In the summer of the Jazz Age, a sensational murder case unfolded in Michigan that seemed torn from the pages of a pulp novel. At its center was a love triangle involving a young woman, her devoted suitor, and a pregnant rival whose life would end in an act of violence.
Nineteen-year-old Florence “Peggy” McKinney claimed she was responsible for the tragedy. According to her account, Emil “Ace” Zupke was so infatuated with her that he would do anything to win her affection, including eliminating another woman who stood in the way.
What followed was a tale of jealousy, manipulation, obsession, and regret. Peggy described a relationship in which flirtation and emotional games spiraled into deadly consequences.
Whether her version of events represented genuine remorse, an attempt to share the blame, or something else entirely became a matter of public fascination.
Girl Takes Blame in Slaying
BENTON HARBOR, Michigan. — “I take all the blame for Cora Raber’s death. Ace was crazy about me. He often said he’d do anything for me to get me to marry him. I knew he would. It thrilled me sometimes to know there was nothing he would not do if he thought I wanted him.”
Thus spoke 19-year-old Florence, called “Peggy,” McKinney today in a remarkable interview with the International News Service.
Did Not Realize
“I didn’t realize what a dreadful ending there would be to my playing with Ace Zupke’s emotions,” she said. “I wish I was dead on Cora’s place. I guess my affection for Ace is dead.”
Florence McKinney is yet too young, she thinks, to draw generalizations about life and men; about what pays and what doesn’t.
But today in the county jail this 19-year-old girl, who has confessed to driving Emil (Ace) Zupke’s roadster while he choked to death the mother of his unborn child, as the three sat crowded in the single seat of the vehicle, preached an unconsciously given lesson on those subjects, in an exclusive interview with International News Service.
She propped her feet high as she lay on the cot in the cell, with gray skirt curled under her, and lavender sweater awry. And throughout, her phrases included bromides and cant sentences from the “ten, twent’, thirt’” type of literature.
Did Everything For Her
“About a year ago I met Ace and we began going together. I couldn’t help liking him. He did everything for me — bought me these shoes I’m wearing.
“Father wanted me to marry Ace, but we broke up. Then last June we made it up and I said I’d marry him, but we were having a good time as it was going around to shows and things.
“Then Ace told me about Cora, but I thought he was kidding me to make me jealous. Wednesday night, when we had a date, he brought Cora to the house. I told him he was crazy. He laughed and I had to laugh, too. We had some sandwiches and while we were eating them he said he’d do anything for me. Said he’s even get rid of Cora.
“And then he told me he was going to kill her.”
Source: The Washington Times. Washington, D.C. August 15, 1924.
