The Bullet Hole In Butte’s Courthouse You Can Still See

Discovering Montana’s Hidden History

Since I wasn’t born or raised under the Big Sky, there are many Montana stories I don’t know.

This past weekend my father-in-law told me a story about Montana history that was pretty wild and can still be witnessed today.

Is Butte Montana’s Most Historic Town?

In my opinion Butte is the town with the most history in Montana. I don't know how to explain it, but the town just feels historic.

It was in Butte where this story took place, and the man at the center of it was John O’Leary.

John was an interesting man. He followed his parents across the country to Montana, and when they left for Los Angeles, that is, according to his friends, when his life went downhill.

The Life And Troubles Of John O’Leary

His parents left in 1922, and by 1924 John, who was also the manager of the Montana Cigar Shop at this time, was arrested for violation of prohibition laws.

John's life had seemed to become one never-ending setback, including gambling debts and his fiancee marrying another man.

Still, nothing prepared people for what John had in store for the members of the court on May 21, 1924.

The Wild Courtroom Incident of May 21, 1924

As the deputy clerk began to call his case to court, John stood up and pulled out two .32 caliber revolvers, pointed them at the 4 federal agents that John believed wronged him, and proceeded to miss every single shot he took.

The only person to get shot was O'Leary himself, but there is a dispute to this day whether he shot himself or was shot by federal agents.

O'Leary survived that gunshot and lived until 1969, almost 45 years after he put a bullet hole in the wall of the courthouse, which can still be seen in the wall today.

Source: Montana Standard