The Washington times., 1922-08-26

WIFE WAS
VVR0NCED
Player Said to Have Admitted
Illicit Relations Before
Fatal Shot.
By international Nev. seryice.

By international News Service.
NEW YORK, Aug. 26.-John
Bergen, handsome moving pic
Fture actor, lies dead today, the
victim of tragedy with all the
thrills and sensations of q film
drama. He was reported to have
refused to participate in a duel
with the husband Of woman he
was rumored 10 have wronged.
( As he lay dying, Bergen drew
from his pocket q slip of paper
on which we're the scrawled
words:
George Cline killed me-"
Cline Claims Self Defense.
Cline was arrested and today In
a prisoner in the Hackensack, ". j.,
jail. charged with murder.
Clinc insists that he shot In self
defense when Bergen attacked him.
Bergen, ii seems, had been sum-
moned, Unexpectedly to the Cline
home, where he was suddenly con-
fronted by the husband.
The tragedy took place In the
Clines' cottage-a pretty vine-clad
place-at 100 Undercliff avenue,
Edgewater, N. j.. just across Eud-
son river from Grants tomb, on
Riverside Drive.
Cline, who has been directing
motion pictures for the William
Fox Company at Fort Lee. In the
presence of his wife and her two
brothers, accused Bergen OF wreck
ing his home.
Ill Il. - ~ ksNIA
the police he had sent for Bergen
tails OF an incident which, ne de-
clared, shes confessed 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.
Admitted Accusations.
When he accused Bergen at last
nights dramatic meeting, Cline
said the film actor brazenly ad-
mitted the incident and calmly de-
manded:
"well, what about it?" ...
Bergen also added contemptuous
remarks disparaetng to Mrs. Cline,
the husband added.
Thereupon Cline retorted:
"well. SO long as you feel that
way about II. let's settle this mat
ter like two men,"
Crossing the floor Of the dining
room, Cline drew from the drawer
of a closet two duelling pistols.
There Is q big empty room up
stairs; we will 90 ub there and fight
Il out" suggested Cline. mo one
win bother us. II is the chivalrous
thing to do"
The, wife stood by, her hands
clasped on her breast, her face ashen
gray with fear. Her brothers made
no move. Upstairs the Cline chill
dren. aged seven and five, lay
asleep.
The two men started up the stairs,
each with a pistol in his hand. Ber-
gen went first, followed by Cline.
Attacked On Stairway.
According to the story told to the
police by Cline, the actor suddenly
halted on the stairway. turned and
pointed his weapon at Cline. Cline
said he leaped forward and attempt.
ed to wrest the pistol from Bergen's
hand. The pistol fell TO the stair
way. Then, according to Cline, the
actor drew blackjack from his
DOChCl anu ~ piOW dI Ills
head. II was then, Cline said, that
he raised his pistol and fired one
shot.
The bullet struck the actor on
the left side Of the chest Just over
the heart and he crunpled up. the
body sliding down the stairway.
Bergen was conscious and with a
painful effort he staggered 70 his
feet and made for the door. lie
lurched from the porch and dis
appeared In the darkness.
A half hour later the dyins actor
was found lying on the river road
near the Edgewater ferry station,
nearly half a mile from. the spot
where he had been shot.
A taxicab chauffeur saw the body
J CONTINUED on Pege .. Column 81