Long before daVinci’s brought Italian cuisine to downtown Eagle, the brick building it occupies was home to the Eagle Bank—and the scene of one of the town’s most notorious crimes.
On the morning of August 11, 1924, two amateur bandits, Oliver “Derby” Jones and Chet Langer, walked through the bank’s doors shortly after opening. Armed and determined, they quickly emptied the tills, unaware that their “getaway plan” would soon unravel.
Waiting outside was Jones’ girlfriend, Dora Douglass, sitting in a hired taxicab driven by Hank Endsley. The foursome sped away toward Boise, but the escape was short-lived. Within hours, law enforcement caught up with them in the capital city, ending the brief but bold heist.
Under questioning, Langer confessed and named Jones and Douglass as his accomplices. Justice came swiftly: Langer pled guilty and was sentenced to 6–16 years, while Jones received 10–20 years in the Idaho State Penitentiary. Douglass turned state’s evidence, earning her release on a $1,000 bond. Even the taxi driver wasn’t spared—Endsley was deemed an accessory, pled guilty, and received probation.
For a small farming town like Eagle, the robbery was front-page news and a shock to its quiet community. The sturdy bank building, with its thick walls and high ceilings, survived the ordeal unscathed, becoming a symbol of the town’s resilience.
Today, diners at daVinci’s enjoy pasta and wine where tellers once counted cash, the vault still a reminder of its dramatic past. Few would guess that nearly a century ago, this same space was at the heart of a high-speed pursuit and courtroom drama that became part of Eagle’s colorful history.
The robbery may have been brief, but its story still lingers—proof that even the quietest towns can have a wild chapter or two.
