48 year old John Makin and his wife, Sarah Jane, also 48, were baby farmers in and around Sydney, Australia. In all the police found the remains of fifteen infants in the various places that the Makin’s had lived at between 1888 and 1892.
The Makin’s came to trial at the Central Criminal Court on the 6th of March 1893, before Mr. Justice Stephen. They were charged with having, on the 29th of June 1892 at Redfern, "feloniously and maliciously" murdering Horace Amber Murray. Horace was the infant son of 18 year old Amber Murray and had been born on the 30th of May 1892.
On the 24th of June she placed an advert in the Sydney Morning Herald, offering the child for adoption in return for “a small premium”. She paid the Makin’s £3 to adopt Horace. Both John and Sarah were convicted and sentenced to death. The jury made a recommendation to mercy in respect of Sarah.
Their appeals were heard on the 23rd of March before the Supreme Court, consisting of Justices Windeyer, Innes and Foster and were dismissed. They were permitted to appeal to the Privy Council in London who dismissed the appeal by cable on the 21st of July.
Sarah was reprieved on the 11th of April and her sentence commuted to life in prison. She would remain in several prisons until release on licence on the 29th of April 1911 into the care of her daughter, Florence Anderson and her husband. Sarah died on the 13th of September 1918.
John’s execution had been delayed due to the appeal to the Privy Council and was now set for 9.00 a.m. on Tuesday the 15th of August 1893 at Darlinghurst Gaol. He was hanged by Howard on that morning in the presence of the Sheriff, Mr. Cowper, and Cannon Rich who had ministered to him.
Death was reportedly instantaneous. The previous day Makin wrote a letter declaring his and Sarah’s innocence to little Horace’s murder which was published in the press.

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