Long before his name became famous in song, Tom Dula was already a notorious figure in North Carolina’s foothills. Raised in Wilkes County and admired for his charm and fiddle playing, Tom’s life took a dark turn after the Civil War. He rekindled an affair with Ann Melton, now married, while also courting her cousin, Laura Foster—setting off a storm of jealousy and secrecy.
In May 1866, Laura Foster vanished after leaving home on horseback. Her body was soon found in a shallow grave, stabbed in the chest. Tom, the last seen with Laura, became the prime suspect. Some believed they intended to elope; others thought Tom discovered Laura’s involvement with another man. He fled to Tennessee, but was captured and brought back for trial. The sensational proceedings gripped the nation, with Tom defended by former governor Zebulon Vance. Ann Melton herself was briefly arrested, fueling rumors she may have been involved.
Tom Dula was convicted and hanged in 1868, always declaring his innocence. The story might have faded into legend if not for the ballad “Tom Dooley,” which carried his tale from the Appalachian hills to national fame when the Kingston Trio recorded it in 1958.
To this day, stories persist about Laura Foster’s restless spirit haunting the hillside where her life ended. Locals whisper of glimpses—a shadowy figure in a long skirt, barefoot and silent, lingering on foggy nights. Some say Tom Dula’s ghost is seen as well, treading the lonely road where he met his fate, forever tied to the tragedy that made them legends.
Written By John G. Clark Jr.
