First, Atticus manages to gain valuable information during Tom Robinson's trial by playing a prank during Mr. Bob Ewell's cross-examination. 'Mr. Ewell can you read and write?'... Surely I can' 'Mr. Ewell wrote on the back of the envelope... What's so interesting?' "You are left-handed, Mr. Ewell." (236). Atticus is trying to belittle Mr. Ewell to show the jury that he is left-handed. This is important in the case since Tom Robinson's left hand is very weak and Mayella Ewell's wounds were on the right side. Secondly, Atticus was once the best marksman in Maycomb County and possesses a natural talent for shooting. “I forgot to tell you the other day that, in addition to playing the jew's harp, Atticus Finch was the deadliest marksman in Maycomb County in his day.” (129). Atticus has the ability to grab a rifle and fire on command and hit the target fourteen times out of fifteen, but he will only do so to defend his friends, family, or neighbors. Moving on, Atticus is very intelligent. “Our mother died when I was two, so I never felt her absence… Atticus met her when he was first elected to the state legislature” (7). Atticus served in the state legislature at a young age, which is not a particularly easy feat