Man Slain In Green Street Cafe

Oliver C. Bullock, 38-year-old proprietor of the Bullock Tri-State Machine Shop at 319 Eighth street, was shot to death in a sudden blaze of bullets in a cafe at Fifth and Green streets late yesterday afternoon.
Held without bond on a murder charge is Noble Eldon Stovall, 45, who gave himself up to Maj. O. B. Hall at police headquarters minutes after the shooting.
Corner Fred Allen Tapp said Bullock was hit three times, once in the stomach and twice in the vicinity of the shoulders. The slaying occurred at Jim’s Restaurant, 437 North Green street, about 4:10
p.m. Tapp said Bullock died instantly.

Mrs. Martine Wilkerson, operator of the restaurant, told Sheriff Lee Williams she saw Stovall fire “four or five” times at Bullock. Williams quoted Mrs. Wilkerson as saying Bullock has been in the restaurant but had left to get a haircut. He returned about 45 minutes later and ordered a glass of tea.

According to the woman’s story Williams said, Stovall walked up to Bullock and said: “You’ve been asking for it and now you are going to get it.”

Mrs. Wilkerson grabbed Stovall’s arm and started “beating on it” after the first shot, she told Williams, but was unable to stop him.
She told the Sheriff she then started to phone police, but Stovall took the phone, told her he would do it, then hung up. Mrs. Wilkerson then notified police Stovall, under questioning by County Attorney Lee Allen Khoads and Assistant Police Chief Aubrey Willlams, said he remembered absolutely nothing about the shooting.

Questioned again last night by Det. Capt. Clifford Hooper, Stovall said: “From all the evidence you have, I must have done it, but I can’t remember.”

Oliver Clayton Bullock

Oliver Clayton Bullock was born 22 Feb 1916 to Ella Powell and Matthew E. Bullock in Yankeetown, Warrick County, Indiana.

Oliver married Ruth (1918-1997) on 22 February 1941. They had two daughters, Sherial and Shannon.

Bullock was the owner and operator of Bullock’s Machine Shop at 319 Eighth street.

Oliver Bullock was killed 30 Jul 1954 (aged 38) in Henderson, Ky. He was buried in Maple Grove Cemetery, Boonville, Indiana.

Bullock, who lived in Evansville, was survived by his widow Ruth; two daughters, Sherial and Shannon; mother, Mrs. Ella Bullock of Boonville, IN.: four sisters, Mrs. Robert Gyer of Boonville, Mrs. Richard Cayne of Jolliet, IL, Mrs. Ruth Hunt of Bloomington, IL, and Mrs. Jewell Young of Indian Rock, FL, two brothers. Oscar and Gerald, both of Wilmington, IL.

Noble Eldon Stovall

Noble Eldon Stovall was born 2 Oct 1908

Noble Stovall married Mabel Tabor Palmer (1910 – 1985) in 1928. They had two children, Margaret Edith Stovall Davies (1929 – 2005) and Robert Layne Stovall (1930 – 1978).

Records indicate he was divorced by 1950, as Noble Stovall was living at 106 S Alves with just his son, Robert. He was married to Jessie DeBerry Stovall (1908-1985) upon his death.