From the Dover Express, 6 March 1970

CRASH, down comes another part of old Dover as demolition' men move in on Ferry House, former headquarters or the R.A.C. in Dover on the corner of The Viaduct and Clarence Place; Part of the block and the first section to come down, was once The King's Head, said to have been built in the reign of James I. In an upper room, there was once found a carved panel dated 1624 and bearing the initials of the original landlord and his wife, William and Ann Bradshaw.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 20 November, 1858.

ALLEGED ASSAULT. Robert Snell v. Algernon Austen.

This was a case of assault, in which the complainant was a touter at the "King's head Hotel," and the defendant one of the porters in the Royal and Imperial Mail Packet Service. A quarrel out of which the alleged assault arose had, it appeared, taken place between the parties on the night of the 11th inst., just after the Calais packet had left the Admiralty pier.

The complainant, whose right eye exhibited a sadly bruised and discoloured appearance, said that he conducted a gentleman to the Calais boat on the night in question, and that on the way the gentleman put a question to him with reference to his baggage, which he answered. He asked whether his baggage would be safe, and he (witness) replied that it would. After the boat had left the pier, and he was returning home, the defendant came up to him and asked him what he had to do with the baggage, and telling him to  mind his own business. Some few other words passed, and the defendant then, without any provocation from him (complainant), knocked him down with a violent blow in the eye, and kicked him upon the hip. He was rendered completely blind at that eye by the blow, and was obliged to have it lanced by Mr. Coleman before he could see.

On being closely questioned by the Bench, the complainant admitted that he was in the act of taking off his coat "to stand in his own defence," when the defendant struck him the blow which left te ugly appearance his face then exhibited.

The Mayor said he was unable to see that it was necessary to take off one's coat in order to stand in self-defence, but the defendant appeared to be decidedly of the opposite opinion, and his worship did not pursue the objection.

The complainant, in reply to the Magistrates' Clerk, said he had no witnesses but his bruises. (Laughter).

The defendant, who was then called upon to make his statement, gave quite a different version of the affair. The complainant, he said, endeavoured to exasperate him with his tongue; and finding that of no avail, he tapped him (defendant) upon the nose two or three times, calling him a "sweep" and a "thing," and by various other opprobrious epithets. He then took off his coat and wanted to fight, but defendant advised him to put it on again "as he might take cold." (Laughter). Complainant, however, continued his annoyance in the way already stated, and ultimately struck him (defendant) a blow upon the side of the face. He then retaliated, and knocked the complainant down.

This statement was borne out by two witnesses; and the Bench, after hearing their evidence, dismissed the case.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 17 December, 1859.

An Old Offender.

James Buckley, a tall raw boned Irish vagrant, wearing a tight fitting shooting jacket and an old foraging cap, and looking a very interesting type of the “old soldier” was brought up for the third or fourth time charged with begging and using obscene language at the Kings Head Hotel, Clarence Place. The prisoner had previously been committed in the name of Berkley.

Edward Killick, a waiter at the "King's head" said that the defendant entered the hotel about 7 o’clock on Saturday evening demanding “nine-pence for a nights lodging." Witness refused to entertain the application and told the defendant to walk out of the house when he commenced using very obscene and abusive language which he maintained for about ten minutes, during which he remained in the hall of the hotel. At the expiration of that he was given into custody.

The defendant in reply to the charge denied that he had ever asked the waiter for anything. He went to the hotel because he had met with a military gentlemen who had taken compassion on him as an old and disabled soldier and had told him to come to him at the "King’s Head" for the price of a dinner and a bed and his fare to Folkestone, the roads being bad at this time of the year as to make walking without shoes very uncomfortable. Before he could tell the waiter what he wanted however he was pushed away from the door and treated like a dog.

It appeared in reply to questions from the magistrates that the defendant provided with a new pair of shoes on quitting the gaol, where he had left behind his old ones. According to the defendant’s own account his old shoes had been "taken away from him" and a pair given to him in which he could not walk (his feet coming on to swell after he left the gaol) and so - he sold them.

The Mayor said the prisoner was evidently an incorrigible vagabond. He had already been committed two or three times for a short term of imprisonment; but as these punishments appeared to have no effect on him he would now be kept to hard labour for a month.

As the prisoner was leaving the dock Mr. Latham informed him that he would doubtless find his old shoes still in the gaol, they appeared to be better adapted for walking than the new ones, he hoped he would make use of them and walk off as soon as they were given him. (Laughter).

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 14 August, 1896.

DETERMINED SUICIDE OF A GENTLEMAN

On Saturday morning, a gentlemen staying at the “King’s Head Hotel,” committed suicide in a determined manner, by shooting himself through the body with a revolver. The gentleman passed under the name of Mr. G. Kenlock Smyth, and is a relative of Sir John Kenlock, M.P. That gentleman was present at the “Hotel de Paris” on Monday morning when the inquest was held, and his name was down on the witness list, but he was not called. Mr. J. R. Adams was foreman of the Jury. The following was the evidence:-

Lewis Bilton, a lawyer, of Edinburgh, said: The body at the mortuary is that of George Kenlock Smyth, an independent gentleman. He was 43 years of age. He usually resided in Belgium, at Heyst Sur Mer. He is a married man. I saw him three week’s ago at his mother’s in Scotland. He seemed fairly well, but was occasionally depressed in spirits. He had a very severe attack of influenza two or three years ago, and that told on him. He also suffered from his heart, and had fainting fits. He had no monitary or any other trouble so far as I am aware. The letter produced is in the deceased’s handwriting.

The letter was as follows:- MY DEAR MOTHER, I cannot help it; I feel I am going mad and my suffering and melancholy are un-durable. Wednesday I came here, the same night I went back to Ostend, and the same day I came back here. I am equally miserable in all three places. Forgive and pray for your unfortunate son George.

John Bromley, proprietor of the “King’s Head Hotel,” said: the deceased came to my house on Friday afternoon about 3.30. He was undecided whether to sleep in the hotel or not. About five o’clock he engaged a room. About nine o’clock he went to his room. A telegram came shortly before from Ostend, addressed to me, asking how Mr. Kenlock was. I did not know who he was then. I found him in the smoking room and talked to him for a few minutes. About 9.30 the next day a telegram arrived, and the porter took it up. From what he said, I went up and found the deceased on the floor. There was a six-chambered revolver on the floor and some blood. He was dead, but not cold.

George Inguine, porter at the “King’s Head Hotel,” said: On Saturday morning Mr. Bromley handed me a telegram for the deceased. I went to the room deceased was occupying. The key was outside, as he did not answer, I went in. I found the gentleman lying on the floor on his right side in front of the window. He was in his nightshirt. I found he was nearly cold. There was also a revolver there. I at once told Mr. Bromley.

Police-constable Danson said he was called on Saturday at ten o’clock. The revolver (produced) on the floor loaded fully, with one chamber exploded. The bullet was found on the floor. He also found the telegram (produced) to various persons and the money for the same. £1 8s. 3½d. was found on the deceased, and also three letters addressed for posting, and a letter which had just been read in the coat pocket.

Mr. C. E. Murphy, Surgeon, said the deceased was quite dead when he arrived, death having occurred at least three hours. There was a large wound just above the heart. It was charred and smelt of gunpowder. The bullet went through the body and came out the back. The bullet did not touch the heart, but went through the liver. Death occurred from internal haemorrhage and must have been nearly instantaneous. In his opinion the wound was self-inflicted.

The Jury returned a verdict of “Suicide whilst suffering from temporary insanity.”