Mrs J. Belling

In the novel The Sittaford Mystery, Mrs J. Belling is the licensed proprietor of The Three Crowns in Exhampton.

After the murder of Captain Trevelyan at Hazelmoor nearby, Inspector Narracott found Mrs Belling "fat and  excitable, and  so  voluble  that  there  was  nothing  to  be  done  but  to  listen patiently  until  such  time  as  the  stream  of  conversation  should  dry up." She had much to say about what she knew but she did volunteer some relevant information. She reported that a gentleman from London (later identified from the register as James Pearson had arrived at lunch time on the day. He went out about half past four and came in about twenty  past six. The morning after the murder he left by the first train at six  ten, which she found "[r]ather curious".

Mrs Belling was sympathetic to Emily Trefusis when she found out that James Pearson had been arrested and that he was Emily's fiance. She promised to help Emily in her efforts to clear him. She said that she would pass on whatever news or gossip she heard. In this she was well-place to do. Amy, her chambermaid, was the sister-in-law of Constable Graves. Rebecca Evans, Mrs Belling's daughter (or niece--text is inconsistent) was married to Evans, the manservant of the late Captain Trevelyan. Mrs Belling kept her word and late in the story she wrote to Emily to tell her something peculiar which Rebecca had heard from Evans: that a pair of snow boots which was at Hazelmoor had gone missing.