New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-08-31
e NO Tell How
They Came on
Bergen, Dying


Mrs. Cline that "Miss Thornton must
be made to tell the truth that there
was struggle Mr.. Hart said it was
plain to him that Mrs. Cline's interest
was in this direction. He said that
Cline had contradicted his first state
,nent that he shot in self-defense mad
changed 1t to the version that there
was a struggle and the weapon was
discharged accidentally. There is moth
ing in Miss Thornton's statements that
has given him any concern, the prose-
cutoF said HIS inquiry is now COM
piete, He has the statements of George
A, Cline, who admits having shot Ber-
gen. He also has the statements of
Mrs. Cline, Miss Thornton and Turillo,
eli Of which dovetail and corroborate
his first analysts of the case, he said,
in spite Of Clne,s statement that he
had urged duel on Bergen.
Z Mrs. Cline yesterday supplemented
her previous interview with reporters
by saying thai she did not intend TO
give the literal impression that her
husband wanted fight duel with
Bergen in settlement. ~
"They went upstairs to fight it OUT
she said. "When my husband told me
on coming downstairs after the shoot
ing just what happened I knew he had
to defend himself against Bergen's at
tack"
Earlier Marriage Confirmed
Miss Thornton, the pretty blonde
fling clerk, who lives at STA West
136th Street, insisted yesterday that
she had never denied hearing e strug-
gle between the two men. Cline, she
said, was running around like a "crazy
man" There cerainly was a struggle
and she will tell about it when she
takes the witness stand, she said. She
denied she was ever in love with Ber-
gen. They were merely friends, she
said. t
Notification OF Bergen's marriage on
December Z, 1915, to Mary Frances
Gribben. daughter of policeman, was
obtained from the Marriage License
This is the woman who put in claim
several days ago for the $1,000 death
benefit of the National Vaudeville Ar
fists Association. The records show
that "John Aloysius Bergen" was mar
ried to Mary Frances Gribben on De-
cember T. 1916. He gave his age as
twenty-five years, his address as 3G7
West Twenty third Street, and his
fathers name as William bergen. His
bride said she was nineteen and gave
her address as 230 West Twenty third
Street. She is the daughter of Hugh
Gl'ibben. q policeman.
In making her claim for the 81 900
death benefit which was to sc tx, Ber-
gems mother, the wife said that after
they were married he went 10 work in
Boston for year with furrier.
Walz Was Fearless
Then he returned to New York and
went into motion pictures She APP
pealed to the Domestic Relations
Court for support for herself and her
child, but Bergen had vanished, and
summons could not be served on him.
He took the wedding ring and certifi-
cate away with him, she asserts
According to friends of his in Cam
den N. j., Cline, or George "Chubby"
Walz, as he is better known there, had
many peculiarities and was fond of
eccentric Stunts" He was inclined to
act without stopping to consider pos
sible consequences.
"Chubby' Walz would do all sorts
Of stunts without fear, but he was not
coward and was not the kind of man
to speak lightly of a woman" said one
of his intimate friends last night. He
was bright, Intelligent chap fand
knew how. to take care of himself at