The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1911-08-04
THE TALE OF A PIC
Chief Justice MarshaI's First
Case as a Lawyer.
HE OUTWITTED A DEADBEAT.
When Marshall Sued Old haskin
Smiled, When the Case Was Won and
Payment Claimed Hs Laughed, but
When the Climax Came He WiItsd.


When the Climax Came He WiItsd.
Chief Justice John Marshall's first
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, 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 Cohn, who ran a general store
In 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 Marshalrs un-
furling OF his shingle to the Fauquier
winds came Cohn with his claim.
Even the callow attorney recognized
II as n veteran among claims. How
ever, having nothing else to while
away the time, he took the case, Cohn
l.t. III tn, oil hn nntIl1 N
It, which showed Cohn's 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
pen-a very Gargantua Of pig.
That's the only pig I 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
pondering 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 after n 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 gunny sack. Haskin handed
him out a pone OF bread and chunk
OF meat and then demanded a quarter
for the repast. IL haven't got a quar-
| ter" replied the youth; thought you
would give feller a little snack like
that"
"Not much" growled Haskin. What
you got In that bag"
"Nuthin' but a month old pig" an
swered the youth. "Say, II you gimme
quarter in money I'll give you the
pig and Wen call 1t 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 or
one who has driven hard bargain,
| carried the shote over to the barnyard
and spilled 1t into the pen where lay
the porcine Gargantun. Coincidental
| ly 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 n
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." and be waved
his hand to man who was waiting
with an 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 q
hand. "You can't make your selec-
ton for exemption after the levy's
made"
But the fellow that sold me that
shote stole him." urged Haskin, grow
ing desperate. 81 can't own stolen
pig"
"All right" put In young Marshall
wholly unperturbed. "Mr Constable
Just arrest him for receiving stolen
goods
But Haskin had fed to the safety OF
his back porch. seeing which the con
stable, Marshall and the man In the
wagon hustled the complaining porkel
aboard and drove away. leaving the
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