James Melton was a skilled cobbler and made the shoes that Laura was wearing when she was killed. He was probably older than Ann, and married her when she was about fourteen (based on the fact that Ann's mother caught her sleeping with Tom when she was fourteen, after she was already married). Despite some tales that he had encouraged Tom to kill Laura because he too had contracted syphilis, this has never been proven and in fact Melton maintained a good reputation throughout his life.

Sources:
West, John Foster. The Ballad of Tom Dula: The Documented Story Behind the Murder of Laura Foster and the Trials and Execution of Tom Dula. Durham, NC: Moore Publishing, 1970.
West, John Foster. Lift Up Your Head, Tom Dooley: The True Story of the Appalachian Murder That Inspired One of America's Most Popular Ballads. Asheboro, NC: Down Home Press, 1993.

Tom Dula - Ann Melton - Pauline Foster - James Melton
Dr. George N. Carter
Laura Foster - Colonel James M. Isbell - Zebulon B. Vance

The Story - Players - The Murder - Who Done It?