Who put Bella in the Witch Elm?

[Herlock Sholmes]

Thanks for the heads-uo, Herlock! Will you let us know what you think of it?

Hi Pat,

Here you go..

https://forum.casebook.org/forum/ripper-media/books/non-fiction/755217-book-recommendations?p=833534#post833534

[Pcdunn]

Thanks for the heads-uo, Herlock! Will you let us know what you think of it?

[Herlock Sholmes]

I’ve just received my copy of the latest book on the subject. The Hagley Wood Tree Murder: Reviewing the Case of Bella in the Wych Elm by Keith Swallow and Rachel Joy.

[Semper_Eadem]

Maybe. This sad case dates from 1957, and genealogical DNA identified the child.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/06/us/philadelphia-boy-in-box-death-identified/index.html

Ah yes the boy in the box.

[Pcdunn]

Maybe. This sad case dates from 1957, and genealogical DNA identified the child.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/06/us/philadelphia-boy-in-box-death-identified/index.html

[Abby Normal]

It’s an interesting one Tristan but one that’s unlikely to be solved imo.

Im not so sure about that Herlock. With the latest DNA research perhaps if they IDed the victim, that would be afirst step in solving? provided of course there is any DNA left anywhere from the victim.

[Losmandris]

It’s an interesting one Tristan but one that’s unlikely to be solved imo.

I would agree. Maybe some mysteries are best left unsolved?

[Herlock Sholmes]

This happened just down the way from where I grew up. I never really heard much about it until recently. I suppose it was rather 'a little before my time' though. Quite the mystery from all accounts.

It’s an interesting one Tristan but one that’s unlikely to be solved imo.

[Losmandris]

This happened just down the way from where I grew up. I never really heard much about it until recently. I suppose it was rather 'a little before my time' though. Quite the mystery from all accounts.

[Herlock Sholmes]

Here's an interesting article that suggests a possible link with the German spy Josef Jakobs

https://josefjakobs.info/facts-of-bella-in-the-wych-elm

Cheers Barn,

The problem is that Clara had normal looking teeth.

https://www.google.com/search?q=clara+bauerle&rlz=1C9BKJA_enGB704GB704&hl=en-GB&prmd=inv&sxsrf=ALiCzsYEFIqdc2dgXjzcEZfNzCGsg5RAVw:1670082971170&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwicuvfx5937AhWBi1wKHWbfAPkQ_AUoAXoECAIQAQ&biw=1024&bih=1247&dpr=2#imgrc=NUeWTdi39leM6M

[barnflatwyngarde]

no. the simplest explanation is usually the right one.. an unfortunate prostitute killed by a "customer". however, whoever killed her must have known about that hollow tree. i would have looked very closely at everyone associated with that estate.

Here's an interesting article that suggests a possible link with the German spy Josef Jakobs

https://josefjakobs.info/facts-of-bella-in-the-wych-elm

[Abby Normal]

The blurb refers to "the world's oldest profession and the world's oldest crime!" Can we conclude the crime is murder, and that the victim was a prostitute?

So maybe not a German spy, exactly...

no. the simplest explanation is usually the right one.. an unfortunate prostitute killed by a "customer". however, whoever killed her must have known about that hollow tree. i would have looked very closely at everyone associated with that estate.

[Abby Normal]

MJ Trow has a book out next year on the case.

https://www.fantasticfiction.com/t/m...ood-murder.htm

save your money

[Herlock Sholmes]

The blurb refers to "the world's oldest profession and the world's oldest crime!" Can we conclude the crime is murder, and that the victim was a prostitute?

So maybe not a German spy, exactly...

Yes, it’s quite a well known crime over here Pat. Some boys found a skull in a tree in 1943. Later the whole skeleton was found and it was reckoned that the body had been there for 18 months or so. The woman was never identified but what made the case live on so to speak was that in 1944 in the local town, Birmingham, a chalked graffiti on a wall appeared which said Who Put Bella Down The Witch Elm - Hagley Wood. Other similar messages also appeared and since the 1970’s a message of this kind has been chalked on the Hagley obelisk. Theories have been put forward but still no one knows who ‘Bella’ was, if that was actually her name.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_...e%2C%20England.

[Pcdunn]

MJ Trow has a book out next year on the case.

https://www.fantasticfiction.com/t/m...ood-murder.htm

The blurb refers to "the world's oldest profession and the world's oldest crime!" Can we conclude the crime is murder, and that the victim was a prostitute?

So maybe not a German spy, exactly...