An inmate killed himself using a deck of playing cards

William Kogut was awaiting execution in a California prison when on October 20th 1930 he committed suicide in one of the most ingenious ways. Kogut was serving a sentence for the murder he had committed several years earlier, and supposedly felt great remorse for the crime. 

He believed he needed to punish himself to atone for his crimes. He didn't want to leave his punishment up to the state. Kogut tore apart red playing cards, which were said to have contained fairly volatile ink, and stuffed them into the metal leg he had torn off of his bed. 

After plugging one end with a broom handle, he poured water into the other end to soak the torn cards. Kogut placed his homemade pipe bomb on top of the kerosene heater next to his head. 

The heater turned the water into steam, and when the pressure was high enough, the bomb exploded. The explosion was so intense, bits of cards even penetrated Kogut's skull.  This has to be one of the most bizarre ways of suicide ever.

(Source)