Estate Planning Attorney Francis X. Morrissey, Jr. Has Been Disbarred

Photo Credit: daylife

By operation of law, Francis X. Morrissey, Jr., who did estate planning for Brooke Astor and was a co-defendant in the recent trial involving her estate, has been disbarred.

Matter of Morrissey

Brooke Astor's Son Sentenced to 1 - 3 years

Brooke Astor’s only son, Anthony D. Marshall, was sentenced on December 21, 2009, to one to three years in prison for defrauding his mother, stealing millions of dollars from her as she suffered from Alzheimers. (A co-defendant, Francis X. Morrissey Jr., a lawyer who did estate planning for Mrs. Astor, was also convicted of a series of fraud and conspiracy charges, as well as one count of forging Mrs. Astor’s signature on an amendment to her will.)



Credit: The New York Times

In addition to the legal issues involved, this story caught my attention due to my interest in the transatlantic liners of the early to mid-1900s. On April 14, 1912, the R.M.S. Titanic struck an iceberg in the middle of the North Atlantic and subsequently foundered on April 15, 1912 at approximately 2:20 a.m., sinking to the bottom of the ocean and taking over 1,500 souls with her.

One of the many people to die in the sinking was John Jacob Astor IV. After assisting his young, pregnant wife Madelaine into a lifeboat, Mr. Astor stood back with the other men while the other women and children entered the lifeboats, which was customary back then.



John Jacob Astor IV Credit: Picture History



Madelaine Astor Credit: Titanic-Titanic

It was Vincent Astor, son of John Jacob Astor IV, and married to Brooke Astor at the time of his somewhat sudden death of a heart attack on February 3, 1959, who brought his father's body back to New York (his body was recovered from the Atlantic after the sinking) and presided at his funeral after the sinking. In 1948, Vincent set up the Vincent Astor Foundation and, upon his death, half of his $130 million estate went to the Foundation which his widow, Brooke, was to administer.

Over the course of her life, Brooke Astor carried out her husband's wishes, donating over $200 million to various charities during her lifetime. Although, unfortunately, her good work might be overshadowed by the recent events involving her estate, this classy lady can rest in peace knowing she carried out her late husband's wishes.



Brooke Astor Credit: Fox News

And the Widow Wore White . . .

In a post dated September 22, 2009, I mentioned a magazine I found while digging around in some boxes that were in the basement of a charming little used book store in New York. In a different issue of the same magazine, in a section titled "Mainly About Men And Women" I discovered the following. The issue is dated September, 1912.What I found is a little blurb about Mrs. John Jacob Astor and her announcement that she would wear nothing but pure white for six months.

It reads -

Probably ten years from now black will not be worn at all as a badge of mourning. That is the conclusion of those who have been drawn into a discussion of the subject by the announcement that Mrs. John Jacob Astor will wear nothing but pure white for the next six months. "Personally I have always thought the only important question in regard to mourning apparel concerns not the putting it on, but the taking it off," declares one authority. "The lady who 'goes into colors' after a polite period of gloom seems to symbolize so blatantly the transient nature of her grief. Mourning outght to be worn forever. At least that is my feeling about it." Why not vote on it? Which do you favor? White or black? Or none at all?

Brooke Astor's Son Found Guilty

I have a book on the Astors, and I think there are a number of interesting issues going on with the family members involved (or not, some might argue), and I also plan to follow the appeal, so I'll be posting more on this story.

Vincent Astor, who brought his father's body back to New York and presided over his funeral after the sinking, was married to Brooke at the time of his somewhat (doctors had diagnosed a cardiovascular condition that fluctuated over the five months before his death) unexpected death of a heart attack on February 3, 1959. I can't help but think that he's smiling down over this verdict, and perhaps somewhat relieved. It's my understanding that sentencing will take place on December 8, and I hope the judge sticks it to the lawyer involved.

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On a side note, Vincent left his half-brother nothing. I don't think I'll ever be able to watch "the movie" again without being reminded of the fact that the kid with whom Madelaine was pregnant while on the Titanic and, in my opinion unintentionally disinherited, is, ironically, the one responsible (he left a son and grandson when he died in July of 1992) for carrying on the Astor name in the United States. I find it a bit interesting that Vincent left him nothing, as he had to have known that his father would have wanted to provide for him and, although it's my understanding that Vincent didn't like him (his half-brother) much and didn't respect his choices in life, it's interesting that he didn't do the right thing, so to say.