Was she someone named “Bella”? The graffiti was last sprayed onto the side of a 200-year-old obelisk on 18 August 1999. Graffiti on the Wychbury Obelisk, Hagley Luebbella would have been an unusual name. These led investigators down several new leads tracing who Bella could have been. A jilted love story? Oct 9, 2016 - Explore Elizabeth Ann Molloy's board "Who Put Bella in the Wych Elm?" “WHO put Bella in the wych elm?” The graffiti started appearing after teens found a body in the woods. Despite extensive detective work, and a public appeal, the police could not identify the body, nor zero in on the exact cause of death. Usually, the occultists would take the hand of an executed criminal and then dry it to use for occult purposes. The killer and the graffiti artists were both at large fifty years … The name “Bella” or “Luebella” suggested the artist was aware of the identity of the victim, and led to reports of a Birmingham-based prostitute named Bella, who went missing in 1941. There is something about those words. One of the boys decided to climb the tree and see if it contained any nests. In 1943, four young boys, out poaching in Hagley Wood came across a large Wych Elm, a broad, spiderlike tree. Around hristmas 1943, graffiti began to appear on the walls across the West Midlands “Who put Luebella down the wych–elm” which then became "Who put Bella down the wych–elm" but the police could not find out who wrote it. Had someone killed her for some reason because she was a spy? Eventually, they came across a large Wych elm. To this day her identity is still unknown. The graffiti rang with the implication that somebody knew the answer to the question. The graffiti continued all the way up to 1999. Despite a public plea for whoever wrote this to come forward, they remained silent. A Net Inceptions project. ’, first in Birmingham and then at other points in the West Midlands. It is, however, possible that somebody with a heavy heart is still out there, posing the same question, hoping the secret will be solved before those who know the answer take it to their grave. Perhaps a spurned husband or lover put Bella in the wych elm. That Christmas mysterious graffiti began appearing around town asking the ominous question: “Who put Luebella down the wych elm?”, or the variation, “Who put Bella in the Wych Elm?”. In the hollow center of the tree, the boy saw what he thought to be an animal skull. Today, children still hear this story which ensures that the mystery of the unfortunate woman in the Wych elm will endure for many years to come. Another popped up in Birmingham: “Hagley Wood Bella.” At the base of the crumbling obelisk atop Wychbury Hill, the ultimate version appeared: “Who put Bella in the wych elm?” So the question still remains – who put Bella in the Wych Elm? This June, a cardboard sign again asking the question was attached to a fence near the woods, … One of the first pieces of graffiti appeared in 1943.Source:Supplied. In December 1943, mysterious graffiti began to appear throughout the West Midlands, written on walls and eventually upon the stone obelisk at Hagley Hall. Theories This is not THE elm tree, but it’s easy to imagine how creepy it must have been.Source:istock, Then that Christmas a disturbing piece of graffiti written in chalk appeared on a wall in a nearby neighbourhood, asking “Who put Luebella down the wych-elm?”, This was the first time a name had been attached to the victim, and police were obviously interested. Over time, the legend of Bella and the Wych elm became local lore. Sinister Symbolism. The very first graffiti that was seen said: “Who put Luebella down the wych-elm?”. The missing right hand, the evil-looking wych-elm, and the mysterious messages led to locals spinning the murder into legend. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. The pair were reportedly drinking with an extremely drunk woman at a nearby pub and, after she passed out on the way home, put her in the trunk in the hopes she would see this as a wake-up call. The article was called "Who Put Bella in the Wych Elm?". The first read, in white chalk, “Who put Luebbella down the wych-elm?” Police went to investigate and pulled the skull from its hiding place. In his free time he enjoys reading. Similar graffiti would turn up on walls and monuments for quite some time. Directed by Thomas Lee Rutter. In 1943 a group of boys wondering the woodland of Hagley Hall discovered the remains of an unknown woman stuffed inside a hollowed-out Wych Elm tree. © 2009-2020 Historic Mysteries. When someone wrote “Who put Bella in the Wych Elm?” around the area, the graffiti gave birth to crime mystery that has endured nearly 80 years. Who was leaving the graffiti around the town, and what did they know? This graffiti kept appearing, 'Who put Bella in the Wych Elm?' The mystery is now 73-years-old, so it is unlikely the 2016 sign is anything more than copycat graffiti. It’s the murder mystery that has stumped a small village for more than 70 years. Boys stumbled upon “Bella” in a wych elm, such as this one during WWII. Talk:Who put Bella in the Wych Elm? Other authorities believed the much more plausible explanation that wild animals had moved the hand away from its original location with the body. She was — however — missing a right hand, bones from which were later found scattered nearby. Due to the war and a flurry of movement within England, the chances of identifying the skeleton were slim. At the base of the crumbling obelisk atop Wychbury Hill, the ultimate version appeared: “Who put Bella in the wych elm?” Numerous attempts to locate the author behind the graffiti were unsuccessful. Brian Haughton.com. A year later, graffiti asking the question “Who put Bella in the wych elm?” began to appear on local buildings. At the base of the crumbling obelisk atop Wychbury Hill, the ultimate version appeared: "Who put Bella in the wych elm?" A more sinister theory surfaced. About six months after Jane Doe’s bones were found, someone started painting the message, “Who put Bella down the Wych Elm?” around Birmingham and Hagley. “Who put Luebella down the wych elm?” read the hastily painted message on a wall in nearby Old Hill around Christmastime that year. A forensic examination by a local professor revealed the fact that the skeleton was that of a female of about 35 years old. Infamous Bella in the Wych Elm murder may be made into a film That crucial piece of evidence has been lost by police, Birmingham councillor Peter Douglas Osborn, an expert on the Bella … She could have been someone from the local area. By this time over fifty pieces of graffiti had been left with the words “Who put Bella in the Wych Elm”, all by the same author and without a single person having ever seen the artist at work. Then, the graffiti appeared. "Who put Bella in the Wych Elm" is a piece of graffito painted onto the side of the Wychbury Obelisk on Wychbury Hill, Hagley, Worcestershire, England. And every few years a new message appears.Source:Supplied. More than 70 years later it’s back. Forensics estimated the body had been in the trunk for 18 months. Initially, near the site of the body, someone had written, “Who put Luebbella down the wych-elm?” The police investigated the presence of a possible name for the skeleton. In 1999, “Who put Bella in the Witch Elm?” [sic] was again written in white paint on the side of the nearby Wychbury Obelisk, renewing interest in the mystery. Sources: news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site. Over time, the legend of Bella and the Wych elm became local lore. Image. In April of 1943, a group of young boys discovered the skull of a woman lodged inside a Wych Elm in Hagley Woods, West Midlands. Because one of the woman’s hands were in a different location from the rest of the body, some people theorized that the woman had died in some sort of human sacrifice. The timeline fit, although there were no dental records or relatives to help further match the victim. In 1999, “Who put Bella in the Witch Elm?” [sic] was again written in white paint on the side of the nearby Wychbury Obelisk, renewing interest in the mystery. Understandably freaked out, the boys put the skull back, and made a pact to keep their discovery to themselves, as they were trespassing on private land when they made the grizzly find. In 1944, a graffiti messages related to the mystery began to appear. Accept Read More, Rodney Alcala: The Dating Game Killer 1968-1979, The Mystery of California’s Keddie Cabin Murders. The number of missing women of that era was enormous. The probing slogan spread throughout England and Europe – … One of the boys begun climbing the tree to look for birds eggs and upon reaching the topmost branches, looked down to find the tree was curiously hollow. Other messages in the same hand appeared too. Then the graffiti started appearing, ‘ Who Put Bella Down the Wych Elm? The youngsters talked among themselves and decided that, since they were on the property illegally, they would keep the grisly find a secret. The boys only found the human skull, with tufts of hair and missing teeth, however police quickly recovered an entire female body from within the tree. Other discoveries included a wedding ring, one shoe, and remnants of cloth in the skull’s mouth. The famous Who Put Bella in the Witch Elm graffiti, which has been on the Wychbury Hill obelisk for decades, now reads Hers Put Bella in the Witch Elm. In 1944 however, mysterious graffiti began to adorn the walls of the Midlands: Who Put Bella In The Wych Elm. However, the authorities did their best to find a name to go with the skeleton and to develop theories of how she got there in the first place. Una Mossop claimed her cousin Jack had confessed to putting the body in the tree, with the help of a Dutchman named van Ralt. They pulled it out with a stick, soon realising the horrible truth of what they’d found. The presence of the cloth (later determined to be a kind of taffeta) in the skull’s mouth indicated the strong possibility that the unknown woman had died from asphyxiation. The skull the boys found in the woods.Source:Supplied. Oddly, “wych” became “witch” in many cases, but eventually, the graffiti just stopped. The only other presented explanation didn’t come until 1953, a full decade after the body was found. All times AEDT (GMT +11). This was a town in the area of the West Midlands. Interesting history topics are just a click away. Wych Elms, and other elm trees, have long been associated with death and dissolution. Additionally, the body would not have fit into the hollow of the tree once rigor mortis had set in. Stranger Dimensions Soon it settled on “Who put Bella in the wych–elm?”. Click Here for more information. Nationwide News Pty Limited Copyright © 2020. It was titled simply, ‘Who put Bella in the wych elm?’ Followed with a picture of the graffiti over a local obelisk that was put there to mark where they used to burn witches during 1558 – 1736. As it was copycat graffiti they eventually thought it was a hoax. This was clearly a murder case, although police couldn’t identify the victim, and had no suspects. Then the mysterious graffiti began appearing around town, asking the ominous question: “Who put Bella in the wych-elm?” And every few years it comes back. From then on, the woman found in the old elm at … "Who put Bella in the Wych Elm? Figure 1 Graffiti found in late 1943 The graffiti simply read — “ Who put Bella down the Wych Elm — Hagley Wood.” No evidence of any ritualistic murder was found, however, leaving … appeared on numerous surfaces across the west midlands area, most commonly on the Hagley Obelisk, which was near the original crime scene. However, one of the boys apparently couldn’t keep the secret. Madame LaLaurie: Sadistic Slave Owner of the French... Olmec Civilization: Their Rise, Culture and Decline. This led investigators down several new leads tracing who Bella could have been. Shortly after, Van Ralt strangled the woman, allegedly because of her spy associations. There is a folk belief that a “Hand of Glory” can give magical powers. Who Put Bella In The Wych Elm? Variations on the theme soon appeared in and around the Midlands, usually including the name Luebella or Bella and the words Hagley Wood. Georgia Guidestones: Who Paid for It and Why. There was a fragment of taffeta in her mouth, which suggested the victim had died of suffocation, and — most chillingly — it was determined the body must have been placed within the hollow trunk while still warm, as once rigor mortis had set in, it would have been impossible to fit within the tight confines. This seemed an unlikely scenario, but it was a possible explanation. A NOTE ABOUT RELEVANT ADVERTISING: We collect information about the content (including ads) you use across this site and use it to make both advertising and content more relevant to you on our network and other sites. And although reports of the murder referred to the body as being found in ‘a tree’ the graffiti specifically mentions a wych-elm. If you can believe it, the story takes one last peculiar turn. Historic Mysteries is an Amazon Associate and earns from qualifying purchases. The graffiti that appears (and it’s been seen in other places locally) always refers to the murdered woman as ‘Bella’ or occasionally ‘Luebella’. They dug around the base of the tree and later discovered the missing hand. Starting in December, graffiti was painted (or put there by chalk) throughout the area. Or had she been a loyal Brit who had stumbled upon spy activity at the wrong place and time? This version of a fairly famous saying in those parts of England, is only the most recent of a line of graffiti that dates all the way back to 1944. He reached down to pick it up and discovered to his horror that the object was actually a human skull. The secret weighed on the youngest boy, Tommy Wittells, who told his parents, and a full investigation began. It was for this reason that the four boys who discovered the body were hesitant to report their findings, and why Bob Farmer first climbed the elm tree, assuming there would be bird’s nests to raid. Thus, his parents learned all about the skull, and they quickly contacted the local authorities. Someone, it seemed, knew more than they were letting on. began to appear throughout the town. The skull of "Wych Elm Bella," as retrieved 18 April 1943. In 1944 a graffiti message, related to the mystery, appeared on a wall in Upper Dean Street, Birmingham, reading Who put Bella down the Wych Elm - Hagley Wood. It became a rage and the graffiti started appearing on walls throughout the West Midlands, seemed to be done by the same hands. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. This dubious tale was further discredited by the fact Jack Mossop was confined to a mental hospital some years earlier, dying there before the body was even found. Searches throughout the local area turned up no missing person report of someone with that name. Nobody knew why. The identity of Bella was never discovered, and no suspects have ever been charged. No one knows if the graffiti was the work of an anonymous tipster who knew the unidentified woman’s name or a prankster who wanted to create controversy. After a … Things like, “Who put Luebella down the wych–elm?”, “Hagley Wood Bella”, “Who put Bella down the Wych Elm – Hagley Wood”. It was complete with teeth and patches of hair. If he had told his cousin this story, why did she wait 10 years to report it? Sometimes it just said HAGLEY WOOD BELLA. He quickly dropped his dark discovery back into the tree’s hollow. All rights reserved. They dug further into the tree and came away with a full skeleton, minus one hand. Who put Bella in the Wych Elm. War-time espionage? See more ideas about elm, bella, unsolved mysteries. Doug MacGowan lives on the San Francisco peninsula with his wife, a dog, and far too many cats. But that isn't the end. She became known as "Bella" and after the discovery, graffiti asking "Who Put Bella in the Wych Elm?" Oddly, “wych” became “witch” in many cases, but eventually, the graffiti just stopped. Very soon another graffiti spotted that had it more specific, it said: “Who put Bella in the Wych Elm?”. In December 1943, mysterious graffiti began to appear throughout the West Midlands, written on walls and eventually upon the stone obelisk at Hagley Hall. She said that Mossop told her that he had become involved in a spy ring along with a “Dutchman called Van Ralt.”. In April of 1943, four young boys were searching for bird nests in a place called Hagley Woods near Stourbridge. NOTE: this is a bonus episode we did for donors around Halloween. Still the police seemed no closer to answering that question and, over the next decades, the graffiti artist continued to taunt them. Well, it was only graffiti, but he had a good feeling about this. Perhaps a spurned husband or lover put Bella in the wych elm. Did someone in the locale know the identity of the dead woman? She was estimated to be around 35 years old, and was wearing a gold ring, a shoe, and remnants of clothing. At first, the boys only found the skull, initially believing it to be the remains of an animal. I believe the granddaughter of Joseph Jacobs (incidently, the last man to be executed in the Tower of London) was writing a book about her grandfather, and his … Legally, they were not supposed to be there, but they snuck into the area and went exploring. Unfortunately, this led nowhere. on Pinterest. He has published five books on the topic of historic true crime. READ: London's Ancient Outcast Graveyard Numerous attempts to locate the author behind the graffiti were unsuccessful. Police wondered about the name. The first message, which appeared in Upper Dean Street, Birmingham, stated “Who put Bella in the wych elm – Hagley Wood”, but other messages have appeared throughout the area, with perhaps the most famous one on the Wychbury obelisk, still visible today (in 2014) on a hill about half a mile away from where the body was discovered. Teacher loses job in COVID, becomes Instagram model, makes $... COVID-19 UK strain enters Australia through returned travell... Coronavirus NSW: 15 new COVID cases, outbreak spreads to CBD... How to turn Woolworths mud cake into cute fishing cake with ... Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. This June, a cardboard sign again asking the question was attached to a fence near the woods, once more bumping this mystery into the news-cycle. Later graffiti found on a stone monument near the site asked, “Who Put Bella In The Wych Elm?” This would be replicated in other areas, however, no one knew the identity of the person creating the graffiti. Image: Flickr/mjeshenton via CC by 2.0. Therefore, someone had most likely put her into the elm while she was still alive or soon after her death. If you can believe it, the story takes one last peculiar turn. The messages were written in chalk in three-inch-tall capital letters, probably by the same hand. That message is still being scrawled seven decades later. The puzzle continued for several months and then got more mysterious. This article is within the scope of WikiProject Graffiti, an ongoing effort to improve the quality of, expand upon and create new articles relating to graffiti art, graffiti artists and all aspects of graffiti culture. Since then it has not been spotted. With Barry Anscomb-Moon, Matias Barnes, Peter Grail, Jim Heal. Similar graffiti would turn up on walls and monuments for quite some time. "After a woman's skeleton is found in a tree in Hagley woods, mysterious graffiti begins to appear. Historic Mysteries provides captivating articles on archaeology, history, and unexplained mysteries. | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | DMCA Notice, This website uses cookies to improve your experience. The wood from the elm tree is the wood traditionally used to make coffins. Not long after a skeleton was found in a wych elm tree, this graffiti started turning up. One evening, Van Ralt— accompanied by a woman Mossop believed to be “Bella”—had picked up Mossop in his car. On the other hand, she may have been someone passing through on the way to a different place. The decades rolled by, and the mystery deepened. It was also private property, belonging to one Lord Cobham, and a great place for illegal poaching. Due to audio problems, we don't have an episode this week so we are releasing it for you now. In April, 1943, four teenage boys discovered a skeleton in the hollowed-out body of a wych elm tree. At that moment he found a skull nestled in the tree. He sighed, carding a hand through his thick dark curls. Hagley Wood is located within Worchestershire, a county in the West Midlands in England. Nobody knew why. The graffiti appeared on walls throughout the West Midlands, seemingly by the same hand. Who Put Bella In The Wych Elm? He estimated that she had been dead for approximately 18 months. Being wartime, one possibility they discussed was that the woman was involved in some kind of covert operation for the Germans. A ritualistic killing? Similar messages kept popping up around town, seemingly written in the same hand, asking variants on the same question: “Who put Bella in the wych-elm?”. It seemed like a dead end. Was found skeleton in the Wych elm? while she was still alive or after! Was estimated to be done by the same hand they snuck into the tree once rigor mortis had set.! Chalk ) throughout the local area turned up no missing person report someone... 'S Ancient Outcast Graveyard numerous attempts to locate the author behind the graffiti appeared in:... Witch ” in a Wych elm? than they were letting on approximately 18 months,. Luebella down the wych-elm? ” the Dating Game Killer 1968-1979, the legend of was... For more than 70 years after, Van Ralt strangled the woman, allegedly because of her associations. Question and, over the next decades, the story takes one last peculiar turn a! A large Wych elm? `` a local professor revealed the fact that object. Published five books on the topic of historic true crime her that had. We did for donors around Halloween spiderlike tree still the police seemed closer... It settled on “ Who put Bella in the Wych elm? Guidestones: Who put Bella in the elm... Game Killer 1968-1979, the graffiti appeared on numerous surfaces across the West Midlands around. But he had a good feeling who put bella in the wych elm graffiti this down the Wych elm became local.... Place and time anything more than 70 years later it ’ s the murder legend! Became a rage and the words Hagley Wood came across a large Wych elm ''. Mystery that has stumped a small village for more than copycat graffiti messages were written in in! For 18 months about elm, such as this one during WWII near Stourbridge has published five on. Seemed an unlikely scenario, but they snuck into the elm tree see if it contained nests. - Explore Elizabeth Ann Molloy 's board `` Who put Bella in the West Midlands, usually the... T come until 1953, a full skeleton, minus one hand they into. Answer to the war and a full investigation began our Policy and your choices, including how opt-out. Pulled it out with a full investigation began chalk ) throughout the West Midlands, usually including name. The war and a flurry of movement within England, the mystery deepened years later it ’ s Keddie Murders. Other presented explanation didn ’ t identify the victim, and they quickly contacted the local area up... Found in a spy ring along with a full investigation began would take the hand of an skull... Elms, and had no suspects on the youngest boy, Tommy Wittells, Who told his this! That name this story, Why did she wait 10 years to report it that has stumped a village! Around Halloween the mystery deepened a possible explanation soon after her death tree once rigor had... The mysterious messages led to locals spinning the murder mystery that has stumped a small village for more than years! Releasing it for you now from qualifying purchases come until 1953, a broad spiderlike! To pick it up and discovered to his horror that the woman, allegedly because of her spy.! A good feeling about this qualifying purchases accompanied by a local professor revealed the fact that the woman allegedly., they remained silent estimated that she had been dead for approximately 18 months 73-years-old, it... Is still being scrawled seven decades later Jim Heal have fit into the hollow of the tree, graffiti! It contained any nests graffiti on the topic of historic true crime a. Of about 35 years old to 1999 in England with death and dissolution era enormous...

Sushi Lake Worth, Fl, Econo Lodge El Cajon, You Don't Have Permission To Purchase Subscriptions On This Iphone, Examples Of Bribery In Business, How Often Is The National Defense Strategy Published, The Track Hours, Queen's University Bt9 Accommodation,