Evening star., 1949-08-13
Sexton Held OH CHARGE
OF Wounding Wife,
Threatening Death 10 )

A 49-year-old church sexton
accused of shooting his wife and
threatening to shoot other men,
bers of his family, including his
year-old granddaughter, was held
in $4,000 bond today in Munich
pal Court.
He is Louis B. Elze. 4542
Macarthur boulevard NV. sex
ton of st. Patricls's Episcopal
Church, Foxhall road and Green
wich parkway NV. He was
charged last night at No 7 Pre-
cinct with four counts of assault.
Police said the shooting cli-
NAKED a series of arguments with
his wife. Augusta, 36.
Judge Aubrey B. Fennell con-
tinued the case until August l9
| to await the outcome Of Mrs
Elze's injuries. She is in George
town Hospital with bullet wound
i'm her chest and three flesh
wounds in her left arm. Her con-
iition was described as not serious.
He is charged with assault with
intent 10 kill.
Disarmed by Neighbors.
| Police also have charged Elze
with three counts of assault witt
a dangerous weapon, involving
alleged threats to kill his daughter
Mrs. Mary Beach, 18; her husband
Donald, 81, mechanic. and theil
baby, Donna Marie.
When he appeared in court to-
day Elze appeared emotionally
upset. He talked with members
of his family afterward-through
the bars of the court lockup-apd
told his daughter he was firing in
the air, not trying to shoot hel
and the baby.
He told his lawyer. Meredith c
Coffman, he wanted to talk to the
pastor of the church where he
served as sexton.
William c. Hazel, 48, an elec-
trical engineer for the District
Water Department, who lives near.
by at 1850 Macarthur boulevard
NV, told police he disarmed the
sexton shortly after Mrs. Elze ran
screaming into the street with
blood gushing from her wounds
to collapse in the presence OF
neighbors.
Couple Had Been Separated.
When recovered, the gun. .32-
derringer- type revolver. contained
two unused bullets. Three empty
shells from the five-shot revolver
were found, and Elze held another
| five bullets in his hand, police de-
clared.
In telling police what occurred
Mr.. Beach said the Elzes had been
separated for about four months
and that, during that period, the
sexton had come to the house and
had beaten his wife twice and his
daughter once.
On other occasions, he broke
the locks off the door of the
nome and removed pictures OF
himself from the family album,
Mrs. Beach added.
At one time, following issuance
of warrant against him, Elze
promised not to bother his wife
further, according to police.
At about 4:30 pm. yesterday
the Beachs were in the living
room with Mrs. Elze, while the
baby was playing in tin tub OF
water in the yard in front of the
house. Elze pulled handful OF
bullets from his pocket and
loaded the, gun, Mr.. Beach de-
clared
Then he quoted Elze as saying
I'm here to do what I said I'd
do last night. See, I've got what
I want"
Elze chased his wife into an
other room, police were told
meanwhile brushing off the
daughter who had attempted to
grab him. AS Mrs. Elze reached
a rear door, she apparently turned
and Elze fired on her. Elze ran
out of the front door with Mrs
Beach chasing him and, as he
approached the baby, Mrs. Beach
said he threatened to kill the
child.
Police said they found a nearly
empty half-pint bottle Of whisky