Bob Johnson has had a front-row seat to Allen County history for more than half a century.
On rare occasions, the long-time Register scribe found himself a part of the stories he covered.
He recalled one such notorious instance Thursday for a large crowd of Allen County Historical Society members.
Betty Cantrell, a local waitress, had been beaten to death and was found floating in Elm Creek, just east of the old Kentucky Street bridge, in October 1969 — one of two bodies found in different parts of the county on the same day. The second, discovered northwest of Gas along a dirt road, was Sally Hutton, an Iola junior high student.
Cantrell’s accused murderer, Jack Shoemaker, eventually confessed to the crime, but only after being plied with a bottle of whiskey by Ray Emmons, a former sheriff and KBI agent.
Shoemaker’s “confession” included knowledge of a large rock placed on Cantrell’s body, Prosecutors alleged that fact was known only to law enforcement, and the killer.
Not so, Johnson said.
Johnson said he, in fact, as well “the regulars” at Menegay’s Restaurant also were aware of that piece of evidence long before it was mentioned at trial.
Once prosecutors discussed the rock as part of Shoemaker’s confession, Johnson called Bob Talkington, Shoemaker’s attorney, and told him of his prior knowledge.
“It was the right thing to do,” he said.
Johnson was put on the stand the next day.
Shoemaker was found not guilty, perhaps in part because of Johnson’s testimony and the coerced confession.
There were other instances when Johnson was more than an observer to newsworthy events, such as when investigators asked him to use his metal detector to hunt for shell casings following the notorious Yorkie Smith killings in 1982. (The search came up empty.)
JOHNSON, who is nearing his 54th year as a Register reporter, regaled the crowd with nuggets of local history.
He joined the Register writing staff in July 1964. That same year, the Bowlus Fine Arts Center opened. He covered the Miss Kansas Pageant in 1967, when Moran’s Debbie Barnes won and went on to become Miss America.
He has recorded for history the comings and goings of several industries, including Berg Manufacturing, which eventually became Haldex, Intercollegiate Press, the precursor to Herff Jones, and Iola Molded Plastics.
His first few years were as a sportswriter. He covered Humboldt High School’s 1969 state basketball championship, Iola High School’s success on the gridiron that same year, and the introduction of the Iola-to-Humboldt raft races.
