Who was Thomas Dula, and why is there a song about him?

I remember very well the ballad. Hang down your head Tom Dooley.

Sorry not to have caught this one earlier! And a great link, Amadeus.

Of note, he was hanged on property now owned and operated as a dairy farm by a friend's family just outside of Statesville, North Carolina.

There is also a Tom Dooley from Charlotte who owns a fine construction business and who was once an NFL referee - some of you have seen him call the Super Bowl. People instantly remember his name, likely due to his more infamous namesake.

Good job, Mozart!I have to wonder if Dula is a 10th cousin, twice removed, to Fuse, on his mother's Great-Aunt's side.

Two versions of this 100-old folk song. Note the slight difference in tone.

The Legend Of Tom Dooley
Performed by The Kingston Trio

Through out history
There have been many songs
Written about the eternal triangle
This next one tells the story of Mr. Grayson
A beautiful woman and a condemed man
Named Tom Dooley
When the sun rises tomorrow
Tom Dooley must hang (Spoken Intro)

Hang down your head Tom Dooley
Hang down your head and cry
Hang down your head Tom Dooley
Poor boy, you're bound to die

I met her on the mountain
There I took her life
Met her on the mountain
Stabbed her with my knife

This time tomorrow, reckon where I'll be
Hadn't it been for Grayson
I'd been in Tennesse

This time tomorrow, reckon where I'll be
Down in some lonesome valley
Hanging on a white oak tree

----------------------------------------------

Hang your head, Tom Dooley,
Hang your head and cry;
You killed poor Laurie Foster,
And you know you're bound to die.
You left her by the roadside
Where you begged to be excused;
You left her by the roadside,
Then you hid her clothes and shoes.

Hang your head, Tom Dooley,
Hang your head and cry;
You killed poor Laurie Foster,
And you know you're bound to die.

You took her on the hillside
For to make her your wife;
You took her on the hillside,
And ther you took her life.

You dug the grave four feet long
And you dug it three feet deep;
You rolled the cold clay over her
And tromped it with your feet.

Hang your head, Tom Dooley,
Hang your head and cry;
You killed poor Laurie Foster,
And you know you're bound to die.

"Trouble, oh it's trouble
A-rollin' through my breast;
As long as I'm a-livin', boys,
They ain't a-gonna let me rest.

I know they're gonna hang me,
Tomorrow I'll be dead,
Though I never even harmed a hair
On poor little Laurie's head."

Hang your head, Tom Dooley,
Hang your head and cry;
You killed poor Laurie Foster,
And you know you're bound to die.

"In this world and one more
Then reckon where I'll be;
If is wasn't for Sheriff Grayson,
I'd be in Tennesee.

You can take down my old violin
And play it all you please.
For at this time tomorrow, boys,
Iit'll be of no use to me."

Hang your head, Tom Dooley,
Hang your head and cry;
You killed poor Laurie Foster,
And you know you're bound to die.

"At this time tomorrow
Where do you reckon I'll be?
Away down yonder in the holler
Hangin' on a white oak tree.

Hang your head, Tom Dooley,
Hang your head and cry;
You killed poor Laurie Foster,
And you know you're bound to die.

A few links, each with information not in the others -
Grayson

Grayson and Dula

Great Link, and hear several versions of the song as well