The son of philanthropist Brooke Astor was accused Tuesday of plundering his mother’s $198 million estate and conspiring to have the Alzheimer’s-stricken socialite sign a new will leaving her fortune to him.
Anthony Marshall, an 83-year-old Broadway producer, was charged in an indictment unsealed Tuesday and pleaded not guilty at an arraignment. His former attorney, Francis X. Morrissey Jr., was indicted on similar allegations.
Marshall and Morrissey “took advantage of Mrs. Astor’s diminished mental capacity in a scheme to defraud her and others out of millions of dollars,” District Attorney Robert Morgenthau said.
As early as 2001, Astor’s doctors had told Marshall that his mother suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, that her ability to understand complex issues was limited, and that her condition would worsen, Morgenthau said.
Three years later, the prosecutor said, Marshall and Morrissey conspired to have Astor’s attorney fired, and to have her sign an updated will that left Marshall virtually everything. Astor died in August at age 105.
Amy Winehouse cancels rest of ‘07 concerts
Amy Winehouse has canceled all concerts and public appearances for the rest of the year on doctor’s orders.
“The rigors involved in touring and the intense emotional strain that Amy has been under in recent weeks have taken their toll,” said Winehouse representative Tracey Miller in a statement Tuesday.
“In the interests of her health and well-being, Amy has been ordered to take complete rest and deal with her health issues.”
The decision by the 24-year-old retro soul singer comes “on the instruction of her doctor,” the statement said. Her family asked the media to “respect Amy’s privacy at this time.”
Winehouse’s 25-year-old husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, was ordered held in custody in London on charges stemming from a case in which he is accused of assaulting a barman in June.
“I can’t give it my all onstage without my Blake,” Winehouse said in a statement. “I’m so sorry but I don’t want to do the shows halfheartedly; I love singing. My husband is everything to me and without him, it’s just not the same.”
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