Brooke Astor’s son guilty of plundering millions
The son of Brooke Astor, the late socialite and philanthropist, was found guilty on Thursday of defrauding the heiress of millions of dollars.
By Tom Leonard in New York
Published: 12:30AM BST 09 Oct 2009
Anthony Marshall, an 85-year-old former ambassador and decorated Second World War veteran, could be jailed for between one to 25 years unless his appeal is a success.
After 12 days of deliberations and signs of a serious split among members, the jury convicted Marshall of two serious counts, first degree grand larceny and scheming to defraud, but acquitted him on others.
During a five-month trial, the jury heard that Marshall and his lawyer, Francis Morrissey, had taken advantage of Mrs Astor’s failing mental and physical faculties to trick her into changing her will in their favour when she was 101.
Morrissey, 66, was convicted of forgery charges relating to a clause in Mrs Astor’s will.
Prosecutors produced 70 witnesses during the five-month trial to attest to Mrs Astor’s confused state of mind as she suffered from advanced Alzheimer’s disease in the last few years of her life until she died in 2007 at 105.
They included such prominent friends as Henry Kissinger, Annette de la Renta — the wife of the fashion designer, Oscar — the television presenter Barbara Walters and Viscount Astor, the heiress’s British cousin. Defence lawyers had claimed that Mrs Astor, whose fortune was estimated at $180 million on her death, was lucid when she changed her will and that her son was legally entitled to give himself presents from her fortune while she was alive.
Prosecutors had described the accused as “two morally depraved individuals” who deprived “ordinary New Yorkers” of the millions of dollars that Mrs Astor had intended to leave to good causes in the city. Mr Marshall, her only son from three marriages, was described as a greedy man who used his mother as “his own little piggy bank, as his own ATM”, egged on by his wife, Charlene.
On one occasion, Mr Marshall “literally pulled her out of the arms of her nurse and dragged her behind closed doors” so she could change her will in his favour, the trial heard.
The trial heard how Marshall used various tactics to steal his mother’s money, from alterations to her will to simply taking artwork off the walls of her apartment.
The jury was told that he sacked his mother’s loyal staff and longtime lawyers. He was prosecuted after his own son, Philip, complained that he was stinting on Mrs Astor’s medications, and forcing her to eat puréed peas, wear tattered nightgowns and sleep on a urine-stained sofa.
Mrs Astor’s fortune came from her third husband, Vincent Astor, heir to the fur and real estate fortune of John Jacob Astor. She reigned over New York society for decades and was celebrated for giving generously to charities and cultural institutions.
Prosecutors said Marshall greedily “sullied” the legacy of his mother, a generous benefactor of the arts and charities, and could not wait for her die.
They portrayed the accused as “reverse Robin Hoods who stole from charity in order to enrich themselves”.
Marshall was convicted on 14 counts, including first-degree grand larceny and scheming to defraud. Morrissey was found guilty of scheming to defraud, conspiracy and forging Mrs Astor’s name on an amendment to her will.
“I love my husband,” said Mrs Marshall, giving her husband a brief hug before they left the courtroom holding hands. He and Morrissey will remain free until they are sentenced in December.
Frederick Hafetz, Marshall’s lawyer, said: “We will definitely appeal.”
Mrs Astor’s fortune came from her third husband, Vincent Astor, who was heir to the fur and real estate fortune of John Jacob Astor.
She reigned over New York society for decades, and was celebrated for giving generously to charities and cultural institutions.
She enjoyed quoting the leading character in Thornton Wilder’s play The Matchmaker: “Money is like manure; it’s not worth a thing unless it’s spread around.”
The son of Brooke Astor, the late socialite and philanthropist, was found guilty on Thursday of defrauding the heiress of millions of dollars.
By Tom Leonard in New York
Published: 12:30AM BST 09 Oct 2009
Anthony Marshall, an 85-year-old former ambassador and decorated Second World War veteran, could be jailed for between one to 25 years unless his appeal is a success.
After 12 days of deliberations and signs of a serious split among members, the jury convicted Marshall of two serious counts, first degree grand larceny and scheming to defraud, but acquitted him on others.
During a five-month trial, the jury heard that Marshall and his lawyer, Francis Morrissey, had taken advantage of Mrs Astor’s failing mental and physical faculties to trick her into changing her will in their favour when she was 101.
Morrissey, 66, was convicted of forgery charges relating to a clause in Mrs Astor’s will.
Prosecutors produced 70 witnesses during the five-month trial to attest to Mrs Astor’s confused state of mind as she suffered from advanced Alzheimer’s disease in the last few years of her life until she died in 2007 at 105.
They included such prominent friends as Henry Kissinger, Annette de la Renta — the wife of the fashion designer, Oscar — the television presenter Barbara Walters and Viscount Astor, the heiress’s British cousin. Defence lawyers had claimed that Mrs Astor, whose fortune was estimated at $180 million on her death, was lucid when she changed her will and that her son was legally entitled to give himself presents from her fortune while she was alive.
Prosecutors had described the accused as “two morally depraved individuals” who deprived “ordinary New Yorkers” of the millions of dollars that Mrs Astor had intended to leave to good causes in the city. Mr Marshall, her only son from three marriages, was described as a greedy man who used his mother as “his own little piggy bank, as his own ATM”, egged on by his wife, Charlene.
On one occasion, Mr Marshall “literally pulled her out of the arms of her nurse and dragged her behind closed doors” so she could change her will in his favour, the trial heard.
The trial heard how Marshall used various tactics to steal his mother’s money, from alterations to her will to simply taking artwork off the walls of her apartment.
The jury was told that he sacked his mother’s loyal staff and longtime lawyers. He was prosecuted after his own son, Philip, complained that he was stinting on Mrs Astor’s medications, and forcing her to eat puréed peas, wear tattered nightgowns and sleep on a urine-stained sofa.
Mrs Astor’s fortune came from her third husband, Vincent Astor, heir to the fur and real estate fortune of John Jacob Astor. She reigned over New York society for decades and was celebrated for giving generously to charities and cultural institutions.
Prosecutors said Marshall greedily “sullied” the legacy of his mother, a generous benefactor of the arts and charities, and could not wait for her die.
They portrayed the accused as “reverse Robin Hoods who stole from charity in order to enrich themselves”.
Marshall was convicted on 14 counts, including first-degree grand larceny and scheming to defraud. Morrissey was found guilty of scheming to defraud, conspiracy and forging Mrs Astor’s name on an amendment to her will.
“I love my husband,” said Mrs Marshall, giving her husband a brief hug before they left the courtroom holding hands. He and Morrissey will remain free until they are sentenced in December.
Frederick Hafetz, Marshall’s lawyer, said: “We will definitely appeal.”
Mrs Astor’s fortune came from her third husband, Vincent Astor, who was heir to the fur and real estate fortune of John Jacob Astor.
She reigned over New York society for decades, and was celebrated for giving generously to charities and cultural institutions.
She enjoyed quoting the leading character in Thornton Wilder’s play The Matchmaker: “Money is like manure; it’s not worth a thing unless it’s spread around.”
