Denne artikel stod at læse i The New York Herald lørdag den 2. maj 1868, dagen efter at Tom Dooley var blevet henrettet i Statesville. Artiklen stod på avisens side 7, sammen med andre artikler under rubrikken TELEGRAHPIC NEW FROM ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD. Artiklen fyldte halvanden spalte, mere end nogen anden artikel under den pågældende rubrik. Desværre fortæller avisen ikke, hvem der var ophavsmand til historien. Jeg har refereret til denne artikel i flere af mine artikler, og her er den i sin fulde ordlyd, inklusive et forsøg på en oversættelse til dansk.

THE DEATH PENALTY.

Shocking Revelations of Crime and Depravity in North Carolina-Thomas Dula Hanged for the Murder of Laura Foster.

STATESVILLE, N. C., May 1,1888.

Today took place one of the most singular executions in the annals of crime and under the most extraordinary circumstances on record. A terrible crime was perpetrated and a trial that has not its equal even in the Burdell trial followed. The evidence was entirely circumstantial; but at nearly half-past two P. M. Thomas Dula suffered the death penalty, for the murder of Laura Foster, in the presence of nearly three thousand persons of his own race and color.

On the 28th of May, 1866, a foul, inhuman murder was committed in the western portion of Wilkes county, in this State, the victim being Laura Foster, a beautiful, but frail girl who was decoyed from her father's house in Caldwell county to a place in Wilkes known as the Bates Place, and here brutally murdered. The body was then removed about half a mile from the scene of the murder, and was placed in a grave already prepared for it. Late in August of the same year the body was discovered in a state of such decomposition that it was difficult to identify it. There was a deep gash in the left breast just above the heart; the wound had evidently been inflicted with a large knife or dagger, causing death instantaneously. It was also believed that the murdered woman was enceinte.

The disappearance of Laura excited no alarm for several days, as it was supposed she had gone off to get married or to visit some acquaintances in Watauga county, but at length the opinion became general that she had been foully dealt with, and a general search was instituted, without success at the time.

The community in the vicinity of this tragedy is divided into two entirely separate and distinct classes. The one occupying the fertile lands adjacent to the Yadkin river and its tributaries is educated and intelligent, and the other, living on the spurs and ridges of the mountains, is ignorant, poor and depraved. A state of morality unexampled in the history of any country exists among these people, and such a general system of free-loveism prevails that it is "a wise child that knows its father." This is the Bates Place, where the body was discovered by blood marks, and where some ten or twelve families are living in the manner described. It is a poor country, covered with thickets and a dense undergrowth, and an attempt had been made to conceal the blood by covering it with bushes.

Soon suspicion attached to Thomas Dula, a returned Confederate soldier, and one Pauline Foster, an illegitimate cousin of the deceased, and, like her, also frail, as the guilty parties. Pauline was then servant to Mrs. Melton, and between her and Dula a criminal intimacy was known to exist, as also was the case between the deceased and Dula, and hence suspicion more particularly to the culprit because Pauline had mysteriously disappeared for a time after the murder. Her character was the most abandoned of all, and under the influence of brandy she admitted, when asked, that "Tom Dula and me killed Laura;" but, apparently recollecting herself, would make no further revelations. A day subsequent to this Pauline, when criminated by Mrs. Melton, confirmed the above statement, and she was arrested and confined in the jail of Wilkes county. Here she made a confession recriminating Mrs. Melton, who, she alleged, was jealous of Laura, and she guided a party to the place where the body was discovered.

Meantime, Dula had fled the country, but was pursued and arrested in Tennessee, where he was found under an assumed name. He was then lodged in jail upon the evidence of Pauline, as was also Mrs. Melton as accessory before the fact. True bills were found against both by the Grand Jury of Wilkes, but upon affidavit of the prisoners the trial was removed to Iredell county.

The most intense interest was manifested in this trial, which lasted several days, by the people here and of the surrounding counties. Nearly all the people on the Bates Place were examined, and the most extraordinary revelations of depraved morality were developed. Wilson Foster, the father of the deceased, testified that when he arose on the morning of Laura's disappearance his horse was also gone; that he traced the animal to the Bates Place; that he knew the track by a peculiarity in one of the hoofs. He never saw his daughter alive again, but he saw and recognized her body; knew Dula had been tn the habit of visiting his daughter, and had seen them in bed together, and that they had two private conversations on the Monday and Wednesday respectively preceding her disappearance. Further testimony went to show that Laura and Dula were both seen on the morning of the murder travelling by different routes from the direction of her home to the Bates Place, with a view, as was supposed, to marry Dula; that Dula had borrowed a mattock, the implement with which the grave was dug, the day previous, and that he had been heard to say that he contracted a disease from the murdered girl for which he would  be revenged upon her. It was also proven that Dula changed his name, and when being brought back from Tennessee attempted to escape.

This comprised the essential testimony, and the witnesses generally appeared impressed with the idea that Dula was guilty, though some among them appeared anxious to effect his acquittal through fear of some of his reckless associates in the mountains. Another fact attempted to be proved was that the disease contracted by Dula from the murdered woman was imparted by him to Mrs. Melton, who forced him to the commission of the crime on that account. An appeal was granted from the first trial, and a second one had, where the same witnesses were examined, the same testimony elicited, and the same state of excitement existed. Governor Vance and his assistant counsel for the defense made powerful forensic efforts which were considered models of ability, but such was the evidence that no other verdict than that of guilty could be rendered.

Mrs. Ann Melton has not yet been tried, though she was present at both of Dula's trials, and, like him, heard his sentence without exhibiting any visible emotion. She is apparently about twenty-five years of age, is the illegitimate daughter of one Carlotta Foster, and is a most beautiful woman. She is entirely uneducated, and though living to the midst of depravity and ignorance has the manners and bearing of an accomplished lady, and all the natural powers that should grace a high born beauty. This may in part account for the great influence she obtained over Dula, with whom she is illegitimately connected, and also for the fact that he persistently denies all knowledge of and participation to the murder.

Pauline Foster, the principal witness against both the accused, is remarkable for nothing but debasement, and may be dismissed with the statement that she has since married a white man and given birth to a negro child.

Thomas Dula, the condemned man, is about twenty-five years old, five feet eleven inches high, dark eyes, dark curly hair, and though not handsome, might be called good-looking. He fought gallantly in the Confederate service, where he established a reputation for bravery, but since the war closed has become reckless, demoralized and a desperado, of whom the people in his vicinity had a terror. There is everything to his expression to indicate the hardened assassin—a fierce glare of the eyes, a great degree of malignity, and a callousness that is revolting. He laughs and jokes when spoken to of his approaching end, and exhibits a shocking indifference as to hereafter, refusing persistently all spiritual comfort from attending clergymen. Yesterday evening his sister and her husband, who came with a wagon to take his body, sent him a note from his aged mother, entreating him to confess the truth for her sake, so that she would be satisfied of his guilt or innocence. But further than asking that they be allowed to see him, which request was refused, he said nothing. He still remained defiant, nor showed any signs of repentance, and seemed to have some hope of escape, though he did not say so. A confession had been looked for that might either exonerate or implicate still further his alleged accessory, Mrs. Melton, but this he refused to give, and left the impression that she is guilty and shall not be "blowed" upon by him, though the contrary is generally believed. He partook of a hearty supper, laughed and spoke lightly, but ere the jailer left him it was discovered that his shackles were loose, a link in the chain being filed through with a piece of window glass, which was also found concealed in his bed. While this was being adjusted he glared savagely, and in a jocose manner said it had been so for a month past. Before being finally left for the night by the jailer, he requested that Mr. Allison, one of his counsel, be sent for, and while charging him with the strictest injunction as to secrecy while he was living, handed him the following, written in a rude manner with a pencil : —

STATEMENT OF THOMAS C. DULA.

I declare that I am the only person that had any hand to the murder of Laura Foster.

April 30, 1888

Besides this he had also written a lengthy statement of his life, but without any reference to the murder, which was intended as an exhortation to young men to live virtuously and not be led astray in paths of vice, as he was. There was nothing remarkable to this document, though it covered fifteen pages.

Left alone in his cell on the last night of his earthly existence, the savage fortitude that had characterized his trials, sentences and imprisonment began to give way and he nervously paced the floor as far as the chain would reach. This was only interrupted through the whole night by an attempt to court "Nature's sweet restorer," but in vain, if a fitful half hour to be excepted, and the condemned, after the weary minutes of that night, saw the last sun he  should ever behold shed its glorious light through the bars of the window. After breakfast he sent for his spiritual advisers, and seemed for the first time to make an attempt to pray; but still to them and all others denying  his guilt or any knowledge of the murder. His theory seemed to be that he would show the people that be could die "game?' with an awful crime resting upon his soul.

Early in the morning he was baptized by the Methodist clergyman, and from that time engaged fervently in prayer; but when left alone was heard speaking incoherently, words occasionally dropping from his lips in relation to the murder, but nothing that was intelligible, And thus wore away the last hours of the condemned.

So long had the execution been pending, and as the murder wan committed in one county and the trial had taken place in another, it became generally known throughout the entire western section of the State, By eleven o'clock A. M., dense crowds of people thronged the streets the great number of females being somewhat extraordinary. These, however, came merely because it was a public day, and afforded them an opportunity to make purchases, but a certain class indicated by a bronzed complexion, rustic attire, a quid of tobacco in their mouth, and a certain mountaineer look, were evidently attracted by that morbid curiosity to see an execution so general among the ignorant classes of society. The preliminaries were all arranged by Sheriff Wasson. A gallows constructed of native pine, erected near the railroad depot, in an old field—as there was no public place of execution in Statesville—was the place selected for the final tragedy. A guard had been summoned to keep back the crowd and enforce the terrible death penalty, and for the better preservation of order the barrooms were closed. The curious numbers of the people who had never seen a gallows before visited this structure, eyeing it with strange feelings, and as it was merely two uprights, with a space between them of about ten feet and a cross piece on top, under which the cart with the condemned had to pass, many singular observations were made.

Previous to his being taken from the jail to the gallows many of the condemned man's former companions in the army from the mountain region in which he lived appeared upon the streets, and some singular reminiscences of his former life were related. Among them that it was generally believed he murdered the husband of a woman at Wilmington, in this State, during the war, with whom he had then criminal intercourse. The opinion of all was that he was a terrible, desperate character, and from their knowledge of his former career an anxiety and singular curiosity was excited among them to see how he died. Few there were who pitied him, dying, as they believed him guilty without a confession, and none sympathized with him.

At eighteen minutes before one o'clock, the guard being formed to a hollow square, the condemned was led forth attended by the Sheriff and some assistants, and with a smile upon his features, took his seat in the cart, in which was also his coffin, beside his sister and his brother-in-law. The procession moved slowly through the streets, accompanied by large/crowds, male and female, whites and blacks, many being in carriages and many on horseback and on foot. While on the way to to the gallows he looked cheerful and spoke continually to his sister of the Scriptures, assuring her he had repented and that his peace was made with God. At the gallows throngs of people were already assembled, the number of females being almost equal to that of the males. The few trees in the field were crowded with men and boys, and under every imaginable shade that was present were huddled together every imaginable species of humanity.

Soon the procession came in sight, accompanied by horsemen dashing over the field, dispersing the crowd, and at eight minutes past one the cart was halted under the gallows. The condemned man appeared unaffected by the sight, but talked incessantly to his sister and others of religion, trying, if possible to assure them that he had repented.

Upon being informed by the Sheriff that he could address the assembled crowd he arose, and turning his dark eyes upon them spoke in a loud voice which rang back from the woods as if a demon there was mocking the tone and spirit of a wretch who well knew he was going into eternity with an unconfessed murder upon his mind and falsehoods on his lips. He spoke of his early childhood, his parents and subsequent career in the army, referred to the dissolution of the Union, made blasphemous allusions to the Deity, invoking that name to prove assertions that he knew were, some of them at least, false. The politics of the country he discussed freely, and upon being informed, in reply to a question of his, that Holden was elected Governor of North Carolina, he branded that person as a secessionist and a man that could not be trusted. His only reference to the murder was a half explanation of the country and the different roads and paths leading to thee scene of the murder, in which his only anxiety was to show that some two or three of the witnesses swore falsely against him. He mentioned particularly one James Isabel, who, he alleged, had perjured himself in the case, and concluded by saying that had there been no lies sworn against him be would not have been there. This concluded his speech, which had lasted nearly one hour, and after an apparently affectionate farewell of his sister, who was then removed from the cart, the rope, which all the time had been round his neck, was thrown over the gallows and fastened. Standing there on the brink of eternity this man, calm in the presence of that vast crowd, refused to admit publicly the murder of which they all believed him to be guilty.

At twenty-four minutes after two P. M. the cart was moved, and the body of Thomas Dula was suspended between heaven and earth. The fall was about two feet and the neck was not broken. He breathed about five minutes and did not struggle, the pulse beating for ten minutes, and in thirteen minutes life was declared extinct by Dr. Campbell, attending surgeon. Alter hanging for twenty minutes the body was cut down and given over to the afflicted relatives of this terrible criminal.

Thus closed the career of a man who, though young in years, ignorant and depraved in character, was one of the most confirmed and hardened criminals of the age in which he lived. As yet the written confession above given has not become known, and the greatest anxiety is evinced among the people to ascertain whether he has left any confession that he might be too proud to make known in public. Hid reticence, however, is accounted for by the wish that he would not implicate his accomplice, Mrs. Anne Melton, now to be tried.

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DØDSSTRAFFEN

Chokerende afsløringer af kriminalitet og fordærv i North Carolina - Thomas Dula hængt for mordet på Laura Foster.

Statesville, N. C., 1. maj 1868

I dag fandt en af ​​de mest enestående henrettelser i kriminalitetens annaler sted under de mest ekstraordinære omstændigheder, der nogensinde er beskrevet. En frygtelig forbrydelse blev begået, og en retssag, der ikke har sin lige selv i Burdell-sagen* fulgte. Sagen var udelukkende baseret på indicier, men lidt i halv to i eftermiddag, blev dødsstraffen eksekveret over Thomas Dula, for mordet på Laura Foster, under overværelse af næsten 3.000 mennesker af hans egen race og farve.

Den 28. maj 1866 blev et forfærdeligt og umenneskelig mord begået i den vestlige del af Wilkes County, i denne stat, offeret var Laura Foster, en smuk, men svag** pige, som blev lokket fra sin fars hus i Caldwell County til et sted i Wilkes kendt som Bates Place, og her blev hun brutalt myrdet. Liget blev derefter transporteret omkring en halv mile fra mordstedet, og blev begravet i en på forhånd forberedt grav. Sidst i august samme år blev liget fundet i en sådan tilstand af opløsning at det var vanskeligt at identificere det. Der var en dyb flænge i venstre bryst lige over hjertet, såret var åbenbart blevet påført med en stor kniv eller dolk, der havde forårsaget øjeblikkelig død. Nogle mente også, at den myrdede kvinde var gravid.

Lauras forsvinden vakte ingen alarm i flere dage, da man formodede at hun enten var rejst bort for at blive gift eller for at besøge nogle bekendte i Watauga County, men omsider opstod den almindelige opfattelse, at noget forfærdeligt var sket hende, og en generel eftersøgning blev gennemført, men uden held på det tidspunkt.

Samfundet i det område, hvor tragedien fandt sted, er opdelt i to helt adskilte og forskellige klasser. Den ene som bor på de frugtbare jorder, der støder op til Yadkin River og dens bifloder er uddannede og intelligente og den anden, som bor i bakkerne og bjergenes udløbere, er uvidende, fattige og depraverede. En umoral uden fortilfælde i landets historie, trives blandt disse mennesker, og en sådan generel praktiseren af fri kærlighed fremhersker, at det kun er "et klog barn, der kender sin far." Sådan er Bates Place***, hvor liget blev opdaget på grund af blodspor, og hvor omkring ti eller tolv familier lever på den beskrevne måde. Det er et fattigt land, dækket med krat og en tæt underskov, og der var gjort et forsøg på at skjule blodet ved at dække det med buske.

Snart blev der rejst mistanke om at Thomas Dula, en hjemvendt sydstatssoldat, og én vis Pauline Foster, en uægte kusine til den afdøde, og ligesom hende, også svag, var de to skyldige. Pauline var dengang i huset hos Mrs. Melton, og det var kendt at der mellem hende og Dula eksisterede et ulovligt, intimt forhold, som det også var tilfældet mellem den afdøde og Dula, og dermed rettedes mistanken mere specielt mod hende som synderen, fordi Pauline på mystisk vis var forsvundet for en tid efter mordet. Hun havde den dårligste karakter af alle [de involverede], og under indflydelse af spiritus indrømmede hun, når hun blev spurgt, at "Tom Dula og mig dræbte Laura," men tilsyneladende besindede hun sig, og ville ikke komme med yderligere afsløringer. En dag noget efter denne hændelse, bekræftede Pauline, da hun blev anklaget af  Mrs. Melton, ovennævnte udsagn, og hun blev arresteret og indespærret i fængslet i Wilkes County. Her aflagde hun en tilståelse som anklagede Mrs. Melton, som hun påstod, var jaloux på Laura, og hun førte et eftersøgningshold til det sted, hvor liget blev fundet.

I mellemtiden var Dula flygtet ud af staten, men blev forfulgt og anholdt i Tennessee, hvor han blev fundet under et falsk navn. Han blev derefter fængslet på grundlag af udsagn fra Pauline, og det samme blev Mrs. Melton som medskyldig i planlægningen af mordet.  En Storjury i Wilkes fandt anledning til at rejse sagen, men efter en skriftlig erklæring fra fangerne, blev retssagen overført til Iredell County.

Der opstod den mest intense interesse i sagen, der varede flere dage, både blandt folk i området og i de omkringliggende amter. Næsten alle mennesker ved Bates Place blev undersøgt, og de mest ekstraordinære åbenbaringer af depraveret moral blev afsløret. Wilson Foster, far til den afdøde, bevidnede, at da han stod op den morgen, da Laura forsvandt, var hans hest også borte, og at han sporede dyret til Bates Place. Han kunne genkende sporet på grund af en ejendommelighed ved en af ​​hovene. Han så aldrig sin datter i live igen, men han så og genkendte hendes lig, vidste at Dula havde haft for vane at besøge hans datter, og han havde set dem i seng sammen, og at de havde to private samtaler henholdsvis mandag og onsdag før hendes forsvinden. Yderligere vidnesbyrd viste, at Laura og Dula begge blev set om morgenen, hvor  mordet fandt sted, bevægende sig af forskellige ruter fra ​​hendes hjem til Bates Place, som det blev formodet med henblik på, at hun ville gifte sig med Dula, at Dula havde lånt en hakke, det redskab, som gaven blev gravet med, dagen før, og at han var blevet hørt sige, at han havde pådraget sig en sygdom fra den myrdede pige, og at han ville hævne sig på hende. Det blev også bevist, at Dula ændrede sit navn, og at han, da han blev bragt tilbage fra Tennessee, forsøgte at flygte.

Dette udgjorde de væsentlige vidnesbyrd, og vidnerne virkede overbeviste om ideen om, at Dula var skyldig, selv om nogle af dem syntes ivrig efter at sikre en frikendelse af frygt for nogle af hans hensynsløse kammerater i bjergene. Et andet forhold som blev forsøgt bevist, var, at den sygdom, som Dula var blevet smittet med af den myrdede kvinde, havde han givet videre til Mrs. Melton, der pressede ham til at begå forbrydelsen af denne grund. En appel blev bevilget efter den første retssag, og en ny blev afholdt, hvor de samme vidner blev udspurgt, de samme vidneudsagn fremstat, og skabte den samme tilstand af ophidselse. Guvernør Vance og hans medforsvarere forsøgte med stærke kriminaltekniske bestræbelser, der blev anset som lærebogsmodeller på godt forsvar, men så stærke var beviserne, at ingen anden dom end "skyldig" kunne afsiges
.
Fru Ann Melton har endnu ikke været for retten, skønt hun var til stede ved begge Dulas retssager, og ligesom ham selv, hørte hans dom uden at udvise nogen synlig sindsbevægelse. Hun er tilsyneladende omkring femogtyve år, er uægte datter af en Carlotta Foster, og er en meget smuk kvinde. Hun er fuldstændigt uuddannet, men skønt hun bor midt i fordærvelse og uvidenhed har hun manerer og holdning som en veluddannet lady, og alle de naturlige egenskaber, som skal pryde en højbåren. Dette kan til dels  forklare den  store indflydelse, hun opnåede i forholdet Dula, med hvem hun har haft kriminel omgang, og [kan også forklare] det faktum, at han til stadighed benægtede al kendskab til og deltagelse i mordet.

Pauline Foster, det vigtigste vidne imod begge de anklagede, er ikke bemærkelsesværdig for noget som helst, bortset fra selvfornedrelse, og kan afvises med oplysning om, at hun siden har giftet sig med en hvid mand og født et negerbarn.

Thomas Dula, den dødsdømte, er omkring 25 år gammel, fem fod og 11 tommer (180cm) høj, har mørke øjne, mørkt krøllet hår, og selv om han ikke er smuk, kan man sige, at han ser godt ud. Han kæmpede tappert i sydstaternes tjeneste, hvor han skabte sig et ry for tapperhed, men siden krigen sluttede, er han blevet hensynsløs, demoraliseret og en desperado, som mennesker i hans nabolag føler frygt for. Alt ved hans udtryk indikerer den hærdede snigmorder – et brutalt blik i øjnene, en stor grad af ondskab, og en afstumpethed, der er oprørende. Han griner og fortæller morsomheder, når der tales om hans nærstående endeligt, og udviser en chokerende ligegyldighed med efterlivet, og nægter konsekvent at modtage åndelig trøst fra tilstedeværende præster. I går aftes sendte hans søster og hendes mand, der var kommet med en vogn til at føre liget hjem på, ham en seddel fra hans gamle mor, der bad ham om at bekende sandheden for hendes skyld, så hun kunne blive overbevist om hans skyld eller uskyld. Men udover at anmode om, at de måtte besøge ham, en anmodning som blev afslået, han sagde ikke noget. Han var stadig trodsig, viste ikke nogen tegn på angren, og syntes at have et håb om om at kunne flygte, selvom han ikke sagde noget om det.  Man havde forventet en tilståelse, som enten kunne frikende eller yderligere involvere hans påståede medskyldige, Mrs Melton, men denne nægtede han at give, og efterlod det indtryk, at hun er skyldig, men ikke skulle afsløres af ham, selv om den generelle opfattelse var den modsatte. Han spiste en solid aftensmad, lo og snakkede, men førend fangevogteren forlod ham blev det opdaget, at hans fodlænke var løs, et led i kæden var filet i gennem med et stykke vinduesglas, der blev fundet skjult hans sin seng. Mens dette blev korrigeret stirrede han indædt, og i et ironisk tonefald sagde, at det havde været sådan i en hel måned. Før fangevogteren endeligt forlod ham for natten, anmodede han om, at Mr. Allison, en af ​​hans forsvarere, måtte blive tilkaldt, og under det strengeste påbud om hemmeligholdelse, mens hans endnu var i live, rakte han ham det følgende, skrevet med en grov skrift med en blyant: —

 

UDTALELSE FRA THOMAS C. DULA

Jeg erklærer, at jeg er den eneste person, der havde en hånd med i mordet på Laura Foster.

April 30, 1888

Ud over dette havde han også skrevet en lang redegørelse om sit liv, men uden henvisning til mordet, der var tænkt som en opfordring til unge mænd om at leve dydigt og ikke lade sig føre på afveje af synder, som han havde gjort. Der var ikke noget bemærkelsesværdigt til dette dokument, selvom det fyldte femten sider.

Overladt til sig selv i sin celle på den sidste nat i sin jordiske eksistens, begyndte den brutale sjælsstyrke, som havde præget hans retssager, domme og indespærring at vige, og vandrede nervøst op og ned ad gulvet, så langt som kæden kunne nå. Dette blev kun afbrudt en enkelt gang i løbet af hele natten med et forsøg på at bejle til "naturens søde genskaber"****, men forgæves, hvis en urolig halv time undtages, og i nattens døende minutter, så den dømte den sidste sol, han nogensinde skulle se, sende sit herlige lys gennem tremmerne i vinduet. Efter morgenmaden sendte han bud efter sin åndelige rådgivere, og syntes for første gang til at gøre et forsøg på at bede, men selv overfor disse benægtede han sin skyld og ethvert kendskab til mordet. Hans teori syntes at være, at han ville vise folk, at han kunne dø "med modet oppe", og med en forfærdelig forbrydelse hvilende på sin sjæl.

Tidligt om morgenen blev han døbt af en metodistpræst, og fra det tidspunkt hengav han sig inderligt i bøn, men når han var alene blev han hørt tale usammenhængende, lejlighedsvis undslap ord fra hans læber som havde med mordet at gøre, men intet, der var forståeligt, og således gik den dømtes sidste timer.

Så længe havde henrettelsen ventet, og eftersom mordet var begået i et amt og retssagerne havde fundet sted i et andet, var sagen blevet almindeligt kendt i hele den vestlige del af staten. Klokken 11:00 flokkedes store menneskeskarer i gaderne; det store antal kvinder var noget ekstraordinært. Disse kom imidlertid mest fordi det var en hverdag, og det gav dem en mulighed for at foretage indkøb, men en vis klasse, karakteriseret ved bronzefarvet teint, rustik påklædning, en tobaksskrå i munden, og et vist  bjergboer udseende, var åbenbart tiltrukket af den morbide nysgerrighed efter at se en henrettelse, som er så udbredt blandt samfundets uvidende klasser. Forberedelserne blev alle arrangeret af Sheriff Wasson. En galge fremstillet af lokalt fyrretræ, var blevet opført nær jernbanestationen, på en gammel mark, og da Statesville ikke havde en offentlig henrettelsesplads, var stedet valgt som skueplads for den endelige tragedie. En vagtstyrke var blevet indkaldt til at holde tilskuerne i ave og sikre gennemførelsen af den frygtelige dødsstraf, og for bedre at sikre ro og orden, var barerne beordret lukket. Det store antal nysgerrige, der aldrig havde set en galge før, besøgte denne struktur, og betragtede den med mærkelige følelser. eftersom det bare var to stolper, med et mellemrum mellem dem på omkring ti meter og en overligger på toppen, under hvilken vognen med den dømte skulle passere, og mange gjorde deres egne iagttagelser.

Før han blev ført fra fængslet til galgen samledes mange af den dømte mands tidligere soldaterkammerater fra bakkeområdet, hvor han boede, på gaderne, og nogle ental enestående historier fra hans  tidligere liv blev genfortalt. Blandt disse blev det nævnt, at man generelt mente at han havde myrdet ægtemanden til ​​en kvinde, som han havde haft et ulovligt seksuelt forhold til under krigen i byen Wilmington, i denne stat.***** Efter alles mening var han en forfærdelig, desperat type, og på baggrund af deres kendskab til hans tidligere karriere, var der en vis, nervøs nysgerrighed blandt dem for at se, hvordan han døde. Få havde medlidenhed med ham, fordi han skulle dø, da de mente at han var skyldig og ikke ville tilstå, og ingen sympatiserede med ham.

Atten minutter i et blev vagten formeret som en tom firkant.  Den dømte blev ført af sted overvåget af sheriffen og nogle assistenter, og med et smil på ansigtet, tog han plads i vognen, hvor også hans kiste var anbragt, ved siden af ​​sin søster og svoger. Processionen bevægede sig langsomt gennem gaderne, ledsaget af store skarer, mænd og kvinder, hvide og sorte, mange i vogne og mange på hesteryg og til fods. På vej til til galgen så han munter ud, og talte hele tiden med sin søster om Bibelen, forsikrede hende om at han havde omvendt sig og at han havde fundet fred med Gud. Ved galgen var der allerede samlet et mylder af mennesker, antallet af kvinder var næsten den samme som mænd. De få træer i området var overfyldt med mænd og drenge, og alle steder, hvor man kunne finde skygge, krøb alle menneskehedens afarter sammen.

Snart kom processionen til syne, ledsaget af ryttere som stormede hen over marken for at sprede mængden, og otte minutter over et standsede vognen under galgen. Den dømte mand forekom upåvirket af synet, men talte uafladelig til sin søster og andre om religion, måske for at forsøge at overbevise dem om, at han havde angret.

Efter at have fået at vide af sheriffen, at han kunne tale til forsamlingen, rejste han sig op og idet han vendte sine mørke øjne mod dem, talte han med en høj stemme, som rungede tilbage fra skoven, som om en dæmon derinde gjorde nar af tonen og ånden hos en usling, der godt vidste han var på vej ind i evigheden med et utilstået mord på samvittigheden og usandheder på læberne. Han talte om sin tidlige barndom, sine forældre og efterfølgende karriere i hæren, henviste til opløsningen af ​​Unionen,  kom med blasfemiske hentydninger til Gud, idet han anråbte dennes navn for at bevise påstande, som han vidste var falske, nogle af dem i det mindste. Han adresserede landets politik åbent, og efter at være blevet orienteret, som svar på et spørgsmål fra ham, om at Holden var blevet valgt som guvernør over North Carolina, brændemærkede han denne person som løsrivelsesfanatiker og en mand, man ikke kunne stole på. Hans eneste henvisning til mordet var en halv forklaring om området og de forskellige veje og stier, der fører til mordstedet, og hans eneste bekymring var at bevise, at to eller tre af vidnerne havde svoret falsk imod ham. Han nævnte især én, James Isbel, som han påstod, havde begået mened i sagen, og konkluderede, at havde der ikke været nogen, som havde svoret falsk imod ham, ville han ikke have stået, hvor han stod. Det afsluttede hans tale, der havde varet næsten en time, og efter en tilsyneladende kærlig afsked med sin søster, som derefter blev ført ned fra vognen, blev det reb, som han hele tiden havde haft om halsen, kastet over galgen og fastgjort. Stående der på randen af ​​evigheden, rolig selv i nærværelse af den enorme menneskemængde, nægtede denne mand at indrømme mordet offentlig, det mord, som de alle troede at han var skyldig i.

Fireogtyve minutter over to blev vognen trukket væk. Thomas Dulas legeme hang og svævede mellem himmel og jord. Faldet var omkring to fod (60 cm) og halsen blev ikke brækket. Han trak vejret i omkring fem minutter og kæmpede ikke imod, pulsen bankede i ti minutter, og efter tretten minutter erklærede Dr. Campbell, den deltagende læge, at livet var udslukt. Efter at have hængt i tyve minutter blev liget skåret ned og overgivet til de sorgramte slægtninge til denne forfærdelige forbryder.

Således sluttede karrieren for en mand, som, skønt ung af år, uvidende og fordærvet, var en af ​​de mest uforbederlige og forhærdede kriminelle i den tid, han levede i. Endnu er den skriftlig tilståelse, nævnt ovenfor, ikke kommet til offentlighedens kendskab, og der tilkendegives stor spænding blandt folk om, hvorvidt han har efterladt nogen tilståelse,  som han var for stolt til at aflægge offentligt. Hans umeddelsomhed  skyldes ønsket om, at ikke at ville implicere sin medskyldige, Mrs Anne Melton, som nu skal for retten.

* Burdell-sagen var en anden berømt mordsag fra perioden. Dette mord blev begået i New York i 1857. Her blev en ung kvinde, Emma Cunningham frikendt for mordet på en tandlæge, Harvey Burdell, som hun var logerende hos, og som hun selv påstod at være gift med. Tandlægen var blev dræbt med mere end 15 knivstik. Sagen vakte stor opstandelse og fik megen omtale i aviserne og var faktisk den tids O. J. Simpson sag. Som i Dooley sagen optrådte hverken Emma Cunningham eller hendes påståede medskyldige, John Eckels i vidneskranken. På trods af frikendelsen besluttede dommeren dog, at hun ikke kunne arve sin afdøde mand – heller ikke selv om en præst havde fortalt, at han faktisk havde viet dem.

** Den engelske originaltekst efterlader ingen tvivl om, at der var tale om en moralsk svaghed, selv om det ikke fremgår klart af min danske oversættelse.

*** Artiklens forfatter var tydeligvis ikke kendt i Elkville. I så fald ville han nok have vist at Bates Place ikke var navnet på hele bebyggelsen, men kun på den tomme grund, hvor Tom og Laura skulle mødes.

**** Trods det poetiske udtryk, betyder det bare, at han forsøgte at sove.

***** I denne periode var alle seksuelle forhold mellem ikke-ægtefæller ulovlige. Det vil sige både Toms forhold til ugifte kvinder som Pauline og Laura, og hans forhold til gifte kvinder som Ann Melton og kvinden i Wilmington, blev anset for at være ulovlige.