jury appointed Tom Robinson
guilty, because they didn’t want to be
known as negro lovers. I took this case
because I felt as if it wold change the
opinions of some of the people with
racist stand points.
Tom Robinson is the nicest person you
would have ever met. e fact that he
was sent to jail for something he didn’t
do breaks my heart, and peace of mind.
Everyone picks on black people just be‐
cause they are racist. ey want black
people to be at the bottom of the pyra‐
mid, where white people are on top.
ey need to open their minds and see
that they are the sweetest folk around
these days.
I took this case for two reasons. e first
reason is because they appointed me to
be his lawyer because I’m one of the best
in Maycomb. e second reason is be‐
cause I’m not part of this racist fling that
people these days are apart of. ese
days people are so caught up in what
other people think, and not believing or
following what they think.
Tom was found guilty for assaulting
Mayella. He was actin’ about letting his
arm drop off the bible while he was
swearin’ that he would tell the truth. He
was lyin’ the whole damn trial even aer
he swore to god that he would tell the
damn truth ‘bout what happened. He
was sayin’ that he was saying thank you
and then I came in and started beatin’
my own daughter! Why would I do a
darn thing like that? I would never lay a
damn finger on my own daughter. I
came in and saw them wrestlin’ on the
damn floor! I’m glad that filthy negro is
in jail where he belongs. He can’t hurt no
one no more.
Tom Robinson is a good for nothin’ per‐
son. He just hurt my Mayella for no rea‐
son aer she was gonna pay him for a
good deed. He can’t be trusted by anyone
aer what he darn did to my Mayella
and lyin’ ‘bout it in court. Tom lied aer
swearin’ to god that he would tell the
truth and thats just gosh darn disrespect‐
ful!
Bob Ewell & Atticus Finch
Atticus is helpin’ a damn negro get out of
somethin’ he damn did to Mayella. Atti‐
cus should be on our damn side ‘bout
this whole thing. Atticus is a damn negro
loving, good for nothin’ pile of horse ma‐
nure! Negro’s are good for nothin’ folk,
they are no good, causing trouble and
such. I’m gonna get back at him for de‐
fendin’ a damn negro. He needs to learn
a damn lesson ‘bout what he done did.
He done made a fool outta me, callin’ me
a darn liar and such. One day someone is
gonna make Atticus damn pay for what
he done.
Bob Ewell
Bob Ewell, he is one of the people in the
racist fling these days. He was picking on
Tom only because he is black. He was
just trying to help Mayella but Bob want‐
ed to have nothing of this such happen‐
ing. ey wanted to accuse someone
other than Bob for possibly assaulting
Mayella, so they chose the only other
person that was their. Tom is innocent,
and it hurts knowing that he is in jail for
something he didn’t do. Poor child, I
hope they don’t keep him their long.
People in Maycomb are just down right
racist. People need to follow what they
believe and not what others tell them to
believe. e trial was full of people with
racist opinions and that is the only rea‐
son why Tom is in jail.
Atticus made a damn fool outta me
durin’ that trial. He was callin’ me a
damn liar nd’ such, he embarrassed me.
Someone ought to make a fool out of
him and get him back for what he done
to me. He won’t see a damn thing comin’
when they get him back, they gonna’ hit
him where he won’t think anyone could
hurt.
Atticus Finch
Tom Robinson
I’m glad Tom got put away, but from
now on I got beef with Atticus. He is a
double crossing negro lover. I’m gonna
spit in his face nd’ call him out. Atticus
Finch is a dead man walkin’.