Physician's Testimony and Injury Report: Mayella Ewell

By Juliet W.

As of the evening of November 21st, 1934, Mayella Violet Ewell was permitted to the Maycomb County hospital with various injuries. She had a black eye on the right side of her face, entirely covering the area around her eye. The right side of her face was also injured, with approximately 5 bruises, small and large, as well as various cuts and scrapes covering the space from her ear to the right side of her nose, chin to hairline. Her neck was also bruised, with marks going completely around the circumference. Closer inspection of her gullet in particular revealed definite finger marks, indicating a chokehold. Both of her arms were bruised as well, with about 3 to five large and small bruises on each. She also had other smaller injuries and pains that left no visible mark. However, she also seemed to have some still-healing, smaller bruises around her body, as well as a few slightly crooked bones that appeared to have healed incorrectly after being broken. She seemed to be slightly malnourished.

The cause of most of these injuries seems to be from a beating Miss Ewell received earlier in the day. Her black eye was most likely the product of a punch to the face, as well as the other bruising in that area. Judging from the placement of the injuries, her attacker was most likely left-handed, or preferred to punch with their left. The markings on her throat seemed to be the result of someone choking her with both hands, and on numerous occasions. The bruises on her arms seemed to also be from punches, as well as perhaps being thrown or kicked around. The healing bruises and crooked bones seemed to be badly healed from past abuse or beatings, while the malnourishment was most likely from years of inadequate food supply.