Not long after the Joplin incident the gang had been in the Ruston area and had planned to rob
The Ruston State Bank. In a search for another car to use for this caper, the gang was cruising
down the quiet, residential area on North Trenton Street. 


Clyde had spotted a new Chevrolet belonging to 35 year old H. Dillard Darby, a mortician
at the nearby McClure Funeral Home. Mr. Darby who lived at the Brooks Boarding House was
inside enjoying his lunch, his car was in the driveway, with the keys still in the ignition.
W.D. Jones leaped from the slow moving Barrow car and made a quick getaway in Mr. Darby's
automobile. Darby, who had witnessed the theft of his new car immediately gave chase on foot,
however the car had gained speed and then quickly disappeared from sight. Sophia Stone,
a 27 year old home demonstration agent also witnessed the crime and offered to give chase
along with Mr. Darby in her car. While chasing down W.D.Jones the couple were intercepted by
Clyde, Bonnie, Blanche and Buck in the other Barrow car. Clyde had asked Darby and Stone why
they were following the Chevrolet and Mr. Darby told him that it was his car and that it had
just been stolen. Clyde grabbed Darby by the collar and forced him into the Barrow gang car,
then Bonnie forced Miss Stone to get out of her car and join Mr. Darby. In the beginning the
plan was to kill the couple because they had messed up Barrow's plan to rob the Ruston Bank.
However, after talking with the couple and kidding around they took a liking to them and told
them that they would let them live after all.

Once in Arkansas just outside of Waldo, the couple was let out on a desolate road, the Barrow
car had spun gravel as it departed. Darby and Stone were relieved that they were still alive
after their ordeal. Just then the car braked hard and backed up to the couple. This is it
they thought, they're coming back to kill us. Bonnie handed them a five dollar bill and told
them to use it to get back home.