Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-10-25
MRS. CLINE TELLS OF
AFFAIR WITH BERGEN
husband Admits Shooting. In
Defense Of His Wfe's
Good Name.

IIacksnsack. N. j., Dot. 26.-The
case OF three defendants on trial be-
fore Supreme Court Justice Charles
w. Parker for the murder Of Hand
some Jack Bergen. moving picture
actor. Aw1ll probably 30 10 the jury
late today. That a verdict might be
returned tonight with tho usual swift
nses OF Jersey Justice" became evil
dent nfter Judge and jury yesterday
had listened to- the etories VI the three
accuaed. George Cline, his brother in
law. Charles Scullion. rand Mias Alice
Thornton. and 10 tho testimony of
Mrs. Mamie 'Clinef corrobora.ing her
husband whose defense Is based on
eelf defense and tustinable homicide.
1ate yesterday while Mrs. Cline was
tearfally telling OF her relations with
Bergin. who was killed In duel
with Cline In the latter's home In
Edsewater, N. j., on August q last
her two children. one golden haired
girl of I, were playing on n seat In the
lcrowded courtroom. As Mrs. Cllne left
the witness stand and went to her
seat. still sobblng. and covering her
face with her hands. the little girl
went to her side with great solcltude
| and asked:
What IL the matter. motherT
Mrs. Cllne's story OF her meeting
with Bersin In n hotel at Ssranec
Lake was interrupted at frequent In.
tcrvals by crying which apparently
| affected the men on the jury more
than the women.
IL pleaded with Jack not TO bother
the st. Regis Hotel. saranac Lake
where my husband had taken me Fant
the children. as we'll as Bergin. for hs
had some locating work 10 do there
for Fox film picture" said Mra
| Cline. II waa not feeling we'll at tn.
time and Bergin prevailed upon mo t,
take some liquor"
The defense contends that Mrs. Gin,
was attacked by Bergin after she ha,
been piled with liquor. and wher
Prosecutor A. c. Hart, on cross Sk
animation. asked Mrs. Bergin II sh
had not admitted Bergln 10 her room
on several occasions after tho alleges
attack she denied she had done so.
Cline testified that he had propose,
the duel" with Bersin not because n
learned OF the actors alleged attacl
upon Mrs. Cline. but because the ncto
had described Mrs. Cline rs a bum.
On direct examination Cline de
scrihed how no had learned of IN
Haranao Lake incident after month
OF suspicion. and how he had aske
Bergin, whom he befriended, TO com
TO the Cline home in Edeewater Z
explain certain kissing parties" II
maintained that Bergin was acct
dentelly shot in n struggle for posses
sion of tho gun which no had given Z
Bergen. and In demonstrating wha
no described ss the accidental shoot
Ing of the actor. Cline twisted Prose
cutor Hart almost down to tho cour
room floor TO show how BergIn's bao
was almost toward him when tho gu
went on.
You were armed when Borg,
came to your house after you sent 10
himP' asked Prosecutor Hart.
Yes. l wanted 10 be prepared 1
case Bergin started any trouble.
Outside the anticipated attack o
you was there any other reason yo
; had 10 shoot Bergln?"
4 IL hadn't any shooting thoughts
mind" replied Cline.
Cline testified that it was a remar
of the actor. about TO leave the hou,
which infuriated him. and he quot,
Bergfn as follows:
George. you know all women a,
bad and Mamie is a bum"
1t was then that Cline invited. Be
gin 10 go upstairs. where the shootir
= occurred, according to cllne's tes,
mony.