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John and Sarah MakinAustralian 'killers'
Country:
 Australia |
Content:
John and Sarah Makin
John Makin (14.02.1845 – 15.08.1893) and Sarah Jane Makin (20.12.1845 – 13.09.1918) were Australian 'baby farmers' who were convicted for the murder of the infant Horace Murray. They both stood trial, were found guilty, and sentenced to death in March 1893.
Biography
Sarah Jane Satcliffe was born into the family of a miller and former prisoner, Emanuel Sutcliffe, and his wife Ellen Murphy. Sarah's first husband was a sailor named Charles Edwards, but their marriage only lasted six years. She later married John Makin, a driver for a local brewery. John and Sarah had five sons and five daughters, and they managed their children quite well. However, the family needed additional income as John was unable to provide for them after a serious injury. That's why they turned to 'baby farming'. Baby farming was a profession that was quite popular during the Victorian era. At that time, having children out of wedlock was considered a grave sin, and in some cases, even legitimate children became too burdensome for their parents. It was during these moments that parents would seek out baby farmers, who would take full responsibility for caring for the children in exchange for a monthly fee.
In 1892, 18-year-old Amber Murray began searching for an adoptive mother for her young son through the 'Sydney Morning Herald' newspaper because she was unable to care for him herself. The Makins volunteered to help Murray for a weekly fee of 10 shillings, and one of their daughters took an advance payment of 3 pounds from Murray and the child. Murray faithfully paid the agreed amount for some time, but eventually, John Makin began refusing her visits with the child, giving clearly fabricated excuses. In the end, Murray decided to visit the family herself, but they had already moved to another town. She never saw her son Horace alive again.
The police became interested in the Makins on October 11, 1892, when laborer James Hanoney was called to unclog a blocked drain in one of the houses on Burren Street. To his horror, James discovered that the drain was clogged with the remains of two infants. The investigation led detectives to the Makins, who had once again moved. Sarah, John, and four of their daughters were arrested, although only the senior Makins were formally charged.
The police continued to search homes where the Makins had lived, and the remains of children were found in the backyards of 11 of these houses. In total, detectives discovered the bodies of 12 (according to other sources, 13) infants. Amber Murray recognized the clothing of one of the victims, leaving no doubt that it was her son, Horace. As horrifying as it may sound, such crimes were quite typical for that time, as many baby farmers eventually decided that their business would be much more profitable without the hassle of dealing with children.
In March 1893, the Makins stood trial, and among the prosecution's witnesses were their own daughters. Sarah and John were sentenced to death by hanging. John Makin was executed on August 15, 1893, while Sarah's sentence was commuted to life imprisonment in Long Bay, a maximum-security prison. In 1911, Sarah was released on parole after a public campaign led by her children, and the Makin clan never came to the attention of the police again. Following the case of Sarah and John Makin, the authorities deemed it necessary to strengthen the control over baby farmers, leading to the passing of a special Child Protection Act in 1892.
