What Really Happened in Astor's House

(NEWSER) - Brooke Astor spent her final years in a haze as her faculties deserted her, her butler testified yesterday at the fraud trial of Astor’s son Anthony Marshall. As early as 1997, Astor’s memory started to fail her, leaving her unable to recall her servants’ names or even what a squirrel was, the New York Daily News reports. “She would point out the window and ask, ‘What animal is that?’” recalled Chris Ely. More»

Socialite takes stand, leads 'tour' of heiress' $29M apartment

(NEWSER) - Socialite Annette de la Renta—clad in a cashmere dress probably designed by hubby Oscar—gave jurors in the Anthony Marshall trial a virtual tour of Brooke Astor's properties yesterday, which sparked the imagination of Joanna Molloy of the New York Daily News. "You could just read their thought bubbles," she writes. "'Wow! Brooke Astor's foyer is bigger than my apartment!'" More»

Author Auchincloss told her son's lawyer she didn't recognize him

(NEWSER) - A longtime friend of philanthropist Brooke Astor testified yesterday that her faculties were so deteriorated the last time he saw her that she did not recognize him, the New York Daily News reports. Author Louis Auchincloss said the encounter took place 2 years before Astor allegedly changed her will, awarding $60 million earmarked for charities to her son, Anthony Marshall—who’s currently on trial for fraud. More»

Kissinger, Walters, Annan could testify

(NEWSER) - The Brooke Astor trial could be a who’s-who of New York hotshots: The list of possible witnesses includes Henry Kissinger, Kofi Annan, David Rockefeller, and Barbara Walters, the Times reports. Vanity Fair boss Graydon Carter said he felt “very privileged” to be on the list, provided by the judge to jurors yesterday. “I think it’s just an accident,” he said. More»

Would-be jurors plan for 3-month commitment

(NEWSER) - As the second week of jury selection in the Brooke Astor trial began today, with potential jurors being asked if they can sit still for a 3-month trial, the judge upbraided the lawyers for bickering and grandstanding as if they never wanted it to end, the New York Times reports. “I strongly feel that this should have been resolved eons ago, months ago,” he said of a spat over courtroom technology. More»