The Washington times., 1922-08-30
SHOOTING
BELIEVED
INSPIRED.
BY STORY
Miss Thornton Says She Broke
With Bergen Because Of
'courting Mrs. Cline
BY International News Service.

NEW YORK, Aug. S0.-The
fate of George A. Cline, who Is In
jail at Hackensack, N. j., charged
with the murder Of John Bergen,
an actor, because of Bergen's at
tentions to Mrs. Cline, will rest
largely in the hands Of women,
according to all indications today.
Mrs. Cline, the wife, says she
will stick to her husband to the
end. Mrs. May Bergen, widow Of
the dead actor, has offered to tes-
tify for Cline.
Miss Alice Thornton, nineteen
year-old movie actress, however.
may prove the star witness, for
it was her revelations to Cline
that led to the tragedy.
In addition, there is a disposi-
tion on the part Of counsel for the
defense to get as many women
on the jury as possible.
Killing ''in Cold Blood"
Prosecuting Attorney A. c. Hart,
Of Bergen county, N. j.. win set
up the contention that the shooting
in the Cline home at Edgewster
on Friday night was premeditated
and done in "cold blood"
While Miss Thornton's story in
dicated the shooting may have
been planned as early as July. the
real secret Of how the staying oc-
door of the Cline home. Cline's
attorney hopes to show by the hull
let's course that the shooting was
dona In self-defense
"A fit of jealousy, guess,
caused me to tell Mr.. Cline" said
Miss Thornton, to whom Bergen
had been paying marked attention
prior to his death. She continued:
"One evening early in July,
Charley Scullion, Mrs. Cline's
brother, who lived with the Clines,
asked me to Fort Lee 10 a dance.
We went to q place In Palsada
av ue-Mr. and Mrs. Cline,
Charley, and myself. While Mr..
Cline and I were dancing he asked
me how Jack and were get
ting on.
Told Of Bergen's Conduct.
IT told Mr.. Cline that I did not
care much for Jack any more. He
Immediately began to sing Jacks
praises. He told me how much he
thought Of Jack, what he had done
for him, and what he would do for
him in the future. Well, that made
me angry"
Miss Thornton said that she then
told Cline:
You may think he is a fine,
honorable fellow, but he isn't. I
saw him kissing your wife. Then I
told him of an incident I had wit
messed in his own home a month be-
fore. He took 1t very calmly--so
calmly that l wondered whether he
believed me. Looking back now, II
seems that Mr.. Cline must have be-
gun his investigation right away"
Counsel for Cline believe the bul.
let's course will show that the two
men were either crouched In q fight
ing position or were actually struR.
Cling when the shot was fired. Cline
contends the two men were in a
struggle for possession Of the
revolver when the shot was fired
which snuffed out Bergen's life.
Miss Thornton denies Cline's story
that he gave Bergen a gun and an
equal chance to defend himself.
Prosecutor Hart believes the girls
story will convince jury that Ber-
gen was shot TO death In cold blood.
MISS InOTntOn, Wuo uHth ycster-
day, was known in the case as 'thc
mystery girl" did not hesitate to say
she was in the Cline home on the
fatal night. but she denied she wit
messed the shooting.
''Of course, did not know that
George Cline intended to kill Jack
she said. "I would not have been
there had suspected that such was
his iptention II wah like IN u. lack
and were sweethearts. Jack as
many affairs with women In the
past. he didn't meet his true love