Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-27
GREAT NAME FORGED?
Authenticity of Cleveland
Statement Is Questioned.
BRANDENBURG SOLD PAPER
Executor of Late Presidents Estate
Approved.
BUT NOW REPUDIATEs ACTION
Declares He Has evidence" That
Cleveland Did Not Write
Criticism of Bryan. 9
BRANDENBURG SOLD PAPER
BUT NOW REPUDIATEs ACTION
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK. September 2G.-There is
a lively controversy on Just now concern
ing the authenticity of an article pub
lished August 80 in the New York Times
which purported to be signed state
ment by the late Grover Cleveland. in
which Mr.. Cleveland compared Taft and
Bryan to the disadvantage of the latter
The New York Times says this morning
that the article in question was brought
to the Times office by Broughton Bran
denburs. newspaper and magazine
writer. 1t was typewriter and bore what
purported to be the signature of Grover
Cleveland. Before considering pubica-
ton Of the article the Times demanded
proofs of its authenticity, and Mr. Bran
denburg produced an agreement he had
made with F. S. Hastings, executor of
the Cleveland estate
Agreement Was in Form.
In the agreement Mr.. Hastings accepts.
ON behalf of the estate Of the late Grow
er Cleveland, and with the knowledge and
consent of Mrs. Frances Cleveland"
proposition from Brandenburg to pay $500
as percentage from the sale of the
signed article.
The statement in the Times continues:
Mr.. Brandenburg explained to the
Times in great detail that he had ar
ranged with Mr.. Cleveland about March |
to write series Of three articles on the
coming presidential campaign; that the
first article was written by Mr.. Cleveland
and given to him to copy in typewriting
After Mr.. Cleveland had corrected this
production it was again typewriter and
signed by him at his office in the Metro
politan Life Insurance Company building
some time between the 18th and the 10Th
of March. 1t is just to Mr.. Brandenburg
to state that there are several Witnesses
who have testified that he had long in
terviews with Mr.. Cleveland in the lat
ters office on the days lie claimed to
have seen him.
Thought Everything o. X.
In order to be more certain of the au-
thentieity of the statement the news
paper sent member of it's staff to see
Mr.. Hastings and secure confirmation of
the previously mentioned agreement
Publication of the article was then an
nounced. Several days later the Times
received telegram from Mrs Cleveland
from New Hampshire, in which she ex-
pressed doubt as to the genuineness of
the article. The Times at once sent the
telegram to Mr. Hastings, and he replied
by the following letter:
INDIAN HARBoR, Greenwich, Conn.
August -, 1898
Dear Sir l have examined the signature sub
mitted TO me by Mr.. Ybarra and compared it
the submitted by Mr. Ybarra is genuine. /
have talked with Mrs. Cleveland since she tele
graphed you yesterday. Her telegram was sent
you under a misrepresentation, and she author
lies me 10 say tnat the agreement with Mr.
Brandenburg is valid l have no reason to be
denburg purporting to have been written by Mr..
Cleveland is not genuine ! am sending you
may compare il with the submitted by Mr..
signed, F. S HASTINGS
Then Doubts Arose.
The article then was printed. It's au-
thenticity was questioned by leading
democrats and Mr.. Hastings was re-
quested to make a further explanation.
He expressed himself as willing and pre-
pared the following interview, which was
printed in the Times of September -:
Mr.. F. S. Hastings. executor of the estate of
Grover Cleveland when shown extracts from
various newspapers critcising him for not stat
Ing more promptly the facts regarding the arti-
Gle of Mr.. Cleveand's. said:
Il have delayed making any public statement
regarding this matter, acting under advice of
counsel. The facts are that there is abundant
evidence that MIR. Cleveland engaged in
writing an article for publication some time
prior 10 his death. and that this article
sold by him and actually delivered to literary
agent prior to his death. who merely obtained
from me. after MIR. Cleveland's death, cuurirIna-
ton of his authority to sell il to the New York
Times. Ny sole connection with the affair III
acting in my capacity as Mr. Cleveiaud's exec
utor TO confirm the arrangement that had al
ready been consummated between Mr.. Cleveland
and the literary agent.
various critics upon the authenticity Of the docu-
ment. took great pains 10 investigate all the
Mr.. Cleveland and the literary agent. and l can
state positively that l have had evidence
which wond warrant any doubt as to the genu-
ineness Of the article in question.
There are within my knowledge facts and
incidents that confirm my belief in the genuine
nrss OF the article Mr. Cievelands own pro-
duction. During the course of my investigation
have unearthed n design among certain PROM
inent democratic leaders who have asserted that
in order to onset the effect of this article of Mr..
Cleveland's, 1t would be necessary for them to
question its authenticity. OF this l have abun-
if necessary"
Takes It ALI Back.
Without any further communication on
the subject, Mr.. Hastings yesterday came
out with the following letter:
50 BROADWAY.
To the Editor of the New York Times.
Sir: Since our interview of Sept. %, which
in the Times of a statement then made by
me relative to the article attributed 10 the
authorship of the late Grover Cleveland which
was published in the Times Aug. 80 l now
desire to say that there has since come to my
knowledge evidence which leaves in my mind
no doubt of the fact that the said article was
not written nor signed by Grover Cleveland, and
therefore is. in my opinion. no longer entitled
to credit his production
Mrs. Cleveland, i'll my judgment, was right
In regarding It, when she positively declared TO
us since its publication Il do not believe it is
genuine. l therefore hasten to inform you Of
my conclusion regarding the article and beg 10
express the hope and belief that You will
promptly give to this communicat ton the same
degree Of prominence in the Times that WAS
given to the statement made by me in your issue
OF Sept. %. Yours respectfully
(SigDed) +. S. HASTINGS
This morning the Times asserts that
Mr.. Hastings later told a member of it's
staff that he had no evidence, and re-
ferred his questioner to John @. Carlisle
who in turn refused all information
THE GRAIN MARKETS.