Sheriff Russell J. Sage

Russell J. Sage

Sheriff Sage was shot and killed and a deputy was seriously wounded by a demented prisoner as they entered his cell. The suspect had a pistol that officers failed to find when they incarcerated him the night before on a disturbance charge. The suspect escaped but was recaptured minutes later and charged with murder.

The suspect was found not guilty by reason of insanity on November 22, 1926. He died at the state mental hospital in Warm Springs on July 7, 1942.

Sheriff Sage had served as sheriff for 5 years and had previously served as a police officer for the Billings Police Department for 4 years.