State v. Humble Oil & Refining Co.

BAUGH, Justice.

The State brought this suit against some 175 defendants to recover as vacant public lands about 618 acres in two tracts located in the Conroe Oil Field in Montgomery County, Texas, and for $5,000,000 damages for oil taken therefrom. Some of the defendants were claiming a preference right to an oil lease on said lands. Trial was to a jury on special issues, the result of their findings in answer to such issues being that the vacancy claimed by the State did not exist, and judgment was accordingly rendered against the State. The State and the defendants who claimed priority of…