The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-26
Tragedy Has All Thrills and
Sensations of Real Drama.
Going to Room To Fight 1t Out,
Is Shot ON Stairway.
WRECKED HOME, SLAYER SAYS
George Cline, Director for Fox,
Claims Self Defense.
Invited Bergen to Home, Con-
fessiOn and Shots Follow.

: New York, Aug. 26.-John Bergen
a handsome picture actor. lies dead
today, the victim of tragedy with al
the thrills and sensations OF a film
drama He was reported to have re-
fused to participate in a duel with the
husband of a woman he was rumored
TO have wronged.
AS he lay dying, Bergen drew from
his pocket a slip of paper on which
were the scrawIed words: George
=. cline was arrested and today was
p prisoner in the Hackensack, n. J.,
Jail. charged with murder.
Cline insists that he shot in self
(. defense when Bergen attacked him.
Bergen. it seems, had been summoned
unexpectedly to the Cline home
where he was suddenly confronted by
the husband.
81 The tragedy took place in the Cline
5home-a pretty vineclad place-in
Edgewater. y. J., just across the Hud-
son river from Grants tomb on River
side drive
p cline who has been directing mo-
ton pictures for the William Fox
company at Fort Lee, in the presence
of his wife and her two brothers. ac-
eused Bergen of wrecking his home
Bergen Confessed.
Cline following the shooting told
the police he had sent for Bergen
EAdENAnB IEOIAl Ills MAA6 dGIdAAS
of an incident, which, he declared. she
said took place at SaranAc Lake, N.
Y. recently. At the time Cline said
his wife and Bergen were at the lake
taking part in a film production.
When he accused Bergen at last
nights dramatic meeting Cline said
the film actor brazenly admitted the
incident and calmly demanded: well,
what about #"
Bergen also added contemptuous
4 ersr to
husband said. Thereupon Cline re-
torted.
We'll. so long as you feel that way
about it. let us settle this matter like
two men"
- Crossing the floor of the dining
room, Cline drew from the drawer of
a closet two duelling pistols.
There is a big empty room up
stairs; we will go up there and fight
il out" suggested Cline. No one will
bother US 1t is the chivalr0us thing
10 do"
The wife stood by. her hands cIasped
on her breast, her face ashen gray
with fear. Her brothers made no
move. Upstairs the Cline children,
aged and 3. lay asleep
Actor Didn't Wait.
The two men started up the stairs.
bent on their grim business, each with
pistol in his hand. Bergen went first,
followed by Cline. According to the
story told the police by Cline,s the
actor suddenly halted on the stairway,
turned and pointed his weapon at
Cline Cline said he leaped forward
and attempted to wrest the pistol from
Bergen's hand. The pistol fell to the
stairway. Then, according to Cline,
the actor drew a blackjack from his
pocket and lunged a blow at his head.
It was then, Cline said, that he raised
his pistol and fired one shot.
The bullet struck the actor just over
the heart and he crumpled up, the
body sliding down the stairway past
Cline. leaving a trail Of blood in its
wake
The bleeding body was brought uu
with a bump at the bottom of the
stairs irst in front OF Mrs Cline and
her brothers. Bergen was breathing
with long gasping breaths but was
conscious. with a painful effort, he
sta ggsred to his feet and made for
the door. Hc lurched from the porch
and disappeared in the darkness
Z. A half hour later. the dying actor