Presentation Gavel made from wood of "Old Ironsides"

 This presentation Gavel is made from the material from the original hull of the US Frigate Constitution that was retrieved during the 1929 rebuild.

Length 9.5”, Width 3.5”, Diameter of head 1.75”.  Material, Oak with Brass Plaque.

Inscription:

“This material was removed from

The original hull of

“OLD IRONSIDES”

US FRIGATE CONSTITUTION

Launched 1797 Rebuilding 1929

Presented by

CLERK WILLIAM MICHAEL PRENDIBLE”

William Michael Prendible

Birth   10 Sep 1893 - Boston, Massachusetts

Death About 4 Aug 1960 - Hull, MA

Prendible was best known as the Court Clerk of Boston, MA who handled the evidence, including the cash, stolen in the famous Brinks Robbery (1950) Trial of 1956. The presiding Judge in the case was Judge Felix Forte (1895-1975) of the Superior Court of Massachusetts, Boston district to whom the gavel was presented.

9/25/56-Boston, Massachusetts: Francis X. Orfanello (L), assistant court clerk, and clerk William M. Prendible (R) display $54,548 in bills, which were entered as an exhibit in the trial of the Brink's thieves in Boston on 9/25/56. The bills were seized during a raid on a contracting firm's office and were found in the cooler, which is visible on the right.