Indictment returned in Brooke Astor case

Brooke Astor’s son and one of her former lawyers have been indictedon criminal charges stemming from the stewardship of her financialaffairs and the handling of her will, according to people who have beenbriefed on the situation. Her son, Anthony D. Marshall,83, and the lawyer, Francis X. Morrissey Jr., have been told tosurrender to authorities on Tuesday morning, according to those briefed.  AManhattan grand jury has been hearing evidence from witnesses sinceearly last month, following an investigation by the district attorney’soffice into the management of Mrs. Astor’s fortune by Mr. Marshall andMr. Morrissey’s role in the signing of the third amendment to her will.The exact charges against the two men were not known late this afternoon.Butin Mr. Marshall’s case, they are probably related to millions ofdollars in cash, property and stocks that he obtained over the years inhis role as steward of his mother’s finances. As for Mr.Morrissey, the charges are probably tied to the signature on anamendment to Mrs. Astor’s will that was made in March 2004. Thepossibility of forgery has been raised by a nationally knownhandwriting expert. The indictment marks the first timecriminal charges have been filed in the legal battle surrounding Mrs.Astor’s fortune and well-being.

Source/more:  New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/27/nyregion/27astor.html