LEAD BELT NEWS, Flat River, St. Francois Co. MO,
July 13, 1917

INMATE OF ASYLUM VISITED FLAT RIVER SUNDAY AFTERNOON

Mr. and Mrs. James Melka entertained for a short time
a rather unusual guest Sunday evening in the person of Gus Bowling,
an inmate of the Farmington asylum. Gus is a native of Ste.
Genevieve county and is known to many people in Flat River. He had
escaped from the institution. Mrs. Melka saw him passing the house,
and from his peculiar actions she suspected that he had probably
escaped from some asylum. Mr. Melka was absent at the time but
returned a few minutes after Gus had passed. Mrs. Melka told him of
the man’s actions and he went in search of him. On the way he met
Tom Dempsey and Riley Fraser. They recognized Gus and entertained
him while Mr. Melka called up Dr. Long at the asylum and told him
that Gus was in Flat River.  While waiting for the attendants
from the asylum to arrive the men took Gus to the Melka home and
gave him his supper. He said he had nothing to eat for two days and
ate ravenously. He said he had been to Claytown and
Leadwood in search of his brother, but could not find him.

When the attendants arrived they greeted Gus jovially and asked him
if he had been on a holiday. Gus did not object to the return trip
to the asylum via automobile.