After
you read the description of the suspects and characters
of the story, and watch The Legend of Tom Dula, read
these Other Players. NOTE that these are not necessarily
facts in the case; they are simply bits of testimony
or ideas promoted by others.
Over
200 versions of Tom and Laura's story have appeared
in magazines, books, newspapers and other printed materials,
and countless others have been recounted orally. Of
the most popular, here are some of the disagreements
between them. FACT indicates that there is proof in
documentation or by testimony
| Version
1 |
Version
2 |
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Tom
Dula fought in Colonel Zebulon Vance's regiment
(26th NC).
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Tom
actually enlisted in the NC 42nd regiment.
(FACT)
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|
Tom
played his fiddle and banjo around campfires for
Colonel Vance.
|
Most
accounts of Tom do not mention that he played
the banjo.
|
|
There
was a Yankee schoolteacher who was smitten with
Laura. Some versions name him either Bob Cummings
or Bob Grayson.
|
Grayson
was a prominent Tennessee resident; there is no
record of a man named Cummings, nor is there any
mention of Laura's involvement with a schoolteacher.
(FACT)
|
|
Cummings
was the sheriff of Wilkes County.
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Hicks
was the sheriff of Wilkes County (FACT)
|
|
Tom
had dark eyes and curly hair.
|
Tom
had blue eyes and curly hair.
|
|
Laura
was pretty, with chestnut hair and dark brown
eyes.
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Laura
was mousy and drab. (The only definite description
we have is Pauline's testimony, which states she
has a gap between her front teeth, but nothing
further.)
|
|
Ann
says, "You're as deep in the mud as I am
in the mire" to Pauline when the latter refuses
to accompany her to the grave.
|
Pauline
says, " You're as deep in the mud as I am
in the mire" to Pauline during a fight with
Ann over Pauline's tale that she had killed Laura
herself. (FACT--Pauline testified to this)
|
|
Laura's
legs were broken when she was found in the grave.
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Laura's
legs were bent so she would fit in the grave.
(FACT-- Dr. Carter testified that her legs had
been "drawn up" but says nothing about
their being broken.)
|
|
Laura
was pregnant.
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Laura
was not pregnant. (Dr. Carter did not mention
that she was pregnant)
|
|
Laura
was stabbed through the heart.
|
Dr.
Carter testified that he could not tell whether
the knife had penetrated her heart. (FACT)
|
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Tom
escaped by horse
|
Tom
escaped with several other men in the community.
|
|
When
Tom was riding to his execution, he played the
fiddle.
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When
Tom was riding to his execution, he sang the "Tom
Dooley" ballad.
|
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Tom
said he never harmed Laura right before he was
hanged.
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Tom
joked about the rope, saying, "I'd a washed
my neck" if he had known he was going to
be hanged on a new piece of rope.
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