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Astor's Couch: "Richly Upholstered," Son Claims
By
Jen Chung
Published Sep 2, 2006
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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By
Jen Chung
Published Sep 2, 2006
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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Brooke Astor's son, Anthony Marshall, who has been accused of abusing his guardianship of his mother's millon dollar estate for his gain - while skimping on her medical care - struck back with his own court filings. Marshall denies his care amounted to elder abuse and said he was being victimized by claims. Marshall doesn't want JP Morgan Chase, who along with Astor friend Annette de la Renta was made a temporary guardian of the estate, going through his mother's financial dealings and complaining that the locks on the office were changed. JP Morgan Chase is investigating various gifts to Marshall, while he was in control: "$5 million in stocks and bonds and a $5 million Maine home that Astor gave her son in 2003, as well as a $2 million commission he got for selling his mother's Childe Hassam painting." And the $5 million in stocks and bonds, as well as the $5 million home, ultimately went to Marshall's wife, Charlene (whom people have said Astor never cared much for), and people are suspicious. The Post writes of the $5 million stocks-and-bonds gift, called a note in Marshall's court papers "purportedly from Astor," and the note reads, "I now realize that as the trust terminates on your death, there may not be enough to provide for Charlene. I do want you to have enough money to provide for Charlene."
Marshall's own son, Philip, started this firestorm over the 104 year old philanthropist's well-being when the Daily News found the younger Marshall's complaint, which alleged Astor was forced to sleep on a couch reeking of dog-urine and wearing tatty nightgowns. Anthony Marshall says the couch in question is "richly upholstered."
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abuse
Anthony Marshall
Brooke Astor
court
daily news
death
jp morgan
jp morgan chase
money
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News: NYC
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the office
the post
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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