The weekend before Tom Robinson's trial, Scout, Jem, and Dill observe tensions in Maycomb rising.At the trial, Atticus presents a powerful defense of Tom and makes it clear that both Mayella and Mr. Ewell are lying, since Tom doesn't have the use of his left arm and couldn't have choked and beaten a woman, and Mayella's injuries indicate that whoever beat her was left-handed.Mr. Tate decides to keep Boo's involvement in Mr. Ewell's death quiet, which Scout understands--she suggests to Atticus that punishing him would be like killing a mockingbird.Scout, Jem, and Dill sneak out of the house to figure out where Atticus went and join Atticus at the courthouse, who anticipated a mob attack on Tom.The next morning, this event transforms into a wild story of bravery that delights Dill and annoys Aunt Alexandra.Rather, Atticus suggests that Mr. Ewell, who is left-handed, beat Mayella himself when he caught Mayella touching Tom.However, as Jem and Scout walk home alone from a Halloween pageant one night, Mr. Ewell attacks them.The man who saved Jem and Scout carries Jem home, and once inside, Scout realizes that the man is Boo Radley.Groups of men congregate on the Finches' lawn, something that, in Scout's experience, only happens when someone dies or when people want to discuss politics.Scout doesn't realize what's going on and is scared and uncomfortable when she finds herself in the middle of a group of men she doesn't know, especially when she realizes that Atticus is scared.She recognizes a man named Mr. Cunningham in the crowd and asks him about his son, Walter, who is Scout's classmate.Scout, Jem, and Dill sneak into the trial and watch the proceedings from the balcony, where the black people are forced to sit.The man, shamed, disperses the mob.