Name/Title
Shrapnel bomb, 1934Entry/Object ID
2024.83.1Description
Acc. No. 24.83.1
Subject Category: Police; Neptune Beach
Date or Period: 1934
Object: Bomb
Description: A heavy bell or cone shaped metal object with flat bottom attached with 6 bolts, and a handle, with cables attached, and a chain with heavy metal nut filled with small pieces of metal. Appears to be home-grown, created from a warhead or similar shaped metal object, which has raised characters H-8187. Three old tags with typed text are attached.
Size: H: 11 inches (without handle); 14 inches with handle in upright position; diameter at base: 7 inches.
History of Object: Shrapnel bomb made by Frank Bennett, which he, despondent about being laid off and tired of being poor, intended to suicide-explode on Memorial Day, May 30, 1934, in front of the Neptune Beach entrance. The plans were averted by police officer William Pries.
The story about this bomb was put down in a report cataloged as number 77.10.1; a similar report was cataloged as number 99.479.1 and it was reported on in the Times Star of May 31.
Frank Bennett was sentenced to 5 years at San Quentin for carrying explosives, and endangering property and lives.
Donor is assumed based on first page of report cataloged as 77.10.1. Object has been in the museum collection but had not been given a catalog number.
Donated by: Julia Pries (assumed)
Donation date: 10/11/1956 (assumed)
Catalog Date: 11/15/2024
