New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1911-08-02
THE TALE. J Of 4 Pig
Chief Justice Marshall's First
Case as a Lawyer.
ne ou1wInEo 4 DEApBEAT,

When Marshall Sued Old haskin
Smiled, When the cass Was Won and
Payment Claimed He Laughed, but
When the Climax Came He Wiitsd.
Chief Justice John Marshall's first
case as a lawyer was tried In Fau-
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 a Has
kin person:
This same Haskin, 1t appears, was q
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
in Haskin's neighborhood, trusted him
for sugar and coffee to the amount OF
$11. 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 Marshalfs I'M
furling of his single to the Fauquier
winds came Cohn with his claim.
Even the callow attorney recognized
It as d 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
It, which showed COINS valuation OF
It as an asset.
Young Marshall promptly brought
suit, at 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 plow'
which was exempt under the law; also
one harrow, also exempt; also huge
leviathan Of a pig browsing lazily In q
pen-a very Gargantua Of pig.
''Thats 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 SELF
ure for debt
The future chief Justice rode home
bordering deeply. Next day he was
seen strolling around the outskirts OF
the town looking into casual pigsties
and keeping his thoughts to himself.
One noon shortly otter a. youth,
trudging along the big road in front OF
Haskin's house. stopped to ask for Q
bite to eat. Over his shoulder he car
ried a gunny sack. Haskin handed
him out pone Of bread and chunk
of meat and then demanded a quarter
for the repast. II haven't got quar-
ter" replied the youth; Thought you
would give q Teller little snack like
that"
"Not much" growled Haskin. "What
you got in that bag"
"Nuthin' but month old pig" an
swered the youth. "Say, If you gimme
q quarter in money III give you the
pig and we'll call it square"
II 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 Haskin, with the content OF
one who has driven hard bargain,
carried the shote over to the barnyard
and spilled it into the pen where lay
the porcine Gargantua. Coincidental-
" there rose out of the alder bushes
adjacent the forms of young Marshall
and another mantle other man was
the constable. In his hand he held a
writ of execution. He climbed solemn
" over into the pigsty and. pointing
to the fat porker, said:
Il levy on that pig in the suit OF
Coin versus Haskin," and he waved
his hand to man who was waiting
with IN empty wagon down the road.
"But that pig is exempt" exclaimed
the irate Haskin. "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 a
hand. "You can't make your selec-
ton for exemption after the levy's
made"
"But the fellow that sold mo that
shote stole him." urged Haskin. grow
ing desperate. ri can't own q stolen