Thomas Robinson lifted his bad arm to raise it on the Bible to give his oath .
Tom was twenty-five years old and he was married with three children. We also found out that he had once been in trouble with the law . He once got thirty days in jail for disorderly conduct.
“It must have been disorderly,” said Atticus. “What did it consist of?”
“Got in a fight with another man, he tried to cut me.”
“Did he succeed?”
“Yes, suh , a little, not enough to hurt. You see, I—“ Tom moved his left shoulder.
“Yes,” said Atticus. “You were both convicted ?”
“Yes suh, I had to serve ‘cause I couldn’t pay the fine . Other fellow paid his.”
“Did you know Mayella Violet Ewell well?” asked Atticus.
“Yes suh, I had to pass her place goin’ to and from the field every day.”
“Whose field?”
“I picks for Mr. Link Deas.”
“Were you picking cotton in November?”
“No suh, I works in his yard fall an’ wintertime. I works pretty steady for him all year round, he’s got a lot of pecan trees ‘n things.”
“You say you had to pass the Ewell place to get to and from work. Is there any other way to go?”
“No, suh, none’s that I know of.”
