The Bell Witch
Article by Bindi Lavelle

Still to this day, the evetns which occurred during in the Bell household during 1817-21 are widely reported and speculated. It is one of the most documented cases of a haunting and the only time the US government as acknowledged the paranormal as a cause of death.
The events began when out hunting John Bell Snr shot at a large wolf like creature, only to have it vanish before him. This was quickly followed by noises through the night such as banging and scratching.
The distrubances escalated each night, with more banging in and around the house. Soon the youngest of the Bell children, who still lived with their parents began to complain about rats gnaring on their bed posts and having the covers pulled off them. Whispering was heard at first, eventually becoming a clear voice of an elderly woman who would sing, tease and even have conversations with the family and their guests.
However the Bell's youngest daughter, Betsy suffered the worst, getting slapped and thrown around on a regular basis; While John Bell Snr received death threats and regular taunts.
John Bell Snr's health declined during this period, ultimatly making him bedridden. On 20 December 1820, John Bell Snr died, a strange vial was found at his bed side; no member of the family had any knowledge of the vial or its contents. When John Bell Jnr threw the vial into the fire it burst into blue flames. It was assumed that the entity had made good on it's threats to John Snr.
Following the death of John Bell Snr the paranormal occurances quickly died down and by the following year had stopped all together. There has been much speculation over the events since.
Many thoeries are offered as explaination of the events between 1817 and 1821. But as nothing can be proven conclusivly, the Bell Witch will continue to be a widely discussed.