The Indianapolis Journal

ARREST OF AN EMBEZZLER.
State Agent of the Ætna Life Insurance Company About $2,000 Short in His Accounts.

About 8 o'clock last evening B. C. Bryner, State agent of the Ætna Life Insurance Company, was arrested at his residence, No. 438 North Meridian street, by Captain Campbell. This was done at the instance of the chief of police of Peoria, Ill., who had yesterday and the day before sent several messages to the police authorities here asking them to locate Bryner and arrest him for embezzlement. The prisoner is about thirty years of age, and with wife and one daughter lives in good style. At the station-house he talked freely about the affair, saying that he had taken $1,900 of the company's money but thought there was a probability of having the matter settled. Witnesses and those who have been instrumental in the arrest will reach the city this morning, very likely, to push the case against him, although he thinks it will be so arranged that he can retain his position. Bryner has until within the past few weeks had charge of the collections for the company, and this business he reported to the Western manager at Peoria. It seems that some question was raised as to the accuracy of his accounts, which led to an investigation. The result of this examination was to have the collections taken from Bryner. Since then he has been chiefly interested in the soliciting department. The prisoner thinks that one of his bondsmen, D. S. Brown, of Peoria, is chiefly interested in prosecuting him for the shortage. Bryner came here from that city about eighteen months ago. He is an active member of the Second Presbyterian Church, and teacher in the Sunday-school there. He says he took the money because he needed it, as times were too dull to permit him to live in the style he had been living in without the use of these means. Previous to his removal to Indianapolis he was in the fire insurance business and bank at Peoria, where all his people are.