Opy one of Laura's former suitors, Dula, another former suitor, and
<|Mrs. Melton became suspects. Dula and the other man had left the
;, country by then, but they were traced to Tennessee where they were
5 taken into custody and returned to Wilkes.Co, The other man proved
*>an alibi and was released, but Dula and Mrs, Melton were both in«
‘Idicted. At his trial, a woman testified that Laura had told her
' that she was eloping with Dula. His attorney was his former Comn-
2 anding Officer, the distinguished Statesman, Zebulon Vance » and he
= fought hard for Dula's life, obtaining a change of veme to Iredell
' County. . As a form of mitigation, he brought out in the tikka that
© Dula had contracted a venera#l disease which he believed to have
; been caught from Miss Foster. Convicted and sémhenced to die » Dula
~ Was hanged before a large crowd at Statesville on May 1, 1868, He
@ Spoke for one hour from the gallows and before his death absolved
“rs. Melton from any complicity in the crime. After the noose was
©. placed around his neck, he said: "You have a nice clean rope. I
~ ought to have washed my rieck," The wagon on which he was standing
= Was driven from under him and he strangled to death, Many years —
5) ree ret Melton was thrown from a wagon and killed,
DEAD AND GONE by Wellmans "..eHANG BY THE NECK..." p
t). Py Se } ee @
: AMERICAN MURDER RALLARS by Burt, stele
Spy one of Laura's former suitors, Dula, another former suitor, and
«Mrs. Melton became suspects. Dula and the other man had left the
;,country by then, but they were traced to Tennessee where they were
_p taken into custody and returned to Wilkes.Co. The other man proved
‘jan alibi and was released, but Dula and Mrs, Melton were both in-
“dicted. At his trial, a woman testified that Laura had told her
' that she was eloping with Dula. His attorney was his former Comn-
Banding Officer, the distinguished Statesman, Zebulon Vance, and he
= fought hard for Dula's life, obtaining a change of vemme to Iredell
' County. . As a form of mitigation, he brought out in the trkal that
© Dula had contracted a venera#l disease which he believed to have
1 been caught from Miss Foster, Convicted and sémhenced to die, Dula
» Was hanged before a large crowd at Statesville on May 1, 1868, He
@ Spoke for one hour from the gallows and before his death absolved
a ‘rs, Melton from any complicity in the crime, After the noose was
©. placed around his neck, he said: "You have a nice clean rope. I
+2 ought to have washed my tieck," The Wagon on which he was standing
3 Was driven from under him and he strangled to death. Many years
later, Mrs, Melton was thrown from a wagon and killed
« DEAD AnD GONE by Wellman; "...HANG BY NECK..." by Teeters;
AMERICAN MURDER BALLARS by Burt, ‘
cour
Copy 0
Svy one of Laura's former suitors, Dula, another former suitor, and
Hues, Melton becane suspects, Dula and the other man had left the
; country by then, but they were traced to Tennessee where they were
Staken into custody and returned to Wilkes.Co. The other man proved
an alibi and was released, but Dula and Mrs, Melton were both in-
Sdicted, At his trial, a woman testified that Laura had told her
' that she was cloping with Dula. His attorney was his former Conm=
2 Officer, the distinguished Statesman, Zebulon Vance, and he
= fought hard for Dula's life, obtaining a change of veme to Iredell
County. . As a forn of mitigation, he brought out in tho tétal that
© Dula had contracted a venereal disease which he believed to have
"You have a nice clean rope. I
Ought to have washed my Weck." The wagon on which he was standing
yas driven fron under hin and he strangled to death, Many years
3 laters Mrs, Melton was thrown from a wagon and killed.
DEAD AND GONE by Welinany "...iNG BY THE NECK..." by Testerss
AMERICAN MURDER BALLABS by Burt,
Copy of court papers
ene
* Gay
if
H
HELEN
He
DULA, Thomas C,
Dula, a young white native of Happy Valley, Wilkes Co,, N, C,,
served with bravery and distinction as a member of the 26th North
Carolina Regiment in the Confederate Army during the Civil War,
He returned home in late April or early May, 1865, and with his
good looks and outstanding war record, had little trouble in becoming
a favorite of the local belles, He had an affair with Laura foster
who had been wooed by a number of other young menk, but after she
began munxkiot dating Dula, she lost interest in all others, . He met
ene of Laura's cousins, Pauline Foster, who he courted for a time
and by whom he was introduced to a beautiful young matron, Mrs, Am)
Melton, Dula seems to have fallen in love with the married woman,
but Laura Foster was determined that she would become Mrs, BMAXXDEAX
cheney: mi ne eM of May 25, 1866, she left home on her horse,
taking her ongings and it was assumed that she had eloped with
SREXEEXKEE te
some man. The horse was found tethered to a tree on
June 10, in a thicket that was notorious as a lover's rendezvous
and her body was found in a shallow grave nearb She ha
° db
Stabbed to death and both legs had been bheken ee that the eae
would fit into the short grave, As a result of investigations
DULA, Thomas C,
Dula, a young white native of Happy Valley, Wilkes Co., N, C.,
served with bravery and distinction as a member of the 26th North
Carolina Regiment in the Confederate Army during the Civil War,
He returned home in late April or early May, 1865, and with his
good looks and outstanding war record, had little trouble in becoming
a favorite of the local belles. He had an affair with Laura foster
who had been wooed by a number of other young menk, but after she
began mumxkion dating Dula, she lost interest in all others, . He met
ene of Laura's cousins, Pauline Foster, who he courted for a time
and by whom he was introduced to a beautiful young matron, Mrs, Amn)
Melton, Dula seems to have fallen in love with the married woman,
but Laura Foster was determined that she would become Mrs, BMAXXDEAK
Dula. On the night of May 25, 1866, she left home on her horse,
taking her belongings and it was assumed that she had eloped with
some man, The horse was found tethered to a tree on
aig ent a karat that was notorious as a lover's rendezvous
er body was found in a shallow grave nearb ve
Stabbed to death and both legs had Heey broken po that ie Cae
would fit into the short grave. As a result of investigations
DULA, Thomas C,
Dula, a young white native of Happy Valley, Wilkes Co., N. Ce,
served with bravery and distinction as a menber of the 26th North
Carolina Regiment in the Confederate Army during the Civil War,
He returned home in late April or early May, 1865, and with his
good looks and outstanding war record, had little trouble in becoming!
a favorite of the local belles. He had an affair with Laura foster
who had been wooed by a mumber of other young menk, but after she
began muxxkin dating Dula, she lost interest in all others, . He met
ene of Laura's naar A, Pauline Foster, who he courted for a eel
shallow grave nearby, She had been
had been broken so that the body
and het
stabbed to death Ha both loge
would fit into the short grave, As a result of investigations
erg ley Sn tt a Rate i en
