How does the town react to Tom’s death? Why is it “typical”?

Chapter 25 pretty well sums this up. There is talk and rumour but, for most of the white people in town, the excitement had passed. Tom was just another dead Negro,

“Maycomb was interested by the news of Tom’s death for perhaps two days; two days was enough for the information to spread through the county. “Did you hearabout?… No? Well, they say he was runnin‘ fit to beat lightnin’…” To Maycomb,Tom’s death was typical. Typical of a nigger to cut and run. Typical of a nigger’s mentality to have no plan, no thought for the future, just run blind first chance he saw."

I should add that although there was no reaction of substance by the white population, those who really followed the trial knew the truth even if they chose to continue to hide behind their bigotry. Atticus had planted the seed of truth and nobody could take that away.