John and Sarah Makin

John and Sarah Makin
John and Sarah Makin
	John and Sarah Makin, prisoner photographs (December 1892)
Born	John Sidney Makin; 14 February 1845; Dapto, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia; ; Sarah Jane Makin; 20 December 1845; Sydney, New South Wales, Australia;
Died	John; 15 August 1893 (aged 48) Darlinghurst Gaol, NSW; Sarah; 13 September 1918 (aged 72) Sydney, NSW;
Cause of death	John; Execution by hanging
Occupations	John; Drayman; ; Sarah; Midwife;
Known for	Baby farmers who murdered adopted infants
Children	5 sons, 5 daughters
Parents	William Samuel and Ellen Selena Bolton Makin (John); ; Emanuel and Ellen Murphy Sutcliffe (Sarah);
Conviction	Murder
Criminal penalty	John; Death; ; Sarah; Death; commuted to life imprisonment;
Details
Victims	15 infant bodies found
Span of crimes	November 1891 – June 1892 (roughly)
Locations	Macdonaldtown (now Erskineville), Sydney; 7 infant bodies found at Burren Street; ; Redfern, Sydney; 1 infant body found at Zamia Street ; 4 infant bodies found at George Street; 1 infant body found at Alderson Street; Chippendale, Sydney; 2 infant bodies found at Levey Street;
Target	Infants
Date apprehended	1892
Imprisoned at	John; Darlinghurst Gaol (prior to execution); ; Sarah; Darlinghurst Gaol, Bathurst Gaol & Long Bay Gaol;

John Sidney Makin (14 February 1845 – 15 August 1893) and Sarah Jane Makin (20 December 1845 – 13 September 1918) were Australian 'baby farmers' who were convicted in New South Wales for the murder of infant Horace Murray. The couple answered a series of advertisements from unmarried mothers seeking adoption of their babies, taking on the care of the infants on payment of a "premium". The remains of fifteen infants were found by police buried in the yards of houses where the Makins had resided. The exact cause of death was not determined but due to the bloodstains on the infants's clothing It's believed they had been stabbed in the heart with a large needle, hence the name "Hatpin Murders".

The couple were tried and found guilty in March 1893 and both were sentenced to death, though Sarah Makin's sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. After an unsuccessful appeal, which was confirmed by the Privy Council in Britain, John Makin was hanged on 15 August 1893. Sarah Makin served her sentence at Bathurst and Sydney. After eighteen-and-a-half years she was released in April 1911 when her daughters petitioned for her early release.

John and Sarah Makin
John and Sarah Makin, prisoner photographs (December 1892)
Born	John Sidney Makin (1845-02-14)14 February 1845 Dapto, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia Sarah Jane Makin (1845-12-20)20 December 1845 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Died	John 15 August 1893(1893-08-15) (aged 48) Darlinghurst Gaol, NSW Sarah 13 September 1918(1918-09-13) (aged 72) Sydney, NSW
Cause of death	John Execution by hanging
Occupations	John Drayman Sarah Midwife
Known for	Baby farmers who murdered adopted infants
Children	5 sons, 5 daughters
Parents	William Samuel and Ellen Selena Bolton Makin (John) Emanuel and Ellen Murphy Sutcliffe (Sarah)

Conviction	Murder
Criminal penalty	John Death Sarah Death; commuted to life imprisonment
Details
Victims	15 infant bodies found
Span of crimes	November 1891 – June 1892 (roughly)
Locations	Macdonaldtown (now Erskineville), Sydney 7 infant bodies found at Burren Street Redfern, Sydney 1 infant body found at Zamia Street 4 infant bodies found at George Street 1 infant body found at Alderson Street Chippendale, Sydney 2 infant bodies found at Levey Street
Target	Infants
Date apprehended	1892
Imprisoned at	John Darlinghurst Gaol (prior to execution) Sarah Darlinghurst Gaol, Bathurst Gaol & Long Bay Gaol