There is little Tom Robinson can or does say to convince the jury of his innocence. He tells his side of the story, despite Mr. Gilmer being condescending to him and trying to trap him. He explains that he was going by Mayella's house and she asked him to come inside because she had something for him to do. This conflicts with Mayella Ewell's testimony that she'd asked him to bust up a chiffarobe, and Mr. Gilmer says, "Then you say she's lying, boy" Robinson knows he cannot accuse a white person of lying, so he merely says, "I don't say she's lyin', Mr. Gilmer, I say she's mistaken in her mind." He cannot exonerate himself, but he does a pretty good job of avoiding Gilmer's traps.
What proves his innocence is the testimony that Mayella was beaten on the right side of her face. Tom has a short, crippled left arm (while Bob Ewell is a left-handed man).
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