In Chapter 25 of To Kill a Mockingbird, on the way to Helen Robinson's house, Atticus and Calpurnia join Jem and Dill as they walk back from swimming. Later, the boys relay the details to Scout. Upon hearing the news about her husband, Helen Robinson crumpled in a heap.
The news of Tom's death spreads like wildfire through Maycomb. Some people say Tom's poorly planned escape is typical of a black man's behavior, while others criticize him for not waiting to see the outcome of Atticus's appeal. In an editorial, Braxton Underwood, the publisher of the Maycomb Tribune, says it's a sin to kill cripples, likening Tom's death to the senseless slaughter of songbirds.
In contrast, when Bob Ewell learns of Tom's death, he says, down and about. two more to go. Bob Ewell's threatening comment following the news of Tom Robinson's death foreshadows trouble.
The townspeople's reactions to Tom's death reinforce just how prejudiced the town is. But when Braxton Underwood's editorial compares Tom to a songbird, there is hope for change.