Morpeth Moments

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Sarah Keep and Mary Ann Burton were severely charged for that they, on the 27th day of November, 1883 did murder one William Henry Keep by poisoning. This episode continues with the court case and the depositions of various witnesses. It also has information of what follows after their sentence in April, 1885 and some details of what happened to them. Felons of the most notorious kind. The image shown is so astounding. These two men were buried together. They had not even known each other.

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I found this story by accident. I initially looked at the case where a woman, Mrs Mary Ann Burton and her step-granddaughter, Sarah Louisa Keep, poisoned the younger woman's husband William Henry Keep. While researching this story and as I turned the pages and looked at further newspaper reports, I was left aghast. It was hard to believe that these two so called respected members of the community, weren't found out sooner. Their lives inside the home must have been an unusual one. Hope you enjoy this story as much as I have enjoyed doing the research. The image I have used for this episode was the last bit of info I'd found . . . . .unbelievable. Please check out the Gaol images in the Morpeth Moments Facebook group.
References:
Trove: https://trove.nla.gov.au
Lone Harvest: By Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses.by/3.0/
Soundbible.com – free sound effects. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
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Facebook Group – Morpeth Moments (private group – please ask to join for comments and conversation)
Sarah Keep – Gaol image - https://records-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/fulldisplay?context=L&vid=61SRA&lang=en_US&docid=INDEX315459
Mary Ann Burton- Gaol image - https://records-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/fulldisplay?context=L&vid=61SRA&lang=en_US&docid=INDEX315442

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A partnership that that refused to be broken - In the early 1840's there lived at Mulberry Creek, near Maitland, on the farm of Thomas Cutt's, with his family - three other people - John Thornton, Mary his wife, and Joseph Vale. The crime of Joseph Vale and Mary Thornton was of a most heinous description and fully entitles them to receive that measure of punishment, which by the sentence of the Court, they were directed to undergo. Vale, after he and the woman had been tried and convicted, admitted to their crime. Vale had thought to put an end to having to share either wheat or wife with Thornton, to end the partnership by a foul deed. The share farmers still continued their sharing. For Vale had to share with Thornton in death. The partnership had refused to be broken.
Trove: https//trove.nla.gov.au
Lone Harvest & Long Road Ahead: by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0SoundBible.com - free sound effects. Licensed and Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
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Situated about midway between Maitland and Singleton (not to be too precise as to locality), on the Main Northern Road, Bamboo Gully opens its gloomy mouth to the traveller's view - black and dismal blotch on the surrounding land, and a spot that is shunned even in the broad light of day by those who know, from local tradition, the horrors that haunt its gloomy shades. Back on Christmas Eve in the year 1846, a group of three men is gathered round a vehicle which lies on its side in a ditch in which a catastrophe has just occurred. They are destined to stay the night until they can repair the trap the next morning.
Trove newspapers: https:trove.nla.gov.au
Email: [email protected]
Lone Harvest: By Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons. By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
Soundbible.com - free sound effects

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John Tawell was a successful and enterprising man. At the age of 61, Tawell and his second wife Sarah Cutworth, both took part in a superficial 'Quaker lifestyle', in which they were often seen a around the area where they lived at Berkamsted, wearing Quaker clothes and conversing in the Quaker way. Tawell believed himself to be so honourable, he thought himself above the law. But of course he was not above the law. He was convinced that his prior status as a Quaker, possibly saved him from the hangman's noose when he was a young man. 27 years later, he would go to the gallows to hang for the murder, by poisoning his secret mistress, 30 year old Sarah Hart.

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Henry Wilson was indicted, for that he did on 9th April 1863, at Warland's Range, feloniously and willfully kill and murder one Peter Clarke. Wilson had begun his bush-ranging career. Who was he? He was hung at Maitland goal for his crime.
Trove online newspapers: https://trove.nla.gov.au
Lone Harvest & Long Road Ahead: By Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0YouTube Audio Library
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This story is a tragic one, involving two very respectable families, where the patriarchs worked hard to provide for a better life and lay the foundations for their descendants to prosper and be happy.It involves Alfred Johnson Pettit's and Arthur Grimley's family history, and the murder of Annie Pettit and suicide of Charles Grimley at Morpeth, NSW in 1882.
References:Trove newspapers - https://trove.nla.gov.au
Music:Lone Harvest - by Kevin Macleod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecomms.org/licences/by/3.0/Requiem in Cello by Hanu Dexithttps://www.youtube.com.audiolibrary/music?feature
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This is the second part of the story of Henry Bishop Butler and his son Oswald Henry, who were committed for trial at the Circuit Court Maitland for the murder of Cecilia Butler, on 11July 1865. Henry Bishop Butler and John Anlaby, held the licence for a short while, for Morpeth Hotel in 1836.
Trove: https//trove.nla.gov.au
Lone Harvest & Darkest Child by Kevin McLeod: YouTube Audio Library - Licenced under Creative Commons By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
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This episode tells the story about Henry Bishop Butler and his son Oswald, who were committed for trial at the Circuit Court Maitland for the murder of Cecelia Butler, on 11th July 1865. Henry Bishop Butler held the licence for the Morpeth Hotel along with John Anlaby, for a short while in 1836.
Trove: https//trove.nla.gov.auLone Harvest & Folk Round by Kevin Macleod: YouTube audio Library - Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
[email protected] Morpeth Moments - group - Facebook

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In 1892, George Morton, aged 19 years, was charged with murdering his step-father Edwin Tricklebank at Morpeth on 10th October at the Central Criminal Court, Sydney - before his Honour Judge Murray and a jury.
Trove: https//trove.nla.gov.auMusic: Lone Harvest, Folk Round & Darkest Child by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licence http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/3.0/