B. J. Stumpf v. Fidelity Gas Co., a Corporation, Montana-Dakota Utilities Co., a Corporation and Shell Oil Company, a Corporation

POPE, Circuit Judge.

Appellant B. J. Stumpf, plaintiff below, brought this action against Fidelity Gas Co., hereafter called Fidelity, and the other appellees, its assignees, as defendants, to procure a decree that an oil and gas lease originally given by plaintiff to defendant Fidelity had been terminated and forfeited, and to recover certain stat*887utory and other damages because of defendants’ refusal to release their claimed interest in the premises described in the lease. The action, originally begun in the state court, was removed to the court below on the ground of diversity of citizenship…