Mexborough and Swinton Times August 10, 1928
Mexborough Tragedy
The Pitt Street Horror
Inquest Opened
Mr. Frank Allen on Saturday at the Mexborough Police Station opened and adjourned an inquest on Mary Marsden, aged ten, who as reported in our special edition last Friday was found decapitated in the bedroom which she usually occupied at her home, No. 3, Pitt Street, Mexborough.
Mary Marsden was the eldest of five young children of Harold Marsden, aged 37, a miner, of the address mentioned. Marsden was found sitting on the child’s bed bleeding profusely from a wound in the throat, and he is now lying in the Fullerton Hospital, Dena by Main. The police discovered in the bedroom a jagged razor which was apparently the instrument used.
Mary Marsden slept with her younger sister Edna, and according to accounts of the affair Edna narrowly escaped sharing her sister’s fate, being snatched up from the bed by her mother, who escaped with her from the house, the other three children being taken care of by the neighbours who entered the house on the alarm being given.
The inquest on the victim of the tragedy opened and adjourneed to an indefinite date. Mrs. Ada Marsden, the mother, who was very pale and had a bandage on her wrist, and Mrs. Luke Marsden, the grandmother, were the only witnesses called.. There was no jury.
Mrs. Ada Marsden said that her daughter Mary was 10 years old. Evidence of identification was given by the grandmother, Florence Marsden.
The coroner said that in the ordinary course of events it would be necessary for the attendance of a jury and witnesses, but by virtue of an Act of Parliament, passed in 1926, and when in possession of certain information (which he need not set out in the presence of those two ladies), he was required to adjourn the inquest sine die. There might, or there, might not, be further proceedings, and that depended entirely on what happened in another place. No’ date would be fixed for I he re-hearing.
Family’s Thanks.
Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Dykes, 16, Carlton, Terrace, Barnsley Road, South Kirkby, uncle and aunt of Mrs. Harold Marsden, write:
” On behalf of Mrs. Harold Marsden., of 3, Pitt Street, Mexborough, and all the family, we thank all who have rendered. assistance, or sent gifts and flowers, especially Mr. Reginald Atkinson for the promptitude and coolness with which he acted under most distressing circumstances in obtaining both medical assistance and protection, and for the care and kindness shown to Mrs. Marsden and her children since the sad occurrence, both by him and his dear mother. Also our best thanks are due to Mr. Ernest Robins for his kindness.”
Funeral of the Victim.
There were touching scenes at the funeral of Mary Marsden at the Mexboro’ Cemetery on Tuesday afternoon. Mary was a scholar at the United Methodist Church, Doncaster Road, and many of her school friends were present at the funeral, nearly all of them carrying flowers.
The scholars sang the hymn, “Jesus bids us shine,” outside the house, and the Rev. W. Simpson conducted a brief service in the church. The hymns were “Safely, safely gathered in” and “Rock of Ages.”
The cortege was led by the scholars, and representatives of the church and six boys of the Sunday school acted as bearers. At the graveside the little knot of mourners sang “Shall we gather at the river?”
Mrs. Marsden, the mother, was accompanied by Edna and Nora, the younger sisters, and other mourners included Mr. and Mrs. Luke Marsden (grandparents), Mr. and Mrs. John Marsden, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Marsden, Mr. Leslie Marsden, Mr. Gilbert Marsden, Mr. and_ Mrs. Torn Richardson, and Mr. and Mrs. C. Farmery (uncles and aunts).
We were informed yesterday that Harold Marsden (picture), who is in the Fullerton Hospital, is “progressing as well as can be expected.”
