In chapter 30, after Scout has recounted the events under the tree (the fight with Mr. Ewell which ended in his death) Mr. Tate finalizes the events with:
"Bob Ewell fell on his knife. He killed himself."
Atticus will not take this answer though, because he (at first) thinks it is Jem who killed Mr. Ewell. After much argument, Mr. Tate indirectly infers that it was actually Boo who stabbed Mr. Ewell, therefore he will maintain that it was an accidental suicide. When Atticus asks Scout if she can "possibly understand," she responds with:
"Yes sir I understand... Mr. Tate was right... it'd be sort of like shootin' a mockingbird, wouldn't it?"
This pattern of events and final quote of Scout's shows she finally has an understanding of who Boo is, and how the small town of Maycomb works.
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