Tom Dula

Tom Dula’s legend was outlined in the Kingston Trio’s song “Hang Down Your Head, Tom Dooley”. The tale of Tom Dula is one of love, betrayal, and murder. In 1866, Dula becomes romantically involved with a married woman named Ann Melton. At the same time he is also involved wiht Laura Foster. Dula contracts syphilis from Foster and avenged his stolen manhood by luring her to a secret place to murder her. Many people suspect that Dula actually did not murder her, but Melton actually did the stabing. Other believed Melton and Dula were co-conspirators. Against the backdrop of post Civil War chaos, the Dula drama was played out in the court of American opinion. Questions of immorality and sexual promiscuity were weighed along the still festering political hatreds of North and South. Tom Dula was eventually hanged at the Statesville Depot on May 1, 1868.