Morriss v. First Nat. Bank of Mission

POPE, Justice.

This is an interpleader suit brought by the First National Bank of Mission, Texas, as depository for certain funds payable under an oil and gas lease, to determine whether the funds in dispute are royalties that belong to the non-participating royalty owners as a “minimum royalty,” or rents or bonus payable to the lessor who owned the leasing or executive rights. The suit is also for a declaratory judgment. The trial court without deciding that the funds were rents or bonus, decided that they were not royalties.

On March 15, 1944, Santa Cruz Farms Company executed an oil and gas…