The Bell Witch: The Full Account
The
Bell Witch
The Full Account
Pat Fitzhugh
The Armand Press
Nashville
This book is a work of both history and fiction. The names, places, and dates
mentioned herein are the product of extensive research and are believed to be accurate.
The individual stories contained herein were either given to the author by other parties or handed down over the years as folklore, either of which may or may not be true.
The conversations between the various characters in this book are a product of the
author’s imagination and are used for the purpose of bringing the characters and story to life.
If you purchase this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book may
have been stolen property and reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the publisher. In such case, neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this
“stripped book.”
THE BELL WITCH: THE FULL ACCOUNT Copyright 2000 by Pat Fitzhugh. All
rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems,
without permission in writing from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. All correspondence regarding this book is
addressable to The Armand Press, 7051 Highway 70 South, Suite 176, Nashville, TN
37221-2207.
Cover art by Kris Stuart-Crump
Photography by Pat Fitzhugh
Book design by The Armand Press
ISBN: 0-9705156-3-4
Printed in the United States of America
C O N T E N T S
Prologue .................................................................................... 14
A Word of Thanks ................................................................... 18
Author’s Note ........................................................................... 20
Early History of the Bells ........................................................ 21
The Bell Farm in North Carolina .......................................... 22
The Evil Overseer .................................................................. 23
John Bell Shoots the Overseer ............................................... 25
The Farm’s Downfall............................................................. 26
The Bells Leave North Carolina ............................................ 27
The Bells’ New Home .............................................................. 28
The Red River Community ..................................................... 29
Religion.................................................................................. 31
The Bells Prosper................................................................... 33
Trouble Begins ......................................................................... 36
Strange Animals and People Appear ..................................... 36
Knocks on the Walls............................................................... 38
Bedcovers Pulled from Children............................................ 39
Elizabeth is Tortured ............................................................. 41
Terror Takes Over................................................................... 44
A Lifeless Body in a Tree ....................................................... 45
Faint Whistles and Whispers ................................................. 47
- i i i -
C O N T E N T S
Mysterious Lights in the Dell................................................. 47
Elizabeth’s Bed Catches on Fire............................................ 49
A Voice is Heard .................................................................... 50
John Bell’s Mysterious Illness ............................................... 50
The Bells Share the Secret....................................................... 52
Friends Vow to Help .............................................................. 53
Neighbors Encounter the Spirit ............................................. 55
Calvin Johnston Shakes an Invisible Hand............................ 56
John Johnston Tests the Spirit ............................................... 57
Frank Miles is No Match ....................................................... 58
Visitors from Near and Far..................................................... 62
Skepticism .............................................................................. 62
Peddlers and Quacks ............................................................. 64
The Englishman ..................................................................... 64
Mr. Williams .......................................................................... 66
Dr. Mize the Witch Hunter..................................................... 69
The Spirit Loved to Gab.......................................................... 75
Gossip .................................................................................... 77
The Spirit Reveals Jesse’s Whereabouts................................ 78
John Bell, Jr.’s Business Trip ................................................ 79
John Bell is Scrutinized ........................................................... 81
Dispute with Benjamin Batts.................................................. 81
Dispute with Josiah Fort........................................................ 83
John Bell’s Excommunication................................................ 84
- i v -
C O N T E N T S
The Spirit Attends Elizabeth’s Party...................................... 86
Rev. Fort Keeps his Vow to Help........................................... 88
John Bell Tortured at Dinner................................................. 89
The Spirit Quotes Two Sermons............................................. 90
The Spirit Tells About a Wedding.......................................... 91
The Spirit’s Identities and Forms........................................... 93
Spirit Looking for a Lost Tooth.............................................. 93
A Search for Buried Treasure................................................ 95
The Spirit Assumed Many Forms........................................... 97
The Spirit Rides a Horse........................................................ 97
The Playful Rabbit ................................................................. 98
The Spirit Appears as a Dog.................................................. 99
The Spirit Turns Dean Into a Mule...................................... 102
The Spirit Appears as a Rabbit and a Bird.......................... 103
The Terror Escalates ............................................................. 105
The Witch Family – Multiple Entities .................................. 105
Apparition at the Porter Farm............................................. 106
A Sick Dog at the Door ........................................................ 109
Elizabeth’s Problems Escalate ............................................ 110
The Spirit Spanks a Baby..................................................... 110
Powell Learns of Elizabeth’s Courtship .............................. 111
The Spirit Denounces Elizabeth’s Courtship....................... 111
The Spirit is Named “Kate”.................................................. 113
The Spirit Claims to be Kate Batts ...................................... 113
- v -
C O N T E N T S
Kate Batts’ Odd Ways.......................................................... 114
Kate Batts Creates an Uproar ............................................. 115
Kate Batts is Scrutinized ...................................................... 117
The Spirit’s New Nickname.................................................. 117
Evil to Some and Good to Others ......................................... 119
“Kate” Empties the Milk Viles ............................................ 119
“Kate” Kicks Drewry’s Chair ............................................. 120
Joel’s Spanking .................................................................... 120
“Kate” Saves Children from Storm ..................................... 122
A Rescue in the Cave............................................................ 123
“Kate’s” Adoration for Lucy Bell........................................ 124
Mrs. Bell’s Illness ................................................................ 124
Stockings for Martha Bell .................................................... 126
“Kate” Sleeps with William Porter ..................................... 128