The Washington herald., 1922-08-27
CLINE THREATENED
DEATH OF BERGEN,
new NOTE REVEALS
Director Told Police Film
Actor Would Bump
Him Off"
WIDOW APP E A RS
Taxi Drivers Story Differs
From Slayer's Confession,
Say Authorities.
WIDOW Ape A RS

EDGEWATER. N. j.. Aug. 26.-
John Bergen, dare devil of the
movies, was threatened with death
before he actually was slain by
George Cline. Fox film director. po-
lice charged tonight.
The prosecution. which Is probing
filmland's latest drama of scrambled
domesticity. made public a second
note found on the person of Bergen.
The note. scrawled on a scrap of
paper. read:
IF by chance ! am found shot in
by George Cline. alias George watz,
of Edgewater. n. j.. for reasons
unknown to me. He is threatening
me. No doubt a German Lueger,
caliber rs. will be used, as II is his
favorite of many guns. I am John
Bergen. of PA East 115th street.
New York"
Note Accuses Cline.
The first note found on Bergen,
evidently written after the above
one, read:
George Cline killed me-"
Cline went to Edgewater police
headquarters yesterday and told
Chief of Police O'Brien and Capt
Dinan he was to "be bumped or"
He said: 'If I'm bumped off. look
for John Bergen" The officials
took no action on this unusual
Cline.
Mrs. Cline said she had been az
tackled by Bergen in her hotel room
nA
ago. but did not confess it to her
husband until last night.
Confirm Story.
The wife and her two brothers
confirmed Cline's version of the
story as follows:
Cline demanded they fiht It out.
Bergen started to leave. Thomas
Scullion, one of the brothers,
handed Cline Colt automatic,
which Cline pointed at Bergen and
compelled him to come back into
the house. At pistol point he forced
Bergen upstairs into a bedroom.
From a bureau he took the Ger
man automatic Bergen referred to
in his note and handed it to Bergen.
He told the actor they would fight
in the dark. AS he reached to turn
off the light, Bergen aimed his
weapon at him. Cline seized Berg
ems gun and Bergen seized Cline's
In the struggle a gun was dis
charged and Bergen staggered from
the house, mortally wounded. No
one witnessed the mems struggle.
Mrs. Cline and her brothers re-
mained through it on the floor be-
low
Taxi Driver Testifes.
The prosecution brought back
David Landau. taxi driver, who drove
Bergen to the Cline cottage last
night.
Landau stated he was engaged to
drive Bergen from the ferry to the
Cline home.
II don't believe he's there" the
driver told his fare.
"Oh. yes, he is,"' Landau quoted
Fergen as saying. Hes waiting for
me-"
Landau told police he was asked
by Bergen to wait for him.
Il had waited five minutes when ]
heard one shot and a woman's
scream" said the driver. Bergen,
blood b m ared d, limped and
crawled from tn house. 1 thought
perhaps he was holdup man and
started for a policeman. With a sud-
den display of strength. Bergen
rushed toward the car and made
leap for the running board, but
sped on"
This tale. according to officers,
differs greatly from the confession
of Cline.
Actors Widow Enters Case
The slain actors widow entered
the case tonight. She said Bergen
had deserted her and their daughter,
now four years old. and, commenting
on her husbands fate, said, HE de-
served to be shot"
Cline. or, Watz, Is held in Hacken-
sack Jail upon the charge of murder
in the first degree, pending action Of
the grand jury which convenes Sep
tember 8.
That both Cline and his wife tele-
phoned to Bergen yesterday asking
him to come to the house and have
an understanding was established
today.
Mrs. Cline was prominent in So
ciety and the mother of two chill
dren.