From the Dover Telegraph and Cinque Ports General Advertiser, Saturday 22 June, 1839. Price 5d

CORONERS INQUEST

An inquest was held, on Monday, at the "Sailor's Return," before Matthew Kennett, Esq. in the absence of the Coroner, on the body of Thomas Swinnock, aged 26, who was unfortunately drowned while bathing neat Shakespeare's Cliff the previous morning. Mr. M. Husband being appointed foreman of the jury, they proceeded to view the body.

From the evidence of Emilien Fehrenback, it appeared that between 7 and 8 o'clock he had accompanied the deceased to bathe, who, shortly after entering the water, appeared to be seized with cramp, and called for help. Witness then ran for assistance, ad procured a plank; but could not reach the deceased, whose head was then above the water.

William Symonds was on the railway at the time stated; and hearing his cries, went down and launched a punt, when he found there were no thowles on board. He saw the pilot cutter's boat approaching, which reached the deceased before him, and brought the body on shore.

Richard Beal, surgeon, was called out about half-past 7 o'clock on Sunday morning. He had the body brought to the house, where he used every exertion to restore animation without effect.

Verdict - "Accidentally drowned while bathing."

From the Dover Telegraph and Cinque Ports General Advertiser, Saturday 13 April, 1850. Price 5d

DOVER POLICE COURT

Isaac Clements, landlord of the "Sailor's Return," was summoned on a charge of keeping disorderly persons in his house. Mr. Tapley, who appeared for the defendant, applied that the summons might be set aside, on the ground that it had not been personally served; but as defendant was himself present, the objection was over-ruled by the Bench. A second objection, that the summons itself was informal, was raised by Mr. Tapley, who contended that the charge ought to have been laid out in the specific terms of the Act. This also being over-ruled by the Bench, the case was proceeded with by the examination of John Brindlow, who had lived as servant with defendant, and who detailed the particulars constituting the charge. At the close, the Court was cleared and on our readmission the charge was declared not sustained, the Bench, by giving defendant the benefit of a doubt (there being two for, and two against, a conviction,) considering that the evidence of Brindlow, who was released at the Sessions the other day on a charge of felony, was not sufficiently satisfactory without confirmation by other witnesses.