in Chapter 30 of To Kill a Mockingbird after the doctor assured everyone out of the room Scout guides boo out to the porch there Atticus and sheriff Tate have a discussion about the night's events Atticus believes Jem killed Bob Ewell in self-defense sheriff Tate however insists that you will fell on his own knife determined to follow the legal system Atticus insists that he won't be able to face Jem if he covers up for him the men go round and round before Atticus realizes the sheriff is trying to tell him Jem didn't kill Bob Ewell Boo Radley do now that they understand each other Tait makes it clear he stands by his interpretation of the story as sheriff of Macon County he informs Atticus his word is final sheriff Tate realizes before Atticus does that Boo Radley killed Bob Ewell the fact that the sheriff has eul's switchblade in his pocket suggests C has already decided how things must play out but Atticus focused on his children's well-being takes longer to realize boo Radley saved their lives in more ways than one he not only took them out of harm's way but made sure that Bob mules hatred could never be a danger to them again Atticus is strongest qualities are in evidence here his open mind his unfailing sense of justice and his moral code Atticus follows the spirit of the law and stands behind the sheriff's account that eul's wound was self-inflicted Scouts maturity is evident when she agrees with the sheriff adding that turning boo in would be sort of like shootin a mockingbird you