Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-08-14
THE GRANT-BOWEN CASE.
How Grant PGcketed Twenty-Five
Thousand DciIaFs-AP Piece Of ''SIrat-
eSy.',
From the NeW York san

Thousand DciIaFs-A Piece of ssSIrat-
egy.''
From the New York SIM
Mr.. William A. Cook, Of Washington. has
published 4 statement respecting Gen.
Grants sale of s house in Washington to
Mr.. SAyles =. Rowen. The following is tie
essential part of his statement:
81. Gen. Grant was the owner of a house
in this city, on / street, which Mr.. Bowen
agreed with Messrs. Klb0urn & L.tta,
real estate agents, to purchase, and paid 10
them $1,000 on account Of the purchase
money.
~. Shortly afterward the property was
desired by friends Of Gen, Sherman, for tie
purpose Of presenting it to him. The
President accordingly addressed a brief note
TO Mr. Bowen, who, after some delay, con-
sented to give up' bis claim to it. This be
did deliberately, without any consideration
Except a return Of the 1000 advanced by
Mr.. Bowen,) and without any artifice or
fraud on the part of tho President, aud the
property was then purchased by Gen. Sher-
mau."
We do not doubt that Mr.. Cook means
TO tell the truth, and he fails probably be-
cause be has never been made aware of all
the facts.
II - true bUdI OClls NTTduI sou MS mousse
TO Mr.. Bowen for $4,000, aud received on
account 81, 900, for which be gave his re-
ceipt, containing a cont t-aCt binding him in
due time to execute full conveyance Of
the property.
Previous to this bargain with Bowen, or
about the same time, Gen. Grant wrote a
letter to prominent gentleman in this city,
saying that Gen. Sherman was about TO
n NaeI,iDrtoD nd Io
General was too poor to live in
style suitable to his rank as Commander
of the Army, he (GrauD earnestly
desired that a SUN Of money should
be raised and presented to Gen. Sherman
of such an amount that the interest
upon it when invested would be large
enough to bring bis income up to the de-
sired point. This request was equivalent to
command. A meeting Of wealthy aud
patriotic gentlemen was privately held here,
and Grants statement OF Gen. SheTman's
inigent circumstances was laid before
them. The appeal at once produced its
effect; a subscription was at once set on
foot and in due tiDle Gen. Grant was in
formed that the donation would, in all
probability, reach the sum Jf Sl00 900.
Heueup0n Grant sent letter in his own
handwriting to the gentleman ia this city
who had most to do with the management
of this Sherman gift enterprise, saying that
IS b. (Grant) desired 10 dispose of the
EOuse in Washington, which had been pre-
sented to hiIa, and as It was in every way
suitable for Sherman's use, il would be
specially agreeable 10 him tGranO if in
Stead Of presenting Sherman with the
whole sum Of money, they would take the
house in question as paT5 Of the Gift. The
price Of the mouse he fixed at siXty-fve
thousand dollars, and IS tie whole subscrip-
ton ''ad been gotten up at his request the
parties saw no reason why they should
unG also comply with his wish in this par
ticullT aud take the house Of him at that
price. Out of the money which had been
subs Tibed for Sherman, xty- five thousand
dollars was taken without Sherman's con-
sent being asked, and paid over 10 Grant
for tie house which he had previously sold
to Bowen for forty thousand dollars. And
all tais negotiation and bargain We're made
by Grant without consulting Bowen, who
hearI nolhing Of il till some time afterward.
Does Mr.. Cook perceive the difference be.
tween q state Of facts aud that which he
sets iorth in his publication?
M. Cook also appears to be dehciCnS in
Information IN auO her respect. He says
that Bowen consented 10 give up his claim
and surrender his receipt and contract
without any consideration except a return
of the 81, 900 which he had paid. Now, it
is g.I eiaily understood among politicians
that there was an arrangement between
Bowen ami Grants representative II the
transact ion, that If Bowen would give up
the contract and make no more fuss about
the swindle to Which he has beeu
subjected, he should lie iGdemni-
FED by having control of the Federal pa
trouage in the District of Columbia. THIS
p, rt f the bargain Grant has never car d
out, but has treated it as he treated lbe
bar -a'n Of his brother-in-law Dent, who in
consideration of $1,000 cash paid 10 him
s'f, a-ree' that Mr.. Withey should be ap
J led Commissioner to adiuCicate upon
inns Of American citizens agains. Pc
6Dwcn hss never coJ the promised
d Of the Federal patronage, and
!, -,ney never WAS appointed Commissioner.
There was fraud in both cases.