Donovan wrote:
I'm trying to understand what makes them crooks as well.

Karma will get them - for not notifying the widow that a book was being published? Or not giving proceeds of the book to the widow...  
I am no lawyer, but from what I have read, there is absolutely no obligation on an author or publisher to pay so much as a cent of the profits on a biography of someone - living or deceased - to that person, or his family or heirs, unless a contractual arrangement is in place. And as far as I know, it is not the convention in publishing.

Nor is there, I believe, an obligation for an author/publisher to get in touch with the subject or his family or heirs, nor is there a legal requirement to obtain permission. Whether it is common courtesy to notify the family/heirs of intention to publish is entirely another matter.