Suman, Alonzo Leroy

The lives of many Picher Oklahoma's Whitebird school children were endangered and four vehicles badly damaged by a former mental hospital patient who raced wildly up and down Connell avenue with his hand on his automobile horn here today. Taken into custody when a 1947 Chrysler sedan crashed into a high line pole after causing damage to three other vehicles was Alonzo Leroy Suman, 50 years old Picher man. Slightly injured, he was taken to Picher hospital for treatment and observation. There were no other injuries in the incident which terminated at 8:10 am. Trooper Bert George of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol said Suman started his wild ride at about 8 o'clock in a car he purchased four days ago. Suman, who was released from a mental hospital in Topeka Kansas, about a year ago, startled the shopping district when he raced south on Connell at a high rate of speed while children were crossing the Street on their way to school. The officer said the motorist caused the youngsters "to scatter like a covey of quails" to avoid being hit. Before his car stopped, Suman crashed into a 1950 Studebaker sedan, driven by Mrs. Helen Marie Board, 34, of 119 North Ella Street, Picher, causing the latter car to hit a 1941 Studebaker coach, with Clarence E. Bergen, 58, of 322 South Emily Street, Picher, at the wheel. Mrs. Board's car then caromed off Bergen's automobile and rammed an eight passenger 1950 Plymouth bus. The driver, John Paul Moudy, 714 J Street northwest, Miami, was the only person aboard the bus. Meanwhile, Suman's car left the Street and crashed into a high line pole. A young girl, who was riding with Mrs. Board, was not hurt. Damage to Suman's car was estimated at $900; Mrs. Board's Studebaker, $200; Bergen's car, $300, and $200 to the bus. Stopped by Police Chief Gene Crockett in the middle of his wild ride, Suman permitted the officer to remove the keys from his car's ignition. Then, while the officer was trying to entice him out of the car, Suman slyly fitted a second key in the ignition, started his Chrysler, and, before Crockett could stop him, headed north toward the Kansas line with the "horn wide open." Crockett immediately gave chase and a few minutes later he passed Suman who had turned around and was speeding back south on Connell avenue. the chase soon ended in a four-car crash. Trooper George quoted Suman as saying that he thought he was driving an ambulance. The officer said arrangements are being made to return Suman to the mental institution at Topeka.

Alonzo Roy Suman, a resident of the Picher area since 1919, died Sunday night at the Veterans hospital, Muskogee Oklahoma, where he had been a patient since Nov 10th. He was 67 years old. Suman was employed as a mill worker by the Eagle-Picher Company until his retirement four years ago. He was a veteran of World War I and a member of the Picher Sprigg-Hance American Legion post. Suman is survived by his wife, Ruby Suman, Baxter Springs Kansas Route 3; two sons, Alonzo Soupy' Suman, Jr., of Picher, and Robert Suman, Baxter Springs Route 3; three daughters, Mrs. Betty Wilson and Mrs. Dorothy Williams of Picher and Miss Peggy Suman, Baxter Springs Route 3; a brother, George Suman, Picher; a sister, Mrs. Jessie Terrell of Tulsa Oklahoma and six grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 pm Wednesday in the chapel of the Thomas mortuary at Picher with Jim Kelly officiating. Picher Legionnaires and a Ft. Crowder unit will conduct military rites at the grave side in G.A.R. cemetery at Miami.