United States v. Standard Oil Co.

(sitting by special assignment). This is a suit to restrain waste and depletion of the oil contents of the northwest quarter of section 28, township 32 south, range 24 east, Mt. Diablo meridian, Cal., and to enjoin trespass thereon. The property is oil-bearing and is included in the area described in the presidential withdrawal order of September 27, 1909. No discovery had been made at the date of withdrawal.

[1] The defendants, however, were bona fide occupants or claimants of the property, and, as it is contended, were in diligent prosecution of work leading rto discovery thereon at the time…