Petrolman HD Murphy had been looking forward to April 1, 1934 for quite a while.

It was Easter Sunday, but it wasn't the holiday he was excited about.

Murphy had finished his final training session, and this was his first day of paired patrol

on the Texas Highways.

Murphy's motorcycle cruised along Highway 114 outside of Great Vine, Texas, about 20 miles

northwest of Dallas.

At around 3.45 pm, he and his partner Ed Wheeler spotted a man standing by a black

fort on the side of Dove Road where it intersected with the highway.

It's likely the Petrolman thought they were helping stranded motorists.

Even when another man stepped out of the car, there was no reason to think something

strange was happening.

Murphy and Wheeler got off their motorcycles and approached the Ford.

They'd only taken a few steps when shots from an automatic rifle hit Wheeler in the chest

and he crumpled to the ground.

Before Murphy could even draw his weapon, a sawed off shotgun fired from the other side

of the car and Murphy fell.

The man who'd fired the first shot, Henry Methvin, now stood over the two badly wounded

Petrolman, he raised a pistol and fired on the midpoint blank range.

Methvin ran back to the car.

Bonnie Parker said inside holding a rabbit that was supposed to have been an Easter present

for her mother.

Clyde Barrow hit the gas and the three remaining members of the Barrow gang fled north out of

...