Imperial Valley press., 1923-02-13
UTLEY FINDS NO
FACTS TO BACK
CRONHOLM CASE
Finds No Evidence for
Charges of Taking
District Cash
GRAND JURY CASE
District Refused to Take
Money Offered, Claim
of Attorney

After q series of combinations ex-
tending nearly year, Judge Frank
lin J. Cole today granted dismissal
of a charge of embezzlement against
F. n. Cronholm, formerly general
manager of the Imperial Irrigation
District, whom the 1922 grand jury
of Imperial County indicted, follow
ing allegations by members of the
board of directors of the Irrigation
District, charging misappropriation
of funds amounting to $2,674. l6. -
In moving for dismissal of tho
case, District Attorney Ernest r.
Utley informed the court that he
had made a thorough investigation
of the case, including the testimony
of witnesses before the grand jury
and was convinced that the evil
dence was insufficient to warrant
a jury bringing in verdict Of gull
ty, and even should ssaell action be
taken, he did not believe the find
ings would be approved by the APP
pellate court, to which the defend
ant would be certain to bring them.
Utley Discusses Case
Discussing the case after the dis
missal, the district attorney told the
Press that in his opinion the only
evidence to show that CronhOlm
had appropriated money belonging
to the district, was the fact that
he had kept about 5000 from the
time he severed his connections
with the District until March II,
and this was done only becaase the
directors had refused to accept the
money when it was rendered to
them by Cronholm and he did not
know TO whom he should pay il.
History of Case. nflE
A history Of the case as revealed
in the transcript Of the testimony
before the grand jury, shoys, that
in 1919, the Imperial Irrigation Dis,
trict began supplying power Ito cer:s
tain places in Algodones, opposite
the town of Andrade, and III Next
can territory. W
. After making Inquiries of the
state railroad commission. relative
to making charges for the power
furnished, the directors decided not
to make any charge, for to do go
would place them under the supef-
vision of the railroad commission as
a public utility, condition. which
they did not wish to exist.
According to the testimony, Cron.
holm was instructed to arrange for
the installation of the power line.
Here the testimony differN some
directors saying that Cronholm was
instructed not to make any <charge
for the power furnished, and others
stating that Cronholm was instruct
ed to collect money, but that 1t
should not be turned into the dis
trict funds, and should be used by
CrOnholm in improving the townsite
of Andrade, headquarters Of the
Irrigation District.
Mark Rose testimony
The transcription shows Director
Mark Rose as testifying that he
maintained the power should either
be collected for or discontinued.
Other directors believed that as the
district was under obligations for
favors received from Mexican off
cials in Algodones, that tho power
should be furnished without charge.
Cronholm testified that he was told
to make charges for the power.
When he collected the money, II was
refused by the directors he said
and Cronholm said to have been in.
suited by one of them when he ten
dered the funds he had collected.
When Cronholm was discharged
Continued on page 81