Atticus Finch:  Good Lord , I must be losin ' my memory . I ca n't remember whether Jem is _ twelve _ or thirteen . Anyway , it 'll have to come before the county court . Of course , it 's a clear - cut case of self - defense . I 'll uh , well I 'll run down to the office ...
Sheriff Tate: Mr. Finch ... do you think Jem killed Bob Ewell ? Is that what you think ? Your boy never stabbed him .
Sheriff Tate: Bob
Sheriff Tate: Ewell fell on his knife - he killed himself . There 's a black man dead for no reason . Now the man responsible for it is dead . Let the dead bury the dead this time , Mr. Finch . I never heard tell it was against the law for any citizen to do his utmost to prevent a crime from being committed , which is exactly what he did . But maybe you 'll tell me it 's my duty to tell the town all about it , not to hush it up . Well , you know what 'll happen then . All the ladies in Maycomb , includin ' my wife , will be knockin ' on his door bringin ' angel food cakes . To my way of thinkin ' , takin ' one man who done you and this town a big service , and draggin ' him with his shy ways into the limelight - to me that 's a sin . It 's a sin . And I 'm not about to have it on my head . I may not be much , Mr. Finch , but I 'm still Sheriff of Maycomb County , and Bob Ewell fell on his knife . Good night , sir .