Alternate Third Lines From the NY Times Story On the Death of Brooke Astor

Brooke Astor, who by night reigned over New York society with a decided disdain for pretension and by day devoted her time and considerable resources to New York’s unfortunate, died yesterday afternoon at her weekend estate, Holly Hill, in Briarcliff Manor, N.Y. She was 105.

* Doctors reported that her blood alcohol level tested at an astounding .35, more than three times the legal limit.

* Her body was recovered from the burning hulk of her trademark 1978 Camero, in which she had attempted to jump over a creek after a high speed police chase that lead through three states, involved 47 pursuit cars and two helicopters and began when what police described as a "routine felony drug stop" went awry.

* After traces of Polonium 238 were located by a geiger counter on her clothing, the State Department has been pressing Moscow for access to agents of the FSB, the notorious Russian secret police.

* Animal Control Officers described the gruesome scene as at least 37 Persian cats were said to be "subsisting off the remains."

* Family reported that she would have been satisfied knowing that she died doing what she loved, testing home-built supersonic jet aircraft.

* Friends had reportedly urged Mrs. Astor to subcontract out the roofing job instead of trying to handle it herself.

* Rumors are that an uncollected gambling debt placed in 1913 with the Bowery Boys, where Mrs. Astor overestimated the fighting stamina of Gentlemen Jim, may have finally come home to roost.

* The Astor Family lamented that the simple precaution of having a spotter for the 250lb freeweights may have prevented the tragedy.

* Police have take into custody one Col. Mustard, who they describe as a "Colonel of Interest."

* At last count, over three hundred 9mm bullet casings were recovered from the scene.