Just before 6.30am on Sunday, 29th September 1895, the residents of Shakespeare Street in Padiham were awoken from their early morning slumber by the shouts of "murder!" coming from somewhere on the back streets.

Inside number 24, 41 year old Mary Ann Marsden was  making her way down from her bedroom, dazed and in some considerably  pain, and as she stumbled out onto the cobbled pathway, neighbours, who  had rushed out from their beds to see what the commotion was, froze in  fear at the sight that confronted them.

Covered in blood and holding a hatchet, Mary walked a few steps before  finally succumbing to the shock and obvious pain she was suffering from.

Mary and William Marsden had been married for around 18  years and apart from the last twelve months, where they had been living  together in a relatively happy fashion, they had been separated for the  previous ten years due to an argument attributed to Williams health.

At the age of 19, William suffered from a fall that left him with a  serious head injury which in turn, would lead to a life suffering from  severe depression as well as the odd violent outburst.  Attended by Dr.  Duerdan, he spent his early years living in Great Harwood where he would  eventually meet Mary and they would eventually go on to being married.

Unfortunately, after five years of marriage, Mary and William would  separate and William would go on to live with his sister in Great  Harwood before relocating to Padiham to live with Mr and Mrs Lingard,  partners of Jubilee Mill, where he was employed as a weaver.    Meanwhile, Mary had moved in with her mother, Catherine, who also lived in Padiham.

When Mrs. Lingard passed away several years later, Mary took William  back and both lived together at number 24 Shakespeare Street, only a few  minutes' walk from where he worked at nearby Jubilee Mill.

William was a quiet, inoffensive man and was much respected by all those  he came in contact with.  He was at one time a drummer for the  Salvation Army Brass Band, being one of the last to walk behind them  when participating in a procession.

On Thursday, 26th September 1895, William visited his sister in Great Harwood, but feeling unwell he told her his head was "like a lump of wood!" and that he could never remember things.  He would also tell her, "I would give £1,000 if my head was right."

Acting and sounding strange, as well as looking lost, his sister was  worried about his mental state of health but rather than try and seek  help, William left shortly after to make his way back home.

Prior to this visit, Mary, William and their only son, 16 years old Joseph spent a week in Blackpool on the advice of Dr. Grant, who had been treating William for melancholy for the past 3 weeks.  He thought a break would help William.

But unfortunately, on the 29th September, just one week after their  mini-break, things would take a terrible change for the worse.