William Kogut

In 1930, William Kogut, an inmate of San Quentin State Prison, committed suicide by a self-made pipe bomb filled with torn bits of playing cards. Kogut made the pipe from a hollow steel leg from his bed and filled it with torn cards and water. The pipe was then put on the heater in his room and Kogut placed his head nearby. The buildup of steam pressure ruptured the pipe, shooting the card bits with enough force to penetrate Kogut's skull.