Robert H. Robben v. E. A. Obering and Helen Bailey Obering

CASTLE, Circuit Judge.

This appeal involves a declaratory judgment action removed to the District Court on grounds of diversity. The controversy concerns who holds a valid oil and gas lease covering an undivided *4 interest in a certain 21 acre tract of land in Clinton County, Illinois. Both plaintiff-appellee and defendants-appellants claim to hold a valid lease covering the interest. The District Court found the issue in favor of and entered judgment for Robert H. Robben, plaintiff-appellee. E. A. Obering and Helen Bailey Obering, defendants-appellants appealed.

The main contested issue is…