Sinclair Oil & Gas Company v. R. B. Masterson

CAMERON, Circuit Judge.

Sitting without a jury, the court below entered a judgment in favor of plaintiffs Masterson, appellees here, and against defendant Sinclair Oil & Gas Company, appellant here, requiring Sinclair to drill within the ensuing five years thirty exploratory wells prospecting for oil, providing alternatively for the surrender of lease acreage or payment of money penalties. The Mastersons own ninety thousand acres 1 of land in Moore and Potter Counties, Texas, and had, between the years 1916 and 1938, executed thirty-one separate oil and gas leases. By mesne assignments these…