Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1899-05-03
HOW A PIG "BRoXE" A FARMER.
Lively Fight over Porker Between TIVE
Farmers in North Dakota.

Lively Fight Over Porker Between Two
Farmers in North Dakota.
''Up in the North Dakota town Of
Grafton" said W. P. Sterling trav-
eler, at the Hoffman House, sis rusty
axe which represents an expenditure
of s26S.35. 1t originally cost so cents
and now adorns, or did not so very
long ago, wall in the office of the
Justice of the peace, memento OF the
folly of some kinds of legal battles.
Underneath it is this legend: L cut
pig and broke farmer.
1.-TWO farmers lived on adjoining
quarter sections near the outskirts of
the town. Once they were friendly, but
the episode of the axe broke up all
such relations, and one was compelled
to move away.
"Farmer Bill Williams had a pig
that could generally find nothing
better to do than encroach upon the
kitchen garden of neighbor Haskin.
A post fence ran between the two
houses, and Haskin's garden was with
in n small light fence inclosure.
Haskin protested mildly at first, bat
finally relations became strained and
he warned 'Bill' one day that the next
time he found the pig in his inclosure
he would contiscate it. But Williams
Laughed at him. Two OF three days
later Haskin caught the pig in his
bean patch. He made for the animal
and caught it by the hind legs MS it
was going through hole i'll the fence.
Williams rushed out of the house aud
managed to catch the squealing porker
by the forelegs. One jerk and Haskin
had it, but 'Bill' reached over the
fence, which stood about four feet
high, and got another grip on the ami
mails forelegs. Then began the tug
of war, both men pulling at the pigs
legs. What with 'cussing' back and
forth and the pigs squealing there
was terrible commotion. The pig
stretched taut was in fair way of
being torn apart, when Haskin's son
came out of the house, and, seeing
Bills axe on the woodpile, jumped
the fence and seized it with presum-
ably murderous intent.
"tCut the pig, Sir yelled Haskin
to his son. ST ran up with the axe
aloft and let fly. AS luck would have
it, the porker's body was directly over
post. Well, the blade came down
and cut the pig clean in two. The
men fell over backward, but presently,
each with half pig in one hand, was
shaking lis free fist at the other across
the fence nd makirg threats. ST had.
run into his 1,.:.,L er's house with the
axe. Then their wives came out and
got them apart.
"I'll sue you" yelled 'Bill' as q
parting shot.
Sue away! Tarnation hookeyr
retorted Haskin. I'll heat you, and
You don't git no pig and no axe.
"Now, up in that part of Dakota
every one can tell you of the celebrated
case of Williams VS.. Haskin, although
it was tried four years ago. Williams
brought suit before justice of the
peace for the return OF that axe.
Somehow the value of half a pig was
lost sight OF. Haskin put in a bill
for damages to his garden. By the
time the suit passed the county court
and had gone against Williams the
costs and fees reached $26S.35. He
had to sell out and move away. Far
mer Haskin gave the axe to the the
Justice. who nailed it on his wall, and
one day, soon after the trla:, some
wag posted the legend" ="