When the vigilantes show up to take Tom Robinson from jail most certainly to lynch him, the presence and behavior of the children defuse the situation. How are the children at least partially responsible for saving Tom Robinson from being lynched that nig

Scout, Jem and Dill sneak out of the house and run to the court-hose where Atticus is guarding Tom Robinson. Sure enough a mob of white men show up lead by Mr. Cunningham. Atticus refuses to let the men at Tom Robinson. They are a lynch mob and Atticus will not let them near his client. Some words are passed and the standoff has the threat of violence in the air. The kids run out. Jem refuses to leave. Scout spots Mr. Cunningham and asks him about his son and his legal problems (that her dad helps him with for next to nothing). Scout speaks to him in a friendly and kind way infused with the innocence of a child. Mr. Cunningham can't help but come to his senses and the tension is broken.