Had Wyrick not attempted the escape and committed the assault, he might have done a year and half or three years. In the words of the late, great movie star John Wayne, “life is hard but its harder when you’re stupid”.

In 1952 Wyrick appealed his case and stated that the assault on Hodges had not been premeditated and that the average sentence for assault was five years. Wyrick's appeal went before the court, and was subsequently, turned down.

The next morning Buff was in Ruby Jo Martin's cafe for breakfast. Ruby Jo had been a WAC in the military and was seven years older than Buff, but he was smitten with her just the same. Ruby Jo was described as tall, pretty and dark skinned like an American Indian.

“Morning darling”. Said Ruby Jo as she poured Buff a cup of coffee.

“Morning Ruby Jo! …show more content…
Stopped a few kids for speeding, one of the Newman boys struck a cow over at Nixa and... Well, have you ever thought about marriage Ruby Jo?”

“Why Marshal Lamb, are you proposing to me?”

“No, no, just wondering if you'd ever thought about it.”

“I guess so. I know you have. How many times you been married anyways?”

“Two, but I married Mary Lee twice, so I guess three.”
“You're only 27 years old and been married three times! My goodness Mr. Lamb, you sure do get around!”

Seven months later, Buff Lamb and Ruby Jo Martin married in Harrison, Arkansas. Ruby Jo continued to work at the cafe while Buff worked the streets of Ozark looking for burglars, chicken thieves and safe crackers. In February of 1954, the safe crackers had put “him” under surveillance!

It was Wednesday morning around 3:00 am and the Jackson brothers were locked up in one of Clay Hodges jail cells. Stewart couldn't sleep and was staring out his cell window from the third floor. A full moon lit up the whole countryside.

“Get up Sonny and look at this!”

“Leave me alone Stewart, I'm trying to sleep!”

“No! You gota see this! Someone is following the Marshal around