Mock-up cigar box mail bomb

In 1936 Thomas Maloney of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and his son were killed after opening a mail bomb that had been placed in a cigar box. Inspectors traced the remnants of the bomb’s address to a local man, Michael Fuggman. Inspectors determined that the bombings resulted from local union disputes concerning protest activities over conditions at an anthracite mine.

Postal inspectors used this mocked-up version of the device to alert local postmasters to be on guard for similar packages, and to train new inspectors on the characteristics of mail bombs.

Museum ID: 2013.2011.154