Atticus establishes during Sheriff Heck Tate's testimony that the bruises on Mayella's face were under her right eye; the sheriff also testifies that there were other bruises found all the way around her neck. When Atticus questions Bob Ewell about his writing hand, Bob signs his name with his left hand. This clearly indicates that it could have been Bob who beat and strangled Mayella. But, as Scout quickly realized,
... Tom Robinson could easily be left-handed, too... I looked down at him. His back was to us, but I could see his broad shoulders and bull-thick neck. He could easily have done it.
The true epiphany concerning the importance of Bob's left hand comes later when Atticus requests Tom to stand and allow Mayella to identify him. Scout had never seen Tom stand before; Tom had been sitting behind a table with Atticus, but when he stood, Scout saw that
His left arm was fully twelve inches shorter than his right, and hung dead at his side. It ended in a small, shriveled hand, and from as far away as the balcony I could see that it was no use to him.
"Scout," breathed Jem. "Scout, look! Reverend, he's crippled!"
It was only then that Jem and Scout--and the reader--became aware that Tom could not have physically caused the injuries to Mayella. Her injuries could only have been caused by the left hand of Bob Ewell.
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