The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-09-30
The TALE OF A PIC.
Chief Justice MarshaIrs 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
Whom the Climax Came He WiIted.
Chief Justice John Marshall's first
case as lawyer was tried In Eau
Quier county. Va. 1t was the suit or
Cohn versus Haskin. and the descend.
ants of the great interpreter of the
constitution delight TO this day to tel.
OF the subtle strategy whereby the
budding jurist achieved victory over
that case hardened deadbeat Of a Has
kin person.
This same Haskin. 1t appears, was T.
man possessed Of property. But he
was also possessed Of a ehrewd knowl
edge Of the law. He kept ell be had
In his wife's name. excepting what tn.
statute exempted from seizure for
debt
In an evil and ab~enrminded mo
ment Cohn. who ran q general stor,.
In Haskin's neighborhood. trusted hirn
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 to every young
lawyer in the county to cut his teeth
on. Swiftly following Marshalrs un-
furling Of his shingle to the Fauquier
winds came Cohn with his claim
Even the callow attorney recognized
II as veteran among claims. How.
ever. having nothing else to while
away the time. he took the case. Cohn
promising him all he could get out Of
It, which showed Cohn's valuation Of
Il as an asset
Young Marshall promptly brought
suit. at which Haskin smiled When
Judgment was obtained, Marshall rode
out In person to Hasktn'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 a pig browsing laxily in q
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 nome
pondering deeply. Next day he was
seen strolling around the outskirts of
the town looking into casual pigsdes
and keeping his thoughts to himself.
One noon shortly after a youth.
trudging along the big road in front Of
Haskin's house, stopped to ask for a
bite to eat Over his shoulder he car.
ried a gunny sack. Haskin handed
him out pone of bread and a chunk
Of meat and then demanded a quarter
for the repast II haven't got a quar-
ter" replied the youth; thought you
would give a feller little snack like
that"
'eNot much" growled Haskin- what
you got In that bag?"
"Nuthin' but month old pig" an
swered the youth "Say. II you gimme
q quarter in money I'll give you the
pig and wen call It square"
II reckon you stole that pig" com.
mented Haskin. "else you wouldn't sell
1t 80 cheap. Here's your quarter:
gimme the pig"
The youth disappeared with the quar-.
ter, and Haskin, with the content Of
one who has driven hard bargain,
carried the shote over to the BARNARD
and spilled II into the pen where lay
the porcine Gargantua Coincidental-
ly there rose out of the alder bushes
adjacent the forms of young Marshall
and another man-the other man was
the constable In his hand he held q
writ Of execution He climbed solemn
" over into the pigsty and pointing
to the fat porker, said:
II levy on that pig in the suit Of
Cohn versus Haskin." and he waved
bis hand to a man who was waiting
with an empty wagon down the road.
"But that pig is exempt" exclaimed
the irate Haslkin. 1.-The law allows me
one pig"
you've got him there" answered
the constable. pointing TO the shote as
he trussed up the big fellow and call.
ed to the man in the wagon to lend q
hand 'You can't make your selec-
tion for exemption after the levy's
made"
"But the fellow that sold me that
shote stole him." urged Haskin. grow
ing desperate. 'T can't own q stolen
pig"
"All right" put In young Marshall.
wholly unpertuYbed. "Mr. Constable.
just arrest him for receiving stolen
goods
But Haskin had fed TO the safety Of
his back porch. seeing which the con-