The Maycomb Crier Mad Dog in Maycomb Tim Johnson killed by Atticus Finch
By: Ms. Driscoll
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Maycomb’s streets are safe again after “One-Shot Finch” shoots a rabid dog. Sheriff Heck Tate and Atticus Finch responded to a call from the Finches’ housekeeper, that there was a mad dog on the loose. Arriving together, Finch and Tate recognized Tim Johnson, Harry Johnson’s dog, weaving down the street in front of the Radley home. At Sheriff Tate’s urging, Atticus Finch took the kill shot, ending the crisis. Jeremy Finch was the first to sight Tim Robinson as he was coming down the street. He told the reporter, “I could see right away that something was wrong with the dog. I made my sister come home with me to tell Calpurnia.” Jean Louise “Scout” Finch confirmed her brother’s story: “ I thought Jem was being silly, there ain’t supposed to be no mad dogs in February.” After the sighting, the two children hurried to their home where they told their housekeeper, Calpurnia, what they had seen. Calpurnia recognized the dog was indeed rabid when she saw him, “ I thought them children were fooling me, but when I seen that dog, I got them children in the house right fast and called Mr. Finch.” Calpurnia’s quick responses potentially saved many people. After she called Mr. Finch, she had the phone operator, Miss Kelsey May, alert everyone on the street about the mad dog, advising them to stay in their homes. Calpurnia even risked her own life to alert the Radleys, who had no phone, by running to their house to warn them. Sheriff Heck Tate and Atticus Finch arrived at the Finch house moments after Calpurnia had warned the neighbors. Sheriff Tate recognized the dog was rabid right
August 2, 1935
The Maycomb Crier
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away: “When he (the dog) walked into view, he couldn’t even walk straight. That dog was still in the ‘twitching phase’. Mr. Finch and I knew we had to kill