Sheriff Tate believes in justice; he also believes in what is known as "poetic justice," and it is poetic justice that Bob Ewell be remembered as having fallen on his own knife.

When Sheriff Tate tells Atticus that he can prove that Bob Ewell fell on his knife, Atticus stops him. "'Jem and Scout know what happened. If they hear of me saying downtown something different happened—Heck, I won't have them anymore. I can't live one way in town and another way in my home.'" But, the sheriff insists that Bob Ewell "'flung Jem down, [and] stumbled over a root under that tree . . . '" Then, he adds, "'look, I can show you.'" Sheriff Tate reaches into his pocket and withdraws a switchblade knife. But, as he does so, Dr. Reynolds comes out from having tended to Jem's arm, so Sheriff Tate withdraws the knife and starts to call Ewell a pejorative term. Instead, he revises his wording: "'The . . . deceased's under that tree, doctor, just inside the schoolyard,'" and he hands the physician, who apparently is also the coroner, a flashlight. But, Dr. Reynolds says he can use the headlights of his car. "That the knife that killed him, Heck?" asks the physician. Tate replies, "No sir, still in him. Looked like a kitchen knife from the handle." Then he opens the switchblade and demonstrates how Bob Ewell fell with the knife "through that soft stuff between his ribs."

After Dr. Reynolds departs, Sheriff Tate closes the knife and jams it back in his pocket. He tells Atticus that since Scout is only eight years old, she may have confused some things that have occurred. He holds that Ewell fell on his knife since Jem could not have stabbed him because his arm was broken and he could not possibly have tackled Ewell and killed him. Atticus asks the sheriff,

"Heck, . . . that was a switchblade you were waving. Where'd you get it?"
"Took it off a drunk man," Mr. Tate answered coolly. . . .
"Heck?"
"I said I took it off a drunk man downtown tonight. Ewell probably found that kitchen knife in the dump somewhere. Honed it down and bided his time. . . . just bided his time."

After Atticus sits on the swing in exhaustion, Mr. Tate declares, "'It ain't your decision Mr. Finch, it's all mine.'" If Atticus wants to say Jem is responsible, Mr. Tate says that he will call Atticus a liar. "'Your boy never stabbed Bob Ewell,' he said slowly. 'didn't come near a mile of it and now you know it. All he wanted to do was get him and his sister safely home.'"

Sheriff Tate is protecting the shy Arthur Radley, who rushed to the defense of the children he loves. He also knows that Nathan Radley would be angered that his brother intervened. Besides, the notoriety would not be good for the reclusive Arthur Radley. If Bob Ewell has fallen on his own knife, "the dead can bury the dead," and the matter will be resolved.

In Chapter 30, Sheriff Tate and Atticus talk at length about the death of Bob Ewell. Atticus is convinced that his son, Jem, stabbed Bob Ewell in the side with a knife and is responsible for his murder. Sheriff Tate contradicts Atticus' conclusion and explains how Bob Ewell fell on his own knife and died. However, Atticus does not accept Tate's explanation of Ewell's death. Sheriff Tate maintains that Bob Ewell fell on his own knife and that Jem, who had a broken arm, would not have been able to stab Ewell.

Sheriff Tate knows that Bob Ewell did not land on his own knife and die. Tate understands that Boo Radley stabbed Ewell in order to protect Jem and Scout. Boo Radley is known throughout Maycomb as the most reclusive individual in the entire county. Sheriff Tate explains to Atticus that if the news that Boo Radley saved the Finch children made its way around town, community members would be "knocking on his door bringing angel food cakes." (Lee 369) Sheriff Tate thinks that it would be a "sin" to drag the shy Boo Radley into the "limelight." Tate thinks it is best to claim Bob Ewell fell on his own knife and died, effectively putting an end to the recent disturbance in Maycomb.