The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-25
THE s2lNT-BADEAU DISPUTE
Col. Fred Replies to Some of the State
ments Recently Made BY the General.
The Grant Family Desired TO Settle the Entire
Matter with hdeau and We're Willing TO
Pay Him $4,000 far His Services.

NEW YORK, March 24-Ancther chapter of
the Grans-Badeau controversy ever the book CT
the late General Grant is added by Col Fred
Grant in letter SEM to the press tonight. II
is In answer to the statement OF General Badeau
of claim for compensation for his aid IN pre-
pairing General Grants memoirs, published in
the Sun of of the 21st instant Colonel Grant
says il is his purpose 10 answer, as far prac-
ticable such parts of General Badeau's state
ment az may appear to call for reply. He
states that the editor Of the Sun once wrote, in
collaboration with another. life of General
Grant which contained praise that amounted to
sdulation Of the General and at a time when
person suspecting him OF susceptibility TO Hat
terry might have reasonably supposed that we'll
timed sycoDhancy would yield a reward in high
Office; that the editorof the Sun. however. re-
ceived Office; that for years past there has
been nothing too false or too mi lIgnant for him
to publish concerning the family; that he has
spared neither the children nor the widow.
and that his journal seems to be the only one
that cordially and thoroughly approves of Cen
eral Badeau's course
Colonel Grant denies any designs on the part
of himself or others to deIrivr General Badeau
of his just fame or pecnnary compensation in
connection with his work on the book as implied
In General Badeaus statement that be Influenced
his father in writing any Of the letters pub
Hshed in General Badeaus statement to that
gentleman, and that he fColonel Grant, had
ever written any letters to General Badeau that
General Badeau with awaiting until the great
est part of the receipts from the sale of the
book were in before he began his snit. dar-
ing to assert his claim to part of the author
ship, he now Does fearing that the proceeds
from the work would be cartailed and dwindie
TO the comparatively small sales Of Badeaus
own military history. The Colonel denies that
Senator Conkling Withdrew from the
because of the stand taken by the Grant family.
and adds that ne was never IN the case he
was merely consulted as a friend. aad be
advised the nAvm9uE of Bddeau the
easiest way to dispose of the matter but the
latter insisting on bringing the case into court
he advised the employment of Mr. Seward as
counsel, he Mr.. Conklansl, because of his close
friendship with the family not wishing to ap.
pear. General Badeau has never made an offer
of any sum not contingent upon his disclaimer
of joint authorship in the Grant memoirs.
Mrs. General Grant was willing TO pay him the
sum he asked provided that her act IN so doing
wonld not be construed admitting Badeaus
claim TO joint authorship. Colonel Grant de-
clares he himself never favored this does
he now, IS he wishes to settle, once for all, in
court of law. the authorshop of the book The
Colonel denies that he proposed to Badeau TO
furnish his fathers memoirs and let him the
COLONEL sign them, and is doubtful il there IS
one line in the book in Badeaus own
language. He reviews at length the relations
between General Badeau and his father. and
claims that his father and the rest of the family
invariably befriended him. while the latter
showed little gratitude. He says it Is
very painful to the family TO have this matter
forced upon the public attention. and 1t will be
very trying ordeal for his mother and the
members of the family TO drag the memory of
they haxe decided to leave nothing undone to re-
flute the claims of General Badeau to the au-
statement the final his part, until the
matter is brought into court, has
been prepared with much care. and avows that
that he alone is responsible for its contents The
Colonel furnishes the correspondence between
his ia Their and Badeau with regard TO the latter's
connection with the book. In letter to Badeau
General Grant Gays: Il do not want G. book hear
ing my name to go before the world which did
not write TO such extent to be fully en-
titled to the credit of the authorship. / do not
want secret between and some one else
which would destroy my honor If divulged"
Again be saws: sit would be degradation for
me- to accept honors and profit from the work of
another while declaring to the public
it was the product of my own brain and hand
The Colonel declares that since his fathers
death PEOPLE who have had any dealings with
the family have invariably endeavored to ex-
tort money largely In excess of an equivalent
for the service rendered, and in some cases
payments have been made where no legal claim
could be made, rather than bring the matter be-
fore the public; but he has decided TO call a
balmer's bill by the editor of the Sun, and the
subsequent REIN bursement of the editor for the
same by his mother, and cites it as shown that,
SO far as Mrs General Grants means would per-
nit. she would pay generously for every service
rendered her late husband.
Colonel Grant, in a letter to Badeau's lawyers,
says Mrs. Grant will pay General Badeau the
SO, 900 mentioned in memorandum OF his faith
er's if he will sgn a receipt discaiming entirely
any participation in the work of General Grants |
book, of such nature 10 be in any degree |
essential to its existence in its present FORM and
if such receipt can be framed by his (Radeaus) |
as will forever settle this question of |
just what he did. Mrs. Grant will pay the mon. |
sy. In this letter, arbitration on Badeans |
claim is proposed, the result TO take the form of
a report stating what work Genera Badeau had |
done and what compensation be is entitled to. |
Here follow number of letters between Colonel |
Grant. the various lawyers representing the |
Grant family and Badeau. in which several |
are discussed for the settlement of |
Badeau's claim. none of which were agreed upon /
because of the persistency of Genera Badeau's /
nsinuating that secret existed in connection |
Win the preparation of the memoirs. Several /
agreements were drawn up which provided that |
General Badeau. for certain sum, shall release /
Ill claims on the Grant family or to the author
'hip of the book, but he declined to d. SO.