Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Millionaire's son guilty in NY high society trial
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Millionaire's son guilty in NY high society trial
AFP - Friday, October 9
Send
IM Story
Print
File photo shows Anthony Marshall (left) being escorted by his lawyer into the Manhattan Criminal Court in New York. The elderly son of millionaire philanthropist Brooke Astor wept after being found guilty of defrauding his late mother in the biggest society trial seen by New York in years.
NEW YORK (AFP) - – The elderly son of millionaire philanthropist Brooke Astor wept in court on being found guilty of defrauding his late mother in the biggest society trial seen by New York in years.
Anthony Marshall, 85-year-old scion of one of America's most illustrious families, faces between one and 25 years in prison for what prosecutors called a "depraved" conspiracy.
He was convicted on Thursday of grand larceny and conspiring to take control of Astor's 200 million dollar estate as the New York heiress and charity doyenne descended into Alzheimer's-related dementia before dying in 2007, aged 105.
The jury returned the verdict on the 12th day of deliberations after a five-month trial featuring testimony from a Who's Who of US high society, including Henry Kissinger, television presenter Barbara Walters and socialite Annette de la Renta, wife of fashion legend Oscar de la Renta.
Marshall, a former US ambassador and decorated Marine Corps veteran of the World War II battle at Iwo Jima, remains free on bail until sentencing December 8.
He appeared impassive as verdicts finding him guilty on 14 counts were read out to a courtroom packed with more than 100 journalists, lawyers and members of the public.
But outside, tears flooded Marshall's eyes as he pushed through a mob of journalists, leaning on a cane and gripping the hand of his wife, Charlene.
"I love my husband," she cried.
Police supported Marshall by the elbow as he and his wife escaped the crowd on the 15th floor of the grimy New York State Supreme Court in downtown Manhattan.
Defense lawyer Frederick Hafetz said he would appeal to try to keep the frail, white-haired Marshall out of jail.
"I am stunned by the verdict, greatly disappointed, and we will definitely be appealing," he said.
Also found guilty was attorney Francis Morrissey who had been accused of forging the increasingly demented Astor's signature after changing her will to benefit Marshall.
Prosecutors described the disgraced blueblood as a scheming, greedy man who connived with Morrissey to make sure that his mother's fortune passed to him and Charlene, not to charity.
Prosecutor Elizabeth Loewy said during the trial that Marshall and Morrissey "literally pulled Mrs Astor out of the arms of her nurse... and dragged her behind closed doors so she could change her will."
Marshall was accused of callously cheating and lying to his mother about her finances while he and Charlene took advantage of her luxurious properties.
That high lifestyle included using Astor's money to pay Marshall's own employees and taking over art works and real estate in picturesque Maine.
The situation only changed when Marshall's own son Philip Marshall intervened to try and wrest control over Astor's affairs from his father, claiming in a civil suit that Astor was forced to sleep on a urine-stained sofa and eat tinned food.
Apparently inadvertently, that civil suit led prosecutors to launch the criminal case concluding Thursday, irreparably splitting the family.
Hafetz said Astor herself changed her will to give more to her "loving and loyal son," rather than to the New York charities she had already supported lavishly.
Marshall knew his mother suffered from Alzheimer's but believed the condition did not make her incapable of looking after her affairs, according to Hafetz.
Astor was famous for her old-school elegance, luxurious lifestyle and donations amounting to some 200 million dollars to institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the New York Public Library.
Born Roberta Brooke Russell on March 30, 1902, Astor was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1998 for her civic works.
"Money is like manure, it should be spread around," she was quoted as saying.
She inherited her vast wealth from third husband Vincent Astor, whom she married in 1953 and whose great-great-grandfather John Jacob Astor had made a fortune in fur trading and New York real estate. He died five years later, bequeathing his fortune to his widow.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
News Search
Top Stories
Britain will not back Opel plan: report
US Fed to tighten policy when outlook improves
Millionaire's son guilty in NY high society trial
NASA to begin massive climate survey of Antarctica
Chinese fossil find gives clue to ear's evolution
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Tiny moon feeds largest ring around Saturn
Tiny device could speed breast cancer detection: study
Aer Lingus to slash hundreds of jobs, cut pay
Chinese fossil find gives clue to ear's evolution
Breakthrough hope for breast cancer treatment
More Most Viewed »
Oldest hominid skeleton sheds light on human origins
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Friday, 9 October 2009 Families exiled by Saddam return to Iraq
French minister under fire over sex tourism memoir
ECB locks interest rate at record low of 1.0 percent
US-TECH Summary
Saudi Arabia, Syria urge unity government in Lebanon
Twitter in Google, Microsoft licensing talks: report
Correction: Iranian nuclear scientist story
Lawmakers seek FCC probe into Google Voice
UN boss in Kabul denies cover-up accusations
Mindjet boosts online collaboration with Catalyst
Iraq signs deal with BP, CNPC
Zimbabwean PM among tips for Nobel Peace Prize
| International
|
Fatah seeks joint action with Hamas over Gaza report
Honduras talks grapple with issue of Zelaya return
| International
|
U.N.: Little pledged aid paid up for Somali security
| International
|
French minister clings to post in sex tourism furor
| International
|
Czech president makes new demand over EU treaty
| International
|
Jury to deliver verdict in NYC Astor trial
Bangladeshi female police for UN peacekeeping
Women more likely to be expelled under 'don't ask'
Jackson doctor may face arrest over child support
Elevator brakes fail at Chinese tin ore mine, killing 26
Senate committee approves Patriot Act changes
Highest military court hears Abu Ghraib appeal
Twitter in Google, Microsoft licensing talks: report
| Technology
|
Cambodian PM questions Khmer Rouge tribunal action
Top Mexican cartel figure set to plead guilty
US envoy returns to Mideast amid little hope of progress
Lawmakers seek FCC probe into Google Voice
| Technology
|
AP sources: FBI eyes terror suspect's travel talk
Recording: Controller bantered as disaster loomed
N.Korea stops promoting Kim's successor: S.Korea
Justice officials won't take oath before briefing
Europe ready to prolong Chinese shoe-trade war: source
Cambodia's reserves top $2.5 bln: PM
Malaysia's exports slump 19.8 pct in August
Bangladesh's Grameenphone IPO 'oversubscribed'
India inflation dip temporary: analysts
Japan's Uniqlo booms despite recession
AirAsia to start Paris flights
Lloyd Webber unveils Phantom of the Opera sequel
| Entertainment
|
Lloyd Webber unveils "Phantom of the Opera" sequel
Taylor Swift going to Australia in extended tour
| Entertainment
|
Lewis Black on "Stark Raving Black"
Indian maharajas' treasures come to Britain
Hitchhiker's Guide back with 6th book in trilogy
| Entertainment
|
Barry Manilow gets festive with new albums
| Entertainment
|
Lewis Black on Stark Raving Black
| Entertainment
|
Hitchhiker's Guide back with 6th book in "trilogy"
Asia moves up university league table
Inuit pop, Algonquin rap, Innu reggae aim for mainstream
Tiananmen amputee stands in US -- to dance
Moroccan musical festival to highlight Jewish heritage
Egypt denies Louvre split linked to UNESCO loss
Radio host seeks pardon for executed SC ancestors
US hints may put Al-Qaeda, not Taliban, in crosshairs
Indian embassy in Afghan capital attacked again
| International
|
Britain will not back Opel plan: report
Mobile data services pushed to limits: Qualcomm
Grim omens as U.S. envoy pursues Mideast relaunch
US Fed to tighten policy when outlook improves
Poland to ratify EU reform treaty but Czechs set conditions
Rain, floods in Philippines kill over 100
| International
|
Millionaire's son guilty in NY high society trial
South Korea, Japan press North Korea to return to talks
| International
|
My book no apology for paedophilia: French culture minister
Twitter goes down, users 'tweet' about it
NASA to begin massive climate survey of Antarctica
Sophos offering free data-loss prevention software
Klaus sets new condition for signing Lisbon treaty: Sweden
Myanmar's Suu Kyi meets Western diplomats
| International
|
Chinese fossil find gives clue to ear's evolution
No Facebook at work in most US companies
Saudi, Syria urge Lebanon unity government: SANA
ECB locks interest rate at record low of 1.0 percent
Blast in Pakistan's Peshawar kills 30: minister
| International
|
Barnes & Noble to sell own electronic reader: WSJ
U.S. sends Guantanamo detainee home to Kuwait
| International
|
Honduras talks grapple with issue of Zelaya return
| International
|
China's Hunan Nonferrous says mine accident kills 26
| International
|
Google tracking flu outbreaks in 16 more countries
Jamaican jailed for 20 years for plane hijack bid
| International
|
Bankruptcy judge approves Chicago Sun-Times sale
Dalai Lama shrugs off apparent snub by Obama
| International
|
Barnes & Noble to sell own electronic reader: report
| Technology
|
Mobile data services pushed to limits: Qualcomm
| Technology
|
Lawmakers seek FCC probe into Google Voice
| Technology
|
Malaysia to replace burnt navy ship: minister
EU, US to press Bosnia over blocked reforms
Floods in Philippines, thousands stranded
Sophos offering free data-loss prevention software
| Technology
|
NKorea demands again that SKorea return defectors
Denver Columbus Day parade is on, despite hoax
Afghanistan, Pakistan: 1 war, 2 fronts
SKorea, Japan to hold summit over NKorea
Moon crashing probes complete major milestone
North Korea to send nuclear envoy to U.S.
Powerful typhoon slams into Japan, 2 die
Prominent mathematician Irving Gelfand dies in NJ
2nd man charged in slaying of central Ill. family
China detects deadly nerve gas at border with NKorea: report
US military deaths in Afghanistan region at 792
Dalai Lama unfazed as Obama shuns meeting
Calif. doc who hailed herbal cancer cure arrested
Taiwan court orders ex-leader remain behind bars
The way she was: Streisand memories auctioned
NYC artist is $250K winner of art competition
Welcome to Hawaii Pacific Teleport
Gloria Estefan buys concert tickets for PR jobless
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Taiwan dlr weakens on c.bank warning, foreigners
Elizabeth Taylor says heart surgery was successful
Bank of Korea holds rates, casts doubt over Nov hike
NBC cancels cop show "Southland"
CHRONOLOGY-S.Korea c.bank holds rates for 8th mth
Scripps turns Fine Living into Cooking Channel
Seoul shares extend gains after BOK rate hold
Carly Simon planning first ever shows in Europe
Indonesian tycoon voted Golkar party chief
Seoul shares open up on techs; eyes on BOK
Steven Spielberg receives Liberty Medal in Philly
New Zealand central bank profit almost doubles
Utah Symphony musicians agree to $1.3M in cuts
Music producer Shelby Singleton dies in Nashville
Elizabeth Taylor says heart surgery was successful
| Entertainment
|
Lloyd Webber unveils Phantom of the Opera sequel
| Entertainment
|
Cirque founder hosts space show for Earth's water
| Entertainment
|
Music producer Shelby Singleton dies in Nashville
| Entertainment
|
Carly Simon planning first ever shows in Europe
| Entertainment
|
NBC cancels cop show Southland
| Entertainment
|
Police and protesters clash at Jerusalem mosque
German trade surplus plunges in August: data
Cisco shines light on dark corners of the Web
NASA bombs the moon's surface in search of water
Militants torch NATO vehicles in Pakistan: police
Tainted Afghan govt cost too high: analysts
'No favourites' for Nobel Peace Prize
Iran to blow up heart of Israel if attacked: official
| International
|
Hamas bails out Gaza's losing tunnel investors
| International
|
Berlusconi says only he can lead Italy
| International
|
Somali government recruiting Kenyans for war: residents
| International
|
Germany honors rallies which helped to topple Wall
| International
|
Anglicans, in row, may cut women bishops' powers
| International
|
Obama, Democrats court women on health overhaul
UCLA student's throat slashed in chem lab
Boy arrested in fire at 1800s Maine textile mill
Myanmar's Suu Kyi, diplomats discuss sanctions: US
Giorgio Armani extends designer touch to new mobile
| Technology
|
NYC funeral for husband of congresswoman Maloney
Suicide bomb kills at least 49 in Pakistan market
High hopes and big risks in tech earnings
| Technology
|
Samoa mourns tsunami casualties
Small earthquake strikes eastern California
Driver convicted in fatal California bus crash
South Korea, Japan press North Korea to return to talks
Watchdog doubts goals of Obama loan relief plan
Philippine storm toll mounts as landslides hit
Minor radioactive leak at Japanese nuclear plant
Malaysia arrests couple in sex trafficking scam
AP NewsAlert
UN talks to end without deal on crucial issues
Intra-Asian trade 'key to long-term economic growth'
Malaysia $1.03 billion deal with US aerospace firm
Murdoch warns of obstacles to China media expansion
India's Infosys posts 7.5% jump in quarterly profit
China launches crackdown on online gaming
Asia's 'Astro Boy' set to take on Hollywood
AP, News Corp bosses say pay up
Wynn Macau shares jump 13 percent in HK debut
Philippine banks' default risk from floods: report
Japanese retailer Daiei suffers amid weak economy
Ancient art brings new hope for war-weary Afghanistan
Asia's 'Astro Boy' set to take on Hollywood
Top Indonesian terror suspects killed: police
French ministers fight fat for Sarkozy
Chronicler of brutal dictatorship wins Nobel prize
| Entertainment
|
Comic communism: Ceausescu, pig and a tale of 2 hats
2009 Bordeaux set to be century's 1st great vintage
Tony Roberts returns for 'Royal Family' opening
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights