Anthony Marshall, the pilloried 83-year-old son of the late, great Brooke Astor, appeared in court yesterday and denied charges that he'd wrongfully abused his mother's weakened capacities to make himself (more) rich. Tears welled up in eyes like bubbly in chilled, crystal flutes. The Post edged its bony elbows in for comment. A Daily News reporter was deployed to the Massachusetts home of the son responsible for Mr. Marshall's woes. With one hand, that son, Phillip, rubbed his, uh, troubled temples and pumped a fist with the other—behind his back, maybe.

"I sincerely hope there is a way justice can be achieved without my father going to jail," said Phillip, who stands to collect a meager $1 million from his dead grandmother's estate.

Meantime, Marshall's wife, Charlene, joined him in court as he and the attorney who aided him, Francis Morrissey, were read charges ranging from fraud to grand larceny to conspiracy. The Manhattan district attorney claims the two men pillaged valuable art and property, among other things, coaxing an Alzheimer's-plagued Astor to repeatedly change her will. At the time, Marshall maintained power of attorney over his mother's estate, eventually upping her wealth from $19 million to $83 million.

Annette de la Renta, a close friend of Mrs. Astor, was eventually appointed her temporary caretaker, with JP Morgan charged with the finances of the estate. The bank ultimately conducted an investigation that lead to Mr. Marshall's current charges.

If convicted, Mr. Marshall could get 25 years in prison, which given his age, would basically be a death sentence. For what? Creaming a little off the top?