Part 2
Chapter 15
As Tom Robinson’s trial approaches, fears of a lynch emerge, forcing the sheriff to hold a meeting with other men at Atticus’s house over the matter. Scout learns from Jem about how their father and aunt have been arguing about the trial, with Alexandra accusing Atticus of disgracing their family. Atticus drives into town and parks near the jailhouse.
Four cars come and park near him and some men emerge from the cars asking Atticus to leave the area. Scout intervenes by rushing to the scene and is followed by Jem and Dill. They are asked to go back home by Atticus but refuse. Atticus later takes all the children home.
Chapter 16
When the trial begins, a lot of people make their way to the courtroom to follow the proceedings. As the crowd hits the town to eat lunch, Dill, Scout, and Jem wait for them to return to the courtroom so that they can sneak in behind them because they do not want Atticus to notice them there. They took the seats reserved for colored people and the case proceeds.
Chapter 17
Essential to the plot summary is the fact that when Sheriff Tate is questioned as a witness to the rape, it emerges that no doctor was called in to ascertain that Mayella had been raped and the bruises were mostly on the right side of her face. Bob Ewell, Mayella’s father, testifies that he heard his daughter yelling and saw Tom Robinson raping her when he rushed to check.
Asked why he did not call a doctor, he claimed it was expensive and he did not see the need. The jury determined that he was left-handed and suspected that he might have caused the injuries on the right side of Mayella’s face.