Tex. Conservative Oil v. Thompson

This is a suit to determine title to that part of the right-of-way of the St. Louis, Brownsville Mexico Railway Company, extending from the center line of the railway track to the boundary line of fractional Section No. 44, George H. Paul Subdivision of the Driscoll Ranch, Nueces County, Texas.

Appellant, Texas Conservative Oil Company, asserts title to an oil, gas and mineral leasehold estate covering the lands in dispute under a mineral lease executed by the fee owners of said fractional Section No. 44, who claim under Robert Driscoll, the common source of title.

Appellee St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railway Company and its trustee, Guy A. Thompson, claim fee-simple title to the strip of land involved under and by virtue of a deed from Robert Driscoll, dated June 16, 1903. The proper construction of this deed controls the disposition of this appeal.

Robert Driscoll executed a second deed to the Railway Company in 1906, but, under the circumstances disclosed by the record, appellant's contention that appellees are estopped from claiming under the 1903 deed can not be sustained. Nesral Production Co. v. St. Louis, Brownsville Mexico Railway Company, Tex. Civ. App. 84 S.W.2d 805.

The trial court construed the 1903 deed as conveying a fee-simple title to the Railway Company.

The pertinent parts of the deed from Robert Driscoll to the Railway Company, under date of June 16, 1903, are as follows:

Consideration is $1 and benefits to accrue "by reason of the speedy construction and continued operation of the railway through, under and across the land and pastures now owned and possessed by me, * * * grant, sell and convey, unto the said the St. Louis, Brownsville Mexico Railway, all those certain tracts, pieces or parcels of land, to-wit: (100 feet being 50 feet on either side center of the track or line) * * * the said piece, tract or strip of land one hundred (100) feet in widthis now hereby by me conveyed to said railway company to be held, occupied and used by it as and for its use as aright of way.

"Also, three (3) several tracts, pieces or parcels of land of twenty (20) acres each * * * in such locality and shape as the same may hereafter be selected and laid off and surveyed by said railway company along its said track and line of railway; the said three (3) tracts of land of twenty (20) acres each, and each of them, are now hereby by me,conveyed to said railway company to be held, occupied and used by it, asand for its use as depot grounds.

"To have and to hold * * * for and during such said use, and to its successors, for and during such said use, forever. And I do hereby bind myself, my heirs and legal representatives to warrant and forever defend all of the said described land and premises for and during such saiduse, * * * against * * * any and all persons claiming * * * by, through, or under me." (Italics ours.)

In our opinion an affirmance of the trial court's judgment is compelled by the decisions of the Supreme Court in Brightwell v. International-Great Northern Railroad Co., 121 Tex. 338, 49 S.W.2d 437, 84 A.L.R. 265, and Texas Pacific Railway Co. v. Martin, 123 Tex. 383,71 S.W.2d 867. As the authorities relied upon by appellant are fully discussed in the Supreme Court cases cited, we pretermit further discussion. Rule 452, R.C.P.

The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.