The Murder Ballad Man

February 09, 2016  •  Leave a Comment

Hanged in 1868 for the murder of Laura Foster, Thomas C. Dula inspired the ballad Tom Dooley, first recorded in 1929. The tale the song tells differ from the facts; but the available facts don't tell who killed Laura, who was found in a shallow grave, stabbed through the heart. Tom Dula was sleeping with her, as well as the other two suspects: Laura's cousin, the married Ann Melton, and Ann's cousin Pauline. Pauline fingered Ann and Tom for the crime, and showed investigators where she said Ann had buried the body. Ann was freed when Tom, condemned to die, said he did the crime alone.

The Kingston Trio's 1958 hit recording of Tom Dooley is credited with sparking the enormous popularity of folk music in the early 60s.


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