Some time before Tom Robinson's trial over the supposed rape of Mayella Ewell, he served time for a different crime. He went to jail for disorderly conduct for thirty days. This was the only other mark on his criminal record. In the courtroom, Atticus asked questions:
"It must have been disorderly," said Atticus. "What did it consist of?" (Chapter 19).
Tom Robinson explained that he had gotten into a fight with another man. The other man tried to hurt Tom with a knife. Tom was not truly able to fight back because of his bad arm. The man managed to cut Tom with the knife, but not badly. Tom could have paid a fine to avoid jail time, but he could not afford it. The man who he fought with had been able to pay, and therefore did not need to serve time in jail.
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