Crime
Montana State Prison Riot Begins at Deer Lodge, 1959
Deer Lodge, Powell County
On the afternoon of April 16, 1959, inmates Jerry Myles and Lee Smart touched off the bloodiest uprising in Montana State Prison history. Within minutes they and accomplices seized rifles, took guards hostage, and locked down cellhouses at Deer Lodge.
Deputy Warden Ted Rothe was killed as the riot spread. Warden Floyd Powell was lured inside and briefly held. For roughly thirty-six hours the old prison belonged to the inmates while Deer Lodge and the state waited for a resolution.
National Guard troops stormed the walls in the early hours of April 18. Myles and Smart died in a murder-suicide rather than surrender. The riot exposed overcrowding and decay that would eventually push Montana toward a new prison.
Frequently asked questions
What happened on April 16 in Montana history?
Montana State Prison Riot Begins at Deer Lodge, 1959. On the afternoon of April 16, 1959, inmates Jerry Myles and Lee Smart touched off the bloodiest uprising in Montana State Prison history. Within minutes they and accomplices seized rifles, took guards hostage, and locked down cellhouses at Deer Lodge.
Where did this take place?
This April 16 event is associated with Deer Lodge, Powell County.
When did this event happen?
It took place in 1959, on April 16.
Why does this day matter in Montana history?
National Guard troops stormed the walls in the early hours of April 18. Myles and Smart died in a murder-suicide rather than surrender. The riot exposed overcrowding and decay that would eventually push Montana toward a new prison.
Topics: Montana State Prison · prison riot · Jerry Myles · Lee Smart · Deer Lodge