At first the Bells tried to keep the strange happenings secret, but visiting friends and neighbors were soon spreading the news that the place was “haunted.” One of the first investigators to spend the night was Bell’s friend James Johnston, a religious man who was sure that with prayers, hymns, and the reading of the Scriptures he could drive away any evil spirit.

That night the witch began to talk. In a woman’s voice she sneered, “How sweet Old Sugarmouth prays!” Johnston asked, “Who are you?” and she said she was “the spirit of Old Kate Batts”; her purpose for being on the Bell farm was “to torment Old Jack Bell out of his life.” Batts was a disturbed, eccentric, woman who still lived in the neighborhood, so no one believed the witch’s statement. But after that, the ghost was known as “Kate, the Bell witch.”

Before long Kate was directing activity during the almost nightly gatherings in the Bell home. She quoted Scriptures, heatedly argued theology, sang hymns, slandered the Bells—particularly John and Betsy—and insulted visitors. Other investigators from far away came to “expose the trickery,” but each left hurriedly after having his jaw slapped or after being dragged from bed and severely pounded.

In his Nashville home, Andrew Jackson read in the newspapers many accounts of Kate’s outrageous performances and decided to visit John Bell, Jr., who had served with him in the War of 1812, and find out how the “absurd tales” were originating. Jackson and his party, traveling on horseback, were accompanied by a wagon carrying camping equipment, to be used if the Bell home was full of visitors. As the wagon approached the home, its wheels locked. The horses were whipped and they pulled and tugged, but the wagon failed to move. Disgusted, Jackson shouted, “Can it be the witch?” Immediately, a voice replied, “Yes! But you can go now, general,” and Jackson’s hat was mysteriously knocked off. The wagon wheels began rolling easily.

The entire party was welcomed into the Bell home and accepted the family’s invitation to “settle in and stay a week.” But they stayed only one night. Seconds after one member announced that he was a “witch tamer,” he began yelling, “Thousands of pins are sticking in me!” He ran out of the house and away.

Kate was rough and offensive throughout the night, talking unpleasantly to the general and banging the others’ heads against the walls. At daybreak every member of the party except Jackson refused to stay any longer, and Jackson could only leave with them.