in chapter 18 of To Kill a Mockingbird the trial picks up with 19 year old male at taking the stand like her father and brother Mayella is angry with the help of mr. Gilmer she's able to give her testimony which aligns with her father's she identifies Tom Robinson seated in the courtroom as her attacker as she recounts the attack for mr. Gilmer and later Atticus she acts tearful and frightened when Atticus questions her she becomes defiant Atticus however remains courteous in his questioning after the details of the attack are laid out he has Tom Robinson stand the court sees that Tom's left hand is deformed and that his left arm is shorter than the rights this is the result of a childhood accident where his arm got stuck in a cotton gin it's clear that Tom could not have physically committed the crime that is being claimed by the end of May last testimony Atticus has cast doubt on her portrayal of the events he presses her with more questions why did no one hear her screams where were the other children was her father the actual attacker instead of answering the questions may Ellis spits out the rehearsed speech again accusing Tom Robinson of raping her at the same time she gets angry at the court and the jury accusing them of being cowards if they do nothing about the crime Atticus then calls his one witness Tom Robinson the author skilled handling of Atticus's cross-examination of Mayella sets up a plausible conclusion there is no way Tom Robinson could be guilty of the crime despite Atticus's trademark gentle manner may Allah reacts fearfully and defiantly when he presses her with questions toward the end of his examination she simply stops answering while the evidence is clear it does not mean Tom is off the hook while Atticus knows that winning the case is unlikely the children express a childlike sense of hope based on the evidence Tom Robinson cannot be can there is a pervasive feeling in the chapter however that Tom Robinson is going to be found guilty [Music] you