Why did Tom Robinson run from the Ewells' house in chapter 19 of To Kill a Mockingbird?

At this stage of the trial Atticus has reached a critical point in his questioning of Tom. How well Tom can testify to his version of events will have a major bearing on the jury's and the courtroom's sympathy for the defendant. Atticus specifically asks Tom such key questions about whether he had resisted Mayella Ewell's advances, whether he had harmed her in any way and indeed had he raped her. Tom's answers to all these key questions is an emphatic know, and clearly Atticus has helped him to build what seems to be a very credible version of events. However, some real doubt remains about Tom's innocence owing to the fact that he ran away from the house after the return of Bob Ewell. The jury and courtroom may well think that running away is not the action of an innocent man. Atticus is compelled to ask Tom about this,

"Then you ran?"

"I sho'did, suh."

"Why did you run?"

"I was scared, suh?"

"Why were you scared?"

"Mr Finch, if you was a nigger like me, you'd be scared, too." (p.215)

Atticus asks no more questions after Tom's reply; he obviously feels there is no need to do so. It must be self-evident to those in the courtroom that a black man living at that time in that community would indeed be in an intolerably perilous position if faced with the set of circumstances Tom Robinson found himself in. The unspoken implication is that if Tom had not run he would almost certainly have been shot or lynched on the spot. The reader is once again reminded of the powerless position of the coloured folk of 1930s Alabama.  

Why did Tom attempt to escape in chapter 24 of To Kill a Mockingbird?

This is a really good question because on the surface it seems simple; however, it presents a real complexity. Exactly the kind of complexity Harper Lee wants the reader to contemplate. It could be argued that Tom Robinson tried to escape out of self-preservation, the human instinct to survive. Another argument could be he decided to take the chance, not human instinct but the luck of the draw mentality. Still another argument, although a man of integrity and honesty perhaps Tom redefined the meaning of those qualities to fit the jury's definitions of honesty and integrity. As sad as it sounds, Tom could only attempt his escape if he lowered his morality to that of the jury that convicted him.

Why did Tom attempt to escape in chapter 24 of To Kill a Mockingbird?

In Chapter 24, Lee describes how Tom is struggling to deal with his new surroundings in prison, and that there is nothing that Atticus could do to make being locked up any easier for him. Tom firmly believes that he is beyond help, and when he is hauled off to the prison camp, he tells Atticus goodbye, saying, "there ain't nothin' you can do now, so there ain't no use tryin'."

Tom has clearly given up hope that he will ever be free again after his unjust conviction for the rape of Mayella. Despite the fact that Atticus hopes to turn over the sentence through the appeal process, Atticus can't give Tom definitive reassurance that he will be released; to do so would be lying. 

Thus, Tom decides to make a break for it during the exercise period in the prison yard. He "broke into a blind raving charge at the fence and started climbing over," despite the guards calling out for him to stop. After firing a few shots into the air, the guards shoot Tom seventeen times. He was moving so fast that (according to the guards), "if he'd had two good arms he'd have made it." 

It seems that Tom "was tired of white men's chances and preferred to take his own." It was ultimately desperation that drove him to an escape attempt... and perhaps the realization that he was most likely doomed under the reign of a white judicial system in a time of rampant discrimination. 

What does Atticus give as the reason why Tom Robinson attempted to escape from prison?

Atticus comes home during the middle of the day while Aunt Alexandra and Scout are hosting the missionary society meeting at their home. In the kitchen, he tells Miss Maudie, Aunt Alexandra, Calpurnia, and Scout about Tom Robinson's death. During the exercise period at Enfield Prison Farm, Tom had taken off running for the fence. The guards had yelled at him and fired warning shots, but he didn't stop. Just as he went over the fence, they shot to kill--filling him with seventeen bullets. 

Atticus wants Calpurnia to come with him to give the news to Tom's wife, Helen. Although Atticus appears in control, his sister Alexandra knows that "it tears him to pieces."

He explains that he had tried to give Tom as much hope as he could, telling him he thought they had a good chance of winning the appeal that would overturn Tom's conviction. But Atticus was unwilling to over-promise. Knowing the racism that courts and juries in Alabama were rife with, Atticus understood that the solid case they had proving Tom's innocence might not be enough. So, Atticus said, Tom decided to take his own chance rather than trust his fate to "white men's chances." 

Tom's decision is later clarified in Maycomb's newspaper in an editorial written by Mr. Underwood, its owner. 

Atticus had used every tool available to free men to save Tom Robinson, but in the secret courts of men's hearts Atticus had no case. Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed.

This is no doubt what Tom realized, and why he "broke into a blind raving charge at the fence and started climbing over." Tom knew that he was not likely to win an appeal to the "secret courts of [white] men's hearts." 

Why did Tom Robinson try to escape jail in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Having had the justice system of Maycomb County fail him at the trial despite Atticus's proving him incapable of making the marks upon Mayella, Tom Robinson has no faith in an appeal, even though Atticus has encouraged him to be patient and trust him. For, there are simply too many other factors in the his environment which cause him to be mistrustful and terrified:

• The Jim Crow Laws are still in effect; he is marginalized by society
• The jury for an appeal trial will again be 12 white men
• The mob came for him once before; they may well come and lynch him now--or worse (burning, beating, torture, etc.)
• He has probably known of other men like himself who were falsely accused, yet were beaten or killed.
• He may feel like a caged animal and suffer from tremendous stress as he imagines what can befall him. 
• He may have completely despaired, thinking his only chance is flight.

Why did Tom Robinson try to escape jail in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Many question Tom's decision because of Atticus' reassurance that he be patient and wait for the appeal. Remember, though, that Atticus had clearly proved Tom was innocent. Mayella had practically admitted on the stand that he was innocent. The judge had said aloud that Tom could not have beaten Mayella. And yet the jury still found him guilty. Tom had no hope left.

Why did Tom Robinson try to escape jail in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Tom flees because he has already been let down by the justice system once and has absolutely no faith that an appeal will do him any good. The reality that he will "get the chair" looms large.

When the news comes, Atticus explains to Aunt Alexandra (Ch 24): "They shot him...he was running. It was during their exercise period. They said he just broke into a blind raving charge at the fence and started to climb. Right in front of them...". Atticus continues, "We had such a good chance. I told him what I thought, but I couldn't truth say that we had more than a good chance. I guess Tom was tired of white men's chances and preferred to take his own."

What happens during Tom Robinson's prison escape in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Tom Robinson was shot in an escape attempt because he could not get over the fence fast enough with one arm.

Tom Robinson was naturally depressed when he was convicted.  Atticus told him they had a chance on appeal, but he did not want to wait.  Tom was tired of having no control over his own existence, and decided to make a run for it.

"They shot him," said Atticus. "He was running. It was during their exercise period. They said he just broke into a blind raving charge at the fence and started climbing over. Right in front of them-" (ch 24)

Of course, Tom Robinson was innocent.  Yet he was persecuted for months, sat in jail, convicted after being proven innocent, and then sent to prison.  It’s really no wonder he had no faith in the system.  He just wanted it to be over.