Plummers were accusing him of assaulting both of their daughters while they were in his care. On 1 December 1859 he was tried at the Old Bailey, convicted, and sentenced to four years hard labour. He was sent to Newgate Prison. Prosecution witnesses were Eugenia, Stephana and their mother, Caroline Plummer. There was some disquiet in the press regarding the justice of the conviction given the nature of the accusations, ‘too disgusting to print’, and significant discrepancies in the prosecution testimony given. Neither Hatch nor his wife had been allowed to give evidence, and his counsel, Serjeant William Ballantine, did not call any material witnesses. Henry's only chance of liberty was to apply for the Royal Pardon. Hatch's petition to The Queen contained his own evidence and that of members of his household, none of which had been heard in court. His supporters contacted the twelve members of the jury and showed them the petition. Eleven of the twelve then signed a declaration to the effect that had they seen Hatch's evidence during the trial, they would never have convicted him. While the Home Secretary, Sir George Cornewall Lewis, remained unconvinced, he did say that if Eugenia could be convicted of perjury, the petition would be reconsidered. Perjury Trial Hatch's supporters advertised for funds to bring an action against Eugenia, and raised around £700 from the public. Finally, on 15 May 1860, Mary Eugenia Plummer, now aged twelve, was put on trial at the Old Bailey for Wilful and Corrupt Perjury. After a five-day trial, Eugenia was found guilty and sentenced to three weeks in prison, followed by two years in a reform school. During the trial Caroline Plummer was seen to be intoxicated in the witness box, the Plummers’ doctor, John Gay, fainted under cross-examination and Eugenia's sister Stephana, now aged eight, claimed that Hatch had assaulted her while his wife looked on. A week after the trial ended, Hatch was released from Newgate, having spent 191 days in prison. Two weeks after that, Eugenia too was released under The Royal Pardon; she was to spend several years away from her family under the control of a strict governess, where it was intended that she should receive some religious and moral education. There was extensive coverage in the press, most commentators concluding that Caroline Plummer had coached Eugenia and Stephana in what to say. Nevertheless, a conspiracy between Mrs.