The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-08-11
THE TALE OF A PIG
Chief Justice MarshaIl's First
Case as a Lawyer.
HE OUTWITTED A DEADBEAT.
When Marshall Sued Old Haskin
Smiled, When the Case Was Won and
Payment Claimed He Laughed, but
When the Climax Came He Wilted.

case as lawyer was tried 1nt Eau
quier county, Va. 1t was the suit OF
Cohn versus Haskin. and the descend
ants OF the great interpreter of the
constitution delight 10 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. IT 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 COIN, who ran general store
I'm Haskin's neighborhood. trusted him
for sugar and coffee TO the amount of
S11. This was years before the erup-
ton of young Marshall into the law,
and In the interim Cohn had given the
claim for collection TO every young
lawyer in the county TO cut his teeth
on. Swiftly following Marshalps I'M
furling OF his shingle to the Fauquier
winds came COIN with his claim.
Even the callow attorney recognized
&c rs a veteran among claims. How
ever, having nothing else to while
away the time. he took the case, COIN |
promising him all he could get out of |
1t, which showed Cohn's valuation of |
II as an asset.
Young Marshall promptly brought |
suit. Mt which Hasiin smiled When |
Judgment was obtained, Marshall rode |
out In person TO Haskin's place and |
demanded payment, at which Haskin
laughed.
And while Haskin chuckied the keen
eye Of the young lawyer wandered
about the farmyard. He saw one plow,
which was exempt under the law; also
one harrow, also exempt; also a huge
leviathan Of pig browsing lazily in
pen-a very Gargantua of q pig.
That's the only pig l 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
deeply. Next day he was
seen strolling around the outskirts OF
The town looking into casual pigsties
md keeping his thoughts to himself.
One noon shortly after a youth,
along the big road in front of
Haskln's house, stopped to ask for q
bite to eat. Over his shoulder he car
led gunny sack. HaslSin handed
him out pone OF bread and a chunk
If meat and then demanded n quarter
or the repast. IL haven't got n quar-
err" replied the youth; thought you
would give n Teller little snack like
hat"
''Not much" growled Haskin. "what
'ou got In that bag?"
'Nuthin' but month old pig" an
wered the youth. "Say, If you gimme
quarter in money I'll give you the
zig and Wen call II square"
Il reckon you stole that pig" COM
nented Haskin, "elsc you wouldn't sell
so cheap, Here's your quarter;
imme the pig"
q |
er, and Uaslin, with the content of
ne who has driven n hard bargain,
arried the shote over TO the barnyard
nd spilled 1t into the pen where lay
no porcine Gargantun. Coincidental.
Y there rose out of the alder bushes
djacent the forms of young Marshall
nd another man-the other man was
no constable. In his hand he held d
yrlt Of execution. lie climbed solemn
2 over into the pigsty and, pointing
} the fat porker, said:
II levy on that pig in the suit of
ohm versus Haskin." aud he waved
Is hand to q man who was waiting
18th an empty wagon down the road.
"But that pig is exempt" exclaimed
no pig"
you've got him there" answered
10 constable. pointing TO the shote rs l
@ trussed up the big fellow and call .
j to the man In the wagon to lend a
and. "You can't make your selec- '
on for exemption after the levy's !
lade."
But the fellow that sold me that :, =
lote stole him." urged Haskin, grow :,
" desperate IT can't own n stolen =
g"
"All right" put in young Marshall, y
holly unperturbed. "Mr. Constable,
list arrest him for receiving stolen
pods"
But Haskln had fed to the safety of :,
IS back porch, seeing which the con- =
able, Marshall and the man In the ~
agon hustled the complaining porker .,
board and drove away, leaving the =,
swildered Haskin TO ruminate ut lei n
ire over the intricacies OF the law a,
hich permits man to keep even his n
ligion in his wife's name, but raw n,
hes away his choicest pig from I'M
II his very nose
And. concluding. the multiple de-
endants of the great John also de- m
ght to tell how that pig sold for s19S5
enough not only to pay the ancient al
aim. but to satisfy exactly the de- IL
ands OF court and constable for costs.
nving not penny over for the grief
ricken and wicked Haskin.
To which the reader may add. "And TO
ny oil lived boDnf1v foravar m ftavs, w