Knott

In this action based upon the alleged conversion of personal property consisting of a certain oil-well drilling outfit and equipment, the jury rendered a verdict in favor of plaintiff for the sum of $8,250 and interest. Prom the judgment entered upon the verdict defendants appeal.

The defendants Medina No. 1 and Medina No. 2 are unincorporated associations and the remaining defendants are individuals associated together under those names. Defendants held an oil and gas lease on certain lands in Medina County, Texas, which lease was for a term ending August 11, 1926. It was dated August 11, 1921, and provided: “It is agreed that this lease shall remain in force for five years from this date and as long as oil or gas or either of them is produced from said land by the lessee.” Although defendants carried on drilling operations, no oil or gas was produced during the term of the lease. On January 2, 1926, being several months prior to the expiration of the lease plaintiff entered into a contract with defendants relating to a well located on the property which well had been partially drilled for defendants by the Pacific Southwest Development Company. This agreement was evidenced by a…