Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-03
Sons of Suicide Mother
Renounce Their Father

Two teen-age boys renowned
their father, Frank E. Gasch, 40,
Of Bladensburg, in Prince Georges
County Circuit Court yesterday
during a hearing to determine
the best home for themselves. a
brother and sister.
The Gasch boys, Frank. jr.,
IS, and Elroy, II, recounted for
Judge j. Dudley Digges expert
ences of beatings dealt by their
father to both themselves and
their now deceased mother. They
also told of rendezvous the ia
ther had with another woman
following his arrangement from
his wife last winter.
Mr.. Gasch, a Bladensburg
heating contractor. is seeking
custody of his two youngest
children, Gordon Lee. 8, and
Joan Ellen. 5. adopted about
four years ago. His wife. Mrs.
Nellie c. Gasch, 81, killed herself
with a shotgun on July "a at
the family's summer home at
Colton's Point, st. Marys Coun-
ty, Md.
Defeated at Polls
Mr.. Gasch, Republican. lost
an election last fall to become
county register of wills. In May,
he lost by six votes his bid to
be mayor of Bladensburg.
Relatives of the family also
have petitioned the court for
custody of the children. Mrs
Leroy Ritenour, of Hollywood,
Fla, sister of the dead woman,
and her husband want the two
younger children. Mr.. and Mrs,
Andrew F. Crawford, Of 1l47
Forty-fifth place Sc, parents
of the late Mrs. Gasch. have
asked for the two other boys
All are staying at the Crawford
home.
Both the Ritenours and Gran
fords have stated they will take
all four children if the court
wishes.
In addition to the boys
testimony, yesterdays all-day
session consisted of a parade OF
witnesses-relatives or friends OF
the Cranfords and Ritenours, in.
GLIDING Mr.. Gasch's brother
who disparaged the fathers
ability to rear the youngsters
MIR. Gasch will have chance te
testify at Fridays session.
Frank echoed his brothers
distrust for his father when hi
told the court: IF he gets then
Gordon Lee and Joan ELEM
I'm going, too, because I want
to stand and watch over them.
Says Family Bullied
Both boys, emphatically de-
claring they want to live with
the Cranfords, said Mr.. Gasct
bullied and struck them anc
never seemed to show any per-
sonaL concern for individuals il
his family. He was more inter
ested in politics, they agreed
Elroy testified:
II told him, Politics will bt
the ruin of your family and al
he said was, IF that's the way
it has to be, it has to be-"
The two added that their ia.
ther always had provided gooc
furnishings for their home
which their mother kept in 6
very neat and tidy fashion al
4002 Forty-eighth street, Bla'
densburg. The boys gave hel
full credit for bringing them up
Several witnesses testified thai
Mr.. Gasch. when he was with
Joan Ellen, had always been very
loving and kind to her. Otheri
brought out that. while Mr.
Gasch drank considerably, h
could consume a large quantit!
OF alcohol without becoming
drunk.
Elroy said his father beat Mrs
Gasch and that his talk ant
swearing kept her in such ;
state of nerves that hospital
zation was necessary.
Commitment Sought
Mrs. Ritenour said the famil.
threatened to reveal Mr.. Gasch'
conduct to the newspapers jus
before the elections If he didn'
visit his wife in the hospital
He then consented to the visit
she added. ..
Additional testimony REVEALED
Mr.. Gasch reported he ha,
called on the States Attorney