Does Heck Tate defend Mayella Ewell - To Kill A Mockingbird?

Question

Just need to clear that up, cause I don't exactly understand that bit.

Answer 1

no, i don't think so, they have some other lawyer defending them. Heck Tate is the sheriff.

Answer 2

Heck Tate is the sheriff.  Gilmer was the prosecutor.  He's the one who cross-examined Tom.  Heck didn't really defend Mayella outright, but by testifying that he arrested Tom based on Mayella's word alone (when it was obvious that Tom was innocent) you could say he was, in essence, "defending" her.  Heck didn't call a doctor but noted that Mayella's bruises were on the right side of her face.  As Atticus indicated, the bruises she had were made by a left-handed person since they were obviously the result of a back-handed smack.  Since Tom's left hand was mangled, he couldn't have done it.  Did Heck realize this and ignore it, thus believing or "defending" Mayella?  Maybe.  The one he defended was Boo Radley.  By saying that Bob Ewell died by falling on his knife, Heck was saving Boo from prosecution.  Heck was a good man, but he was the sheriff of a small southern town who wouldn't tolerate his defense of a black man.  Heck chose to believe Mayella's lies,  so I suppose you could say he "defended" her.  It's a little bit of a stretch, though.

Answer 3

the most boring and overrated book in the world  

Answer 4

i remember doin this, i think heck is the sheriff and the character who shot the dog is defending tom