CHAPTER 5

THE BABY FARMERS

Times were tough for single mothers around the turn of the 19th century: society looked down on any woman who had a baby out of wedlock, contraception was unreliable, and abortions were illegal and highly dangerous, even if you did know how to obtain one. As a result, ‘baby minding’ became big business.

This practice saw the infant child placed in the care of a minder for a weekly fee. The baby would generally be cared for by staff in the nursery of a large house, with the parent or parents being able to visit regularly. Once the child had grown to school age he or she would be returned to the parent and (usually) introduced as the niece or nephew of a dead relative. This way both the child and parent avoided the stigma placed on them by society.

But while most baby-minding centres were honest and provided reliable care and attention for the children placed in their charge, there were inevitably cases of unscrupulous people cashing in on the misfortune of others. Some centres sold babies to desperate childless couples, others took the mothers’ money – handed over in good faith in the belief that it was going towards food, care and medical bills – and then let the infants live in squalid conditions. More often than not, these children would die from starvation or disease. The heartless murderers of these tiny innocents became known as ‘baby farmers’.

In 1893, there were more than 60 official inquests for babies who had either been found dead and abandoned or died through neglect. More than 20 of those cases were treated as murders, but those responsible had usually moved on, leaving no trace. Many more infants had gone missing, presumed sold.

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One of Australia’s most shocking baby farmer cases came to light on 11 October 1892, when a local drainer, James Hanoney, was digging in the soft dirt of a backyard in the Sydney suburb of Macdonaldtown, not far from the city centre.

About two metres down he found the cause of the blocked drain – two bundles of foul-smelling baby clothing. James removed the material and was horrified to find the decomposing remains of two babies. He called authorities immediately, and they uncovered the remains of five other infants in the yard.

Detectives used tenancy records to find another dwelling of the cottage’s previous tenants, 50-year-old John Makin and his 47-year-old wife Sarah. This house was in nearby Redfern. The remains of more babies were found there.

Police tracked the Makins to their latest home in Chippendale, where they found more infant corpses buried in their yard. This bought their tally to 12. The entire family – John, Sarah and their four daughters, Florence, 17, Clarice, 16, Blanche, 14, and Daisy, 11 – were arrested. John and Sarah Makin were charged with murder. The nation was, understandably, appalled.

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At the Makins’ trial, the Sydney Supreme Court heard that the family were professional childminders who cared for children for a weekly fee until the mothers were in a position to reclaim their offspring, or suitable parents were found to adopt the children. It was also said that, in some cases, the Makins made it possible for the mother to continue visiting her child after it was placed with new parents.

The prosecution said that these claims, while fine in theory, were incorrect. The Makins, they said, used deception to stop the mothers seeing their children, all the while collecting money from them every week. The first witness called was Amber Murray. In March 1892, Amber, 18 years old at the time, gave birth to an illegitimate son she named Horace.

Finding herself in no position to care for the infant, she placed an ad in the Sydney Morning Herald seeking a loving mother to adopt her baby. She added that she was willing to pay a weekly fee for the child’s support.

It wasn’t long before she received a reply from the Makins, at that time living in Redfern, saying they’d care for Horace for 10 shillings a week. Amber called on the family the next day. She met John and Sarah and two of their daughters. The four Makins all claimed to fall in love with Horace instantly.

They said they couldn’t wait to have little Horace live with them, and intended to give him much love and support. They also told Amber that they had lost a young son of their own. The Makins explained away the five or six other babies in the house at the time by saying they were looking after them for friends.

After agreeing to the 10 shillings a week fee, Amber left, with the Makins’ agreement that she could visit Horace. That was the last time she ever saw her child alive. John Makin made sure he called upon Amber each week to collect the 10 shillings, but every time she asked to see her son she was given another excuse.

John Makin eventually told Amber his family was moving from Redfern to the south-western suburb of Hurstville. He said he would forward her their new address in around six weeks. Meanwhile, he continued to call and collect his weekly fee.

Instead of Hurstville, however, the Makins relocated to nearby Macdonaldtown, where they moved in under the cover of night. Their daughter Clarice would later tell the court that there was no sign of young Horace during the move. The child had already been murdered, but John still collected the weekly 10 shillings. Before long they moved again, this time to the house in Chippendale.

At the trial, Amber Murray and three other mothers identified clothing that Sarah Makin had pawned as belonging to their babies. Yet another couple claimed they had given the Makins a substantial up-front payment and agreed on the 10 shillings weekly fee for caring for their child until they could sort out their affairs. But within days they were told their baby had died. They then handed the Makins two pounds to go towards a funeral – which they didn’t attend.

When questioned, Sarah and John Makin were no match for the prosecution. Although they constantly denied that they’d murdered the 12 babies, their own children eventually turned against them. Clarice Makin identified clothing found on one of the dead infants as something that she had seen in her mother’s possession. Daisy Makin testified that only two baby girls were with the family for the move from Redfern to Macdonaldtown.

There was little doubt in the court. Mr Justice Stephen sentenced John and Sarah Makin to death by hanging. John Makin held his wife as she collapsed. None of the Makin children had a conviction recorded against them.

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After two appeals, John Makin was hanged in Darlinghurst Prison. Sarah Makin won a reprieve and was sentenced to life in prison with hard labour. She was released in 1911 after serving 19 years and was never heard of again.