In Chapter 18, Mayella Ewell takes the witness stand to testify against Tom Robinson. The prosecutor begins by asking her to repeat what happened on the night of November 21st. Mayella claims that she offered Tom Robinson a nickel to bust up an old chiffarobe, and when she went into the house to retrieve the nickel, he followed her in and began assaulting her. She says he "chunked" her on the floor and took advantage of her. When Atticus begins to question Mayella, she thinks he is mocking her because he calls her "Ma'am." After asking her a series of questions that reveal how Mayella lives a rather lonely, pitiful life, Atticus asks her if she remembers being struck in the face. Mayella confuses her testimony by first saying "no," then saying "yes." Mayella suddenly remembers that Tom choked her, then tried to punch her, and his punch glanced her eye. When Atticus asks her why no one came running when she screamed, Mayella doesn't answer. Atticus asks her a litany of follow-up questions which Mayella refuses to answer. After Atticus begs her to tell the truth, that her father beat her, Mayella says,
"I got somethin' to say an' then I ain't gonna say it no more. That nigger yonder took advantage of me an' if you fine fancy gentlemen don't wanta do nothin' about it then you're all yellow stinkin' cowards, stinkin' cowards, the lot of you." (Lee 251)
Despite Mayella's contradictory testimony that is clearly fabricated, Tom Robinson becomes a victim of racial injustice and is wrongly convicted of assaulting and raping Mayella Ewell.
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