The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-12-27
THE TALE OF A PIC
Chief Justice MarshaIPs First
Case as a Lawyer.
HE 0UTWITTED A DEADBEAT.
When Marshall Sued Old Haskln
Smiled, When the Case Was Wen and
Payment Claimed He Laughed, but
When the Climax Came He Wllted.

Smiled, When the Case Was Wen and
Payment Claimed He Laughed, but
When the Climax Came He Wiltsd.
Chief Justice John Marshalls first
case as a lawyer was tried In Eau
quier county, Va. 1t was the suit Of
Cohn versus Haskin, and the descend
ants of the great interpreter Of the
constitution delight to this day to tell
of the subtle strategy whereby the
budding jurist achieved victory over
that case hardened deadbeat of Has.
kin person.
This same Haskin, 1t appears, was a
man possessed Of property. But he
was also possessed of a shrewd knowl-
edge of the law. He kept all he had
in his wife's name, excepting what the
statute exempted from seizure for
debt.
In an evil and absentminded mo
ment Cohn, who ran a general store
in Haskln's neighborhood, trusted him
for sugar and coffee to the amount Of
Sill This was years before the erup-
ton OF young Marshall into the law.
and IN the interim Cohn had given the
claim for collection 10 every young
lawyer in the county to cut his teeth
on. Swiftly following Marshall's UNI
furling OF his shingle to the Fauquier
winds came Cohn with his claim.
Even the callow attorney recognized
It as a veteran among claims. How
ever, having nothing else to while
away the time. he took the case, Cohn
promising him all be could get out Of
II. which showed COINS valuation Of
It as an asset.
Young Marshall promptly brought
suit. ut which Haskin smiled When
Judgment was obtained, Marshall rode
out in person TO Haskin's place and
demanded payment, at which Haskin
laughed.
And while Haskin chuckled the keen
eye Of the young lawyer wandered
about the farmyard He saw one pillow,
which was exempt under the law; also
one harrow, also exempt; also huge
leviathan Of pig browsing lazily in a
pen-a very Gargantua of a pig
THAT'S the only pig / got volun-
teered Haskin, reading the lawyers
thought, for Haskin, also law wise,
knew that under the statute he was
entitled to one pig exempt from seiz-
ure for debt
The future chief justice rode home
bordering deeply Next day be was
seen stroIling around the outskirts Of
the town looking into casual pigsties
and keeping bis thoughts TO himself.
One noon shortly after a youth,
trudging along the big road in front Of
Haskin's house. stopped TO ask for
bite to eat Over his shoulder he car
ried q gunny sack. Haslfin handed
him out a pone Of bread and chunk
OF meat and then demanded quarter
for the repast Il haven't got a guar
ter" replied the youth; Thought you
would give Teller little snack like
that"
mot much.' growled Haskin. What
you got In that bag1"
'Nuthin' but month old plg," an
swered the youth. SAY, If you gimme
quarter In money III give you the
pig and wen call It square"
81 reckon you stole that pig" COM
mented Haskin, "else you wouldn't sell
it so cheap. Here's your quarter;
gimme the pig"
The youth disappeared with the quar-
ter and Haskln, with the content Of
one who has driven hard bargain,
carried the shJte over TO the barnyard
and spilled It into the pen where lay
the porcine Gargantnn. Colncidental-
ly there rose out Of the alder bushes
adjacent the forms of young Marshall
aud another mantle other man was
the constable In bis hand he held
writ OF execution. He climbed solemn
ly over into the pigsty and, pointing
to the fat porker. said:
81 levy on that pig in the suit of
Cohn versus Haskin." aud he waved
his hand to a man who was waiting
with an empty wagon down the road.
"But that pig is exempt" exclaimed
the irate Haskin 1.-THE inv allows me
one pig"
You've got him there answered
the constable. pointing TO the shote as
he trussed up the big fellow and CALI
ed to the man In the wagon to lend a
hand. you can't make yorr selec-
ton for exemption after the levy's
made"
"But the fellow that scld me that
shote stole him." urged Haslsin. grow.
ing desperate. 81 can't own a stolen
pig"
"All right" put In young Marshall,
wholly unperturbed. "Mr Constable.
just arrest him for receiving stolen
goods"
But Haslin had fled to the safety of
his back porch. seeing which the con-
stable. Marshall and the man In the
wagon hustled the complaining porker
aboard and drove away. leaving the