Lead Opinion
. When John W. Clayton died, he left to his heirs a tract of 300 acres of land in the David Minchey League in Liberty county. One of the heirs sold by specific metes and bounds
75
acres out of the southwest corner of this tract, identified in the record in this case as the Antoine tract. Later ánother tract of SO acres was sold off the northwest corner of the 300-acre tract, lying immediately north of the Antoine tract. These two tracts consumed all the western end of the 300-acre tract except a small strip of land lying between the south boundary line of the Antoine tract and the south boundary line of the 300-acre tract, 46 feet wide at its eastern end and extending west about 3,000 feet to a* point. The sale of the two tracts just named left 145 acres of the original tract which, on the 19th day of January, 1920, was owned by appellants, Mrs. Martha Van De-venter and her two children, L. Q. Van De-venter and her daughter Mrs. Nona-Mahavier, in*the following proportions, to wit: Mrs. Van Deventer owned an undivided two-thirds interest and each of the children an undivided one-sixth interest. On that date Mrs. Van Deventer and her daughter, Mrs. Mahavier, joined by her husband, 'executed a mineral lease, conveying the entire 145 acres to ap-pellee, Gulf Production Company. This lease did not purport to convey only the undivided interest of Mrs. Van Deventer and her daughter, but all the interest, as if they were the sole owners of the land. However, appellee knew of the interest of L. Q. Van Deventer at the time it took the lease and tried unsuccessfully, both before and after its execution, to secure a lease from him, offering him at one time $17,000 bonus for a lease on his interest. The consideration paid to Mrs. Van Deventer and her daughter for this lease was a bonus of $1,400 cash and semi annual payments of $700 each as delay rental. This delay rental was paid to Mrs. Martha Van Deventer and Mrs. Mahavier on the following dates, that is to say, a payment of $700 was made to them on each of the following dates: January 15th and July 15th of the years 1921, 1922, 1923, and 1924. In the letters transmitting this money .to Mrs. Van Deventer and Mrs. Mahavier, the statement was made that the payment was received by them as “being full payment for delay in drilling for the period and under the terms of said lease mentioned above.” On March 18, 1922, after appellee had paid three of the extension payments above described, all of the appellants, for a valuable consideration paid them, to wit, $100, executed an option contract to Mrs. Nonie O’Brien giving her the right to purchase 72½ acres of the land covered by the above-described lease. On April 12, 1922, in recognition of this option, all three appellants executed to Higgins Oil & Fuel Company a warranty deed to 25 acres of the land covered by the option. In Texas Company v. Van Deventer (Tex. Civ. App.)
This suit was filed on April 20, 1925, by appellants L. Q. Van Deventer and his sister, Mrs. Nena Mahavier, and her husband, against their mother, Mrs. Martha Van De-venter, one of the appellants herein, and Gulf Production Company, the appellee, as a partition suit. The plaintiffs in their petition alleged that they owned an undivided interest of 02.069 acres in the remaining 120 acres after the sale to Higgins Oil & Fuel Company. The balance of the 120 acres, to wit, 57.931 acres, was conceded to their mother with the allegation that appellee had a mineral lease thereon. By an amended answer appellee, Gulf Production Company, answered this petition by general demurrer and special exceptions and by claiming a lease on all the land with pleas of estoppel and ratification *1031 against L. Q. Van Deventer. Also, appellee made Higgins Oil & Fuel Company and the Texas Company parties to this suit on allegations that they were asserting adverse claims to a part of the land in controversy. On-October 10, 1925, on motion of the plaintiffs in the partition suit, the trial court ordered ,a severance in the case, leaving the controversy between the Van Deventers and Gulf Production Company in the original suit and docketing' a new suit with these appellants and appellee Gulf Production Company and Higgins Oil & Fuel Company as plaintiffs and with the Texas Company as sole defendant. The purpose of that suit was to locate the eastern boundary line of the Texas Company tract of 80 acres above referred to and shown on the map reported in Texas Co. v. Van Deventer, supra. On the trial of that case judgment was entered in favor of the plaintiffs therein against the Texas Company. The Texas Company duly prosecuted its appeal to this court. Our opinion affirming that judgment is reported, Texas Co. v. Van Deventer, supra. On January 21, 1926, the first amended original petition was filed herein naming as plaintiffs L. Q. Van Deventer, his sister, Mrs. Nena Mahavier and her husband, and Mrs. Martha Van Deventer, and naming as sole defendant Gulf Production Company. By this petition, for the first time, appellants brought into the case the narrow strip of land between the south line of the Antoine tract and the south line of the 300-acre tract. In our subsequent discussion this strip will be designated merely as “the wedge.” On September 17, 1920, plaintiffs filed their third amended original petition, upon which the case went to trial. The following issues were made by this petition: (a) Trespass to try title, (b) Mrs. Mahavier pleaded that the lease as to her was void because the officer taking her acknowledgment to the lease failed to ask her the statutory questions and failed to comply with the statute in taking her acknowledgment. On this allegation she pleaded a willful trespass by appellee, resulting in the destruction of the rental value of her land as oil property. As an alternative plea she joined with her mother (e) in allegations that Gulf Production Company had failed to comply with the obligation of its lease by properly developing the land and by failing to drill the necessary offset wells called for by the lease. Under these allegations they stated specifically the amount claimed by them for the alleged breach of the lease, (d) They also claimed exemplary damages. L. Q. Van Deventer pleaded that the Gulf Production Company willfully trespassed upon his land; that at the time of the trespass the land had a high bonus rental value as well as the usual royalty value; and that in making the trespass Gulf Production Company destroyed his property as oil property and caused him the loss of its rental value. He also claimed exemplary damages. The petition was specific-in itemizing the several items of damage, claimed by each plaintiff.
On October 17, 1927, appellee, Gulf Production Company, filed its second amended original answer upon which the case was tried. By 'this answer it pleaded general and special demurrers and by special plea claimed a lease on all. the land under the above-described lease. Further it pleaded estoppel and ratification against both Mrs. Mahavier and D. Q-. Van Deventer. The facts of the ratification will be given in connection with the discussion of that issue.
The following additional facts are necessary to an understanding of the issues submitted to the jury: On January 15, 1925, Gulf Production Company began drilling the Marl ha Van Deventer Well No. 1 on its 145-acre lease; this well being on that portion of the lease embraced in the above-described deed executed and delivered by the Van De-venters to Higgins Oil & Fuel Company. This well was completed on March 15, 1925, with an initial production of 4,000 barrels per day, but on March 28th was making salt water, which rapidly increased to 80 per cent, salt water, limiting its total production to 99,120 barrels. April 4, 1925, Gulf Production Company, having under lease both the Antoine tract of 75 acres and all the land lying immediately'south of the south line of the 300-acre tract, began drilling on the Antoine tract' a well designated as Antoine No. 3, which was completed on May 13, 1925, with an initial production of 1,650 barrels, its total production being 138,200.89 barrels. On May 26, 1925,- Gulf Production Company began drilling its Martha Van Deventer No. 2 upon the 120 acres involved in this suit, exclusive of-“■the wedge,” located and drilled as an offset to Antoine Well No. 1. Drilling was completed on this well on July 12, 1925. The well was not a producer. No oil whatever was produced therein. No other well was drilled on the Van Deventer 120-acre tract and no other location was ever made thereon by the Gulf Production Company. With the exception of Antoine No. 1, which was.offset by Van Deventer No. 2, no other producing well was drilled within 200 feet of the lines of the 120 acres, exclusive of “the wedge,” except Antoine No. 5, which was begun on November 14, 1925, and drilled to completion January 7, 1926, coming in as a salt-water well. It was consequently abandoned. However, south of the south line of “the wedge,” within 200 feet of that line, appellee drilled its Duessen No. 11, which was a producing well.
Answering special issues, the jury found the following facts:
First. The market value of an oil and mineral lease upon an undivided interest of *1032 about 20 or 25 acres in the 120-acre tract of land, during a period of time from on or about tbe 1st day of January, 1925,.to about three or four mouths thereafter, was $1,500 per acre.
Second. The Gulf Production Company drew and drained from and under the 120 acres of land, exclusive of “the wedge,” through its Antoine Well No. 1, 13,800 barrels of oil.
Third. Through Antoine No, 3 and Dues-sen No. 11 Gulf Production Company drained from and under “the wedge” 74,943.4 barrels.
Fourth. The Gulf Production Company willfully, wrongfully, and maliciously made and asserted a claim of title to the undivided interest owned by the plaintiff L. Q. Van De-venter in and to the 120 acres of land, and did willfully, wrongfully, and maliciously enter upon and take the actual possession of said 120 acres of land, and did start drilling thereon, claiming that it had the exclusive right to drill and develop said tract of land for oil, and did actually hold possession thereof for that purpose, and did wrongfully and willfully and maliciously draw and drain oil from and under said 120 acres of land and did convert and appropriate such oil to its own use and benefit.
Fifth. The jury assessed against Gulf Production Company in favor of D. Q. Van Deventer $1,000 exemplary damages.
Because of alleged conflicts' between the answers to the following questions, we give the questions as submitted to the jury, together with the jury’s answer thereto.
“Question No. VI. Did the defendant, Gulf Production Company, wilfully, wrongfully and maliciously violate and breach the terms and conditions of the said lease of date January 19th, 1920, and did the defendant, Gulf Production Company, wilfully, wrongfully and maliciously draw and drain any oil from and under that part of said 120 acre tract of land which lies immediately east of and adjoining the Antoine tract, and excluding that part of said 120 acre tract which is the wedge shape strip between the Antoine tract on the north and the Duessen tract on the south, and convert and appropriate such oil, if any, to its own use and benefit, substantially as alleged in paragraphs 18, 20, 23 and 25 of plaintiffs’ said third amended original petition? (Answer yes or no).” Answer to Question No. VI: “Vos.”
f‘Question No. VII. What amount of money, if any, should the defendant, Gulf Production Company, pay to the plaintiff, Mrs. Nena Ma-havier, as exemplary damages ? (Let your answer to this question, if any amount you may find from the evidence, state- the amount in money.)” Answer to Question No. VII: “None.”
“Question No. VIII. What amount of money, if any, should the defendant Gulf Production Company, pay to the plaintiff, Mrs. Martha Van Deventer, as exemplary damages? (Let your answer to this question, if any amount you may find from the evidence, state the amount in money.)” Answer to Question No. VIII: “None.”
“Question No. IX. Did the defendant, Gulf Production Company, between the 16th day of March, 1925, and the 21st day of January, 1926, proceed to drill and complete ■on that part of said 120 acre tract of land which lies immediately east of and adjoining the Antoine tract, and excluding that part of said 120 acre tract which is the wedge shape strip between the Antoine tract on the north and the Duessen tract on the south, such offset wells as a prudent, responsible operator would have drilled, during that time, upon that part of said tract of land which lies east of and adjoining the Antoine tract, if he was the owner of said land? (Answer yes or no.)” Answer to Question No. IX: “Tes.”
“Question No. X. Did the defendant, Gulf Production Company, proceed by and through the use of reasonable care and diligence (as that term is hereinbefore defined) to properly and adequately develop for oil that part of said 120 acre tract of land which lies immediately east of and adjoining the Antoine tract, and excluding that part of said 120 acre tract which is the wedge shape strip between the Antoine tract -on the north and the Duessen tract on the south, between the 16fh day of March, 1925, and the 21st day of January, 1926? (Answer yes or no.)” Answer to Question No. X: “Tes.”
On this verdict judgment was entered in favor of Mrs. Van Deventer and Mrs. Maha-vier for their interest in the drainage through Antoine Well No. 1, and in favor of L. Q. Van Deventer for the damages suffered by him because of the trespass; also the lease was canceled and L. "Q. Van Deventer recovered his one-sixth interest in the land. Both parties excepted to the judgment and have prosecuted appeals to this court. For convenience we designate the plaintiffs below as appellants and the defendant below as ap-pellee.
Opinion.
Mrs. Mahavier excepted to the refusal of the court to submit to the jury the issue made by her pleading and evidence against the validity of her acknowledgment to the lease. We do not give the details of this plea nor the evidence offered in support thereof because, for the following reasons, this issue is not available to Mrs. Mahavier. By her pleading and evidence She sought, on this issue, to bring her case within the rule announced by this court in Kishi v. Humble Oil & Refining Co.,
Certainly the facts thus summarized by ■her do not constitute an actionable trespass, that is, “intentional” trespass, as that word was used by the Supreme Court in Bender v. Brooks,
But alternatively she joined with her mother in asking for relief on the theory that Gulf Production Company had breached the lease by failing properly to develop it and by failing properly to drill the necessary offset wells. It-was on this theory that judgment was entered in their -favor. . ■
After the return of the verdict, but before entry of judgment, appellants, by written motion, asked the court to order a mistrial because of conflicts between the answers to question No. 6 and questions Nos. 7, 8, 9, and 10, as copied above. By answering question No. 6 the jury found that Gulf Production Company had breached the lease under conditions making it liable for exemplary damages. But notwithstanding it had found all the essential elements of exemplary damages in answering Question No. 6 by its answers to questions Nos. 7 and 8, it denied a recovery of .exemplary damages to Mrs. Mahavier and Mrs. Martha Van Deventer. Appellants assert conflicts between these answers because they contend that since the jh-ry had found every essential element of exemplary damages in their favor, it was required, as a matter of law, to assess some damages in answer to questions Nos. 7 and 8. This is not a sound legal proposition. Though by its answer to question No: 6 the jury found every essential element of exemplary damages, it was not required to assess such damages against appellee. Appellants have cited us to no case where any appellate court has said that exemplary damages must be assessed merely because the jury found the essential elements of such damages. The only suggestion to that effect called to our attention is in Mayer v. Duke,
Appellants correctly assert a conflict between the answers to question No. 6 and question No. 9; for by its answer to question No. 6 the jury found that Gulf Production Company had willfully, wrongfully, and maliciously drawn and drained oil from and under the 120 acres of land exclusive of “the wedge,” and by answer to question No. 9 the jury found that the Gulf Production Company had drilled such offset wells as a prudent, responsible operator would have drilled in protecting the lines of the 120 acres had it been the owner of the land. There is an irreconcilable conflict between these answers. To avoid the effect of this conflict appellee, before judgment was entered, filed the following waiver:
“Now comes the Gulf Production Company, defendant in the above entitled and numbered cause, and before the entry by the court of judgment herein, upon the findings of the jury .heretofore returned, and in open court, presents and says:
, “That if, in the judgment of the court, the .finding of the jury in this cause, in answer to special issue No. 9, presents such a conflict ■as would present the rendition of a judgment ■upon the findings herein, then said defendant, Gulf Production Company, hereby waives any advantage in its favor by reason of such con-.flicit and waives its right to urge such conflict as a ground of attack upon such judgment as thp..court may render for the plaintiffs herein upon the jury’s answer to special issue No. 2. , .
■ “And this defendant hereby now voluntarily tenders back to the plaintiffs said lease of ■January 19, 1920, insofar as same applies to : the 120 acres of■ land involved herein togeth-er' with all rights thereunder, and- reinvests plaintiffs with all- rights and titles given and ■conveyed by said lease - aforesaid in and to said 120 acres of land, and here'now, in open "court, consents that the court may enter judgment cancelling said lease irrespective and regardless of the findings of the jury.”
•'! The' éffebt 'of this waiver was to confess, by ’appellee, a ‘ breach of the' covenants of the lease sufficient to void it and to admit and confess that judgment might be entered on the verdict as if the jury had answered “no” to question No. 9, instead of “yes.” On this construction of the waiver and of the verdict judgment was entered in appellants’ favor canceling the lease and awarding Mrs. Van Deventer and Mrs. Mahavier damages for drainage through Antoine Well No. 1, that is, from all their land except “the wedge.” It follows that the conflict between questions Nos. 6 and 9 was thus made immaterial.
In our judgment no conflict exists between the answers to question No. 10 and question No. 6. By question No. 10 the jury found that appellee had proceeded “by and through the use of reasonable care and diligence ⅜ ⅜ * to properly and adequately develop for oil the land in controversy” exclusive of “the wedge.” No element of question No. 6 conflicts with this finding. True the jury found by its answer to question No. 6 that appellee “willfully, wrongfully and maliciously” violated and breached the terms and conditions of the lease, but this general language referred only to the wrongful drainage of the oil, submitted in the last part of the question. Though question No. 6 refers to paragraphs 18, 20, 23, and 25 of the third amended original petition where appellants pleaded fully the different acts constituting the breach, the. specific language of the question submits only the act of drainage and the reference to the paragraphs of the petition carried the jury to the petition only for a fuller instruction on the acts constituting the drainage. The first part of the question, being general in its terms, is controlled and limited by the specific language following the general submission. Having called the jury’s attention specifically to the act of drainage, and there being no language in the question properly construed, to extend the submission beyond that issue, the finding should be limited to the specific submission, which in no way conflicts with the answer to question No. 10.
We sustain the propositions of Mrs. Van Deventer and her daughter Mrs. Mahavier to the effect that the court erred in refusing them judgment for their royalty interest in the drainage from “the wedge.” This drainage was fixed by the jury at 74,943.4 barrels of oil, of which Mrs. Van Deventer was entitled to two-thirds of one-eighth and Mrs. Mahavier one-sixth of one-eighth at the agreed price of $1.50 per barrel. Answering this proposition, appellee suggests, first; that “the wedge” did not exist. That contention is overruled. Under the undisputed evidence “the wedge” was shown to exist; at the least, that issue was raised by" the evidence. The ease was tried and submitted to the jury on the theory that “the wedge” existed. The questions were framed on the theory that “the -wedge” existed, and no objection was reserved by' appellee against this finding by the court. After judgment, it was too late to contend *1035 'that the existence of “the wedge” was not shown.
As a second counter proposition ap-pellee contends that since neither party knew of the existence of “the wedge,” at the time of the execution of the lease, and since it was not in the minds of the parties when the lease was executed, by a process of construction it should be read out of the lease. On this construction, after draining all the oil from “the wedge,” appellee tendered it back to appellants as worthless oil property. This is not a sound proposition. Where the language of a lease is plain and unambiguous, the express language used must control its construction and the courts cannot look to the intention of the parties in construing the language; intent becomes material only upon allegations of rescission or reformation. What the lease purports to convey is conveyed, regardless of the intention of the parties. Hatcher v. Stipe (Tex. Civ. App.)
We agree with appellee’s contention 'that it should have had an instructed verdict against L. Q. Van Deventer oh the issue of damages because of the trespass. Appellee pleaded against him that he had ratified the lease in-question, which plea was sustained •by'all the-testimony. As he-has no alternative plea asking for judgment, for his royalty interest, the judgment in his favor on .the- issue of damages must be reversed .and here rendered against him. The following argument supports this conclusion: The facts establishing the issue of ratification are as follows:
(a) Though L. Q. Van Deventer owned an undivided one-sixth interest in the leased premises, his mother and sister did not recognize his interest in making the lease but leased all the land.
(b) The material portions of the lease are as follows: “It is further agreed that all the conditions and terms herein shall extend to •the heirs, executors, legal representatives, successors and assigns of the parties hereto; .but no change of ownership of a part of the land, or partition thereof, shall impose any additional obligation on the Lessee. Any change of ownership of a part of the land whether effected by conveyance, will, inheritance, partition, or otherwise shall entitle the new owner to the rentals and all royalties accruing f)'om operations on his segregated tract unless otherwise provided in the transfer ; provided, the Lessee shall not be held responsible for the payment of such rentals or royalties to such new owner unless and until the Lessee shall be furnished with the instrument of transfer, or a duly certified copy thereof, and in case of no.transfer in writing, with legally sufficient evidence thereof.”
(c) On the 18th of March, 1922, L. Q. Van Deventer joined his mother and his sister, Mrs. Mahavier (Mr. Mahavier was not a party) in' executing to Mrs. Nonie- O’Brien an option contract to purchase 72½ acres of the 120 acres in controversy. This contract was ’as follows:
“Received, of Nonie O’Brien, vendee — the sum of one' hundred (100) dollars in part payment — for that certain tract or parcel of land out of the Van Deventer tract in the Da,yid Minchey. League, Liberty County, Texas, bej-ing out of the North half of said tract, morp fully described as follows: .
“Seventy-two and one half acres of lahd-bO-ginningat the north east corner of-the Frederick Antoine tract, thence west with ' the north line of ;the said Antoine tract/to the Southeast corner of-the tract purchased'from Mrs. Van Deventer by E. E. Townes.-:
■ “Thence north with' Townes’ east line to the north line of the Van Deventer. ■ '■
“Thence, east with' the 'north line of the Van Deventer to' the northeast corner. '' '
“Thence south with the east line. of’ the Van Deventer to a point in the. said east line, from which a line, drawn west to the.place .of beginning, would include half of 'the Van De-venter tract. - .... . ,," .
“This.day sold, .said.Nonie-O’Brien for the purchase price of Seventeen Thousand./.fiye Hundred Dollars ($17,500).
*1036 “It is understood and agreed ttat the above described tract may be divided into three (3) nearly equal blocks or lots, numbered respectively from West to East one, two and three and we agree to deliver a good and sufficient warranty deed to each lot on the following terms: To Lot No. One (1) on or before ten days from date upon a cash payment of Seven Thousand Eive Hundred ($7,-500) dollars, including the consideration, this day paid. To Lot Two (2) on or before fifteen days from date, upon a cash payment of six thousand and two hundred and fifty (6250.00) dollars. And to lot three (3), on or before thirty days from date upon a cash payment of Three Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty ($3750.00) Dollars. Said money to be paid into some bank agreed upon by vendor and vendee. Failure to make said three payments or either of them, as stated, shall terminate this contract.
“This sale is conditioned upon an authentic abstract, furnished by vendor, showing a good title to the property, and should the title to said property prove not good and cannot be made good within a reasonable time, not to exceed thirty days from the date hereof, then we obligate ourselves to return said One Hundred Dollars now paid upon the return and cancellation of this receipt.
“It is understood that the above described property is encumbered by an oil lease, and it is hereby agreed that purchaser waives all right to collect rental on said lease but that so long as said lease remains in force the rental shall be collected by the undersigned.
“Whereunto we set our hands this 18th day of March, A. D. 1022.
“Martha Van Deventer
“L. Q. Van Deventer
“Mrs. Chas. Mahavier.”
Mrs. O’Brien paid L. Q. Van Deventer, his mother and sister, $100 cash for the option contract. In part execution of this contract L. Q. Van Deventer, his mother and sister, joined by her husband, for the cash consideration of $7,500 to them in hand paid -by' Higgins Oil & Fuel Company, conveyed to the Higgins Oil & Fuel Company by warranty deed 25 acres of land covered by the option contract. The material portions of this deed are as follows:
“To have and to hold the above described premises together with all and singular the rights and appurtenances thereto in any wise belonging, unto the said Higgins Oil & Fuel Company,' its successors and assigns, forever. This conveyancers made subject to that certain oil, gas and mineral lease of date the 19th day of January, A. D. 1920, to Gulf Production Company, of record in Vol. 92, page 522, of the deed records of Liberty County, Texas, in so far as same affects property herein described.
“But it is understood that this conveyance carries such royalties as may be earned from the production of oil, gas or other minerals by virtue of said lease, in so far as it covers the property herein described, however, in the event of a production of oil from said premises under said lease it is understood that the royalty interest to be received by grantee is the royalty from oil produced from the premises herein described, so far as same is under lease, and that the grantee shall have no interest by reason of this conveyance in any royalty from oil or other minerals produced from lands not herein described although the same may be included in the lease affecting any of the minerals and premises herein conveyed, it being the intention of this conveyance to convey, assign and transfer unto said Higgins Oil & Fuel Company, in fee simple the land herein described and the oil and mineral royalties produced under said existing lease from the land herein described. Delay rentals, if any, hereinafter coming due under said lease shall not belong to grantee.
“We do hereby bind ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators to warrant and forever defend all and singular said premises unto said Higgins Oil & Fuel Company, its successors and assigns, against every person whomsoever lawfully claiming or to claim the same or any part thereof.”
(d) The consideration for this deed was paid to Mrs. Van Deventer and given by her to L. Q. Van Deventer and her daughter in equal portions. She also gave to them at various times portions of the lease money received by her from appellee. Explaining this payment to her children, Mrs. Van Deventer testified as follows, this excerpt of her testimony being taken from appellants’ brief: “ * ⅜ * j just used that money like I would any other money that belonged to me, gave it to them or bought what I wanted to, just used it like I would any other money that I had, did whatever I pleased with it. I gave money to the children because they had an interest in the place.”
Appellants advance the following argument supporting their contention that the facts summarized do not constitute a ratification against L. Q. Van Deventer:
“The argument of appellee is that this deed amounts to a ratification because of the reference therein to the lease of January 19th, 1920. First, it may be said that the language of this reference itself makes it plain that the lease was regarded as not applying to the whole of the property being conveyed or to the undivided interests in the entire tract of all of the grantors who joined in the Higgins Company deed. When writing into this deed the provisions that ‘this conveyance is made subject to. that certain oil,, gas and mineral lease of date the 19th of January, 1920, the Gulf Production Company of record in Vol. *1037 92, page 522, * * * in so far as same affects property herein described,’ and that ‘it is understood that this conveyance carries such royalties as may be earned from the production of oil, gas or other minerals by virtue of said.lease, in so far as it covers the property herein described,’ and also that ‘it is understood that the royalty interest to be received by the grantee is the royalty from oil produced from the premises hereto described, so far as same is under lease,’ the parties to the deed very clearly indicated that the lease referred to did not apply to or cover the whole of the tract of land conveyed by the deed. The words ‘in so far as same affects,’ ‘in so far as it covers’ and ‘so far as same is under lease’, can mean only that the land being sold is subject to and covered by the lease to a partial or limited extent only. And it will be noted that the parties to the deed were careful to repeat the same limitation, by the use of words but slightly differing, three separate times in the deed, that is, when writing therein.each recital which refers to the lease. In short, it is patent that the intent and effect of the Higgins deed, when tested by its own unambiguous terms, was to convey to the Higgins Company the definitely described 25 acres out of the Van Deventer tract, with only some portion or portions thereof, or some undivided interest therein, subject to and covered by the lease of January 19th, 1920. It is obvious that the undivided interest of L. Q..Van Deventer was not ‘under lease’ or ‘covered by the lease,’ because he did not execute the lease. * * * The lease did encumber the property to the extent of Mrs. Van Deventer’s undivided interest therein, and on the face of it as to Mrs. Mahavier’s interest also. They were the two owners who had signed the lease as lessors, and this option no doubt meant that said two persons, as-lessors, were to continue to collect the rental which the Gulf Company was paying under the lease. After this option receipt was signed, the three parties signing it did not follow any definite course with reference to the rental from the course pursued by them before signing this option. All rental payments which matured prior to the date of this option were paid by the Gulf Company to Mrs. Van Deventer and Mr. and Mrs. Mahavier, and all payments maturing after that date were made to the same three persons. L. Q. Van Deventer at no time, either before or after he signed this option receipt, ever claimed any portion of this rental money nor did he ever receive or receipt for any of it'. From the terms of the option itself, as well as the conduct of the three persons who signed it, it .is obvious that they were not, as among themselves or as between any two of them, concerned about or attempting to affect any right, or to change any settled status, relative to their undivided interests in this jointly owned tract of land which was, to the extent of Mrs. Van Deventer’s interest, subject to the lease executed to the Gulf Company by her on January 19th, 1920. Therefore, the recital that the land was subject to such lease was correct, but how far subject to it the option did not undertake to say. This option was needed for a temporary use only, and not intended for record or ever filed. It was, to an extent, superseded by the Higgins Company deed, into which the express provisions were written that specifically set forth the purpose and intention of the parties, and thereby we are informed just how far and to what extent the land they were dealing with was subject to and covered by the. then existing lease held by the Gulf Company.
“ * * ⅜ This deed also contains an additional provision reading: ‘It being the intention of this conveyance to convey, assign and transfer unto said Higgins Oil & Fuel Company, in fee simple, the land herein described and the oil and mineral royalty produced under said existing lease from the land herein described.’ When these recitals, or the portions or paragraphs of the Higgins deed wherein they appear, are considered as a whole, it is clear that the parties to this deed understood that the ‘existing lease’ did not apply to or cover all the undivided interests of the three persons who jointly owned the Van Deventer tract and that, therefore, in selling 25 acres out of said tract to the Higgins Company, it could acquire by the deed only such a royalty interest as could arise under the lease, that is, only to the extent and insofar as the 25 acre tract, as well as the whole Van Deventer tract, was subject to the existing lease. The qualifying expressions-‘insofar as same affects property herein described,’ and ‘insofar as it covers the property herein described,’ also ‘the royalty interest to be received by grantee is the royalty from oil produced from the premises hereto described, so far as same is under lease,’ can mean only that every undivided interest in the Van Deventer tract and in the 25 acres thereof being sold to the Higgins Company, was not subject to said lease, and that, therefore, the grantors were conveying a royalty interest in the 25 acre tract described in said deed only to the extent and ‘insofar as’ said lease covered said land, or ‘so far as same is under lease.’ ”
This argument is not sound. The plain import of the language, both of the option (agreement and of the Higgins Oil & Fuel Company deed, was that: First, the 72½ acres were to be sold subject to the lease in question, which purported to convey all the interest in the land. For this ratification of the lease by L. Q. Van Deventer as against his one-sixth of .the 72½ acres of land, as well as •for the other privileges of-, the option, Mrs. O’Brien paid the grantors $100. We-say this because there was nothing in the option contract-to suggest that L. Q. Van Deventer was reserving his one-sixth interest as against the *1038 lease nor that he was selling his one-sixth interest to Mrs. O’Brien free of the lease; but by plain language it was the intention of the contract that she should take the land burdened by the lease in all respects as the lease was written. No construction can be given •the option contract except that as to the 72½ acres of land L. Q. Van Deventer, for a valuable consideration to him paid, adopted it in all its terms. Second, the same construction must be given the language of the warranty deed in which he joined to the Higgins Oil & Fuel Company. Also, we have the additional fact that on the testimony of his mother he received from her a part of the proceeds of the sale of the 25 acres of land as well as the other lease money, to quote her language, because her children “had ,an interest in the place.” Of course, L. Q. Van Deventer had an interest in the 72½ acres of land and the 25 acres of land, but he had no interest in the lease mqney except on the theory of ratification, Appellants cannot say that L. Q. Van Deventer joined in the deed to the 25 acres, reserving his interest from the lease-and conveying his interest to Higgins Oil & Fuel Company free of the lease, thereby burdening the 25 acres- of land, as between Higgins Oil & Fuel Company and. appellee, only with the lease as it related to the interest of his mother-and sister. Such, a construction gives effect neither to the language of the deed nor of the 'option nor of the lease. , These instruments made the deed subject to the lease as •written which, by its express language, covered, all the interest in the 25 acres. Every .circumstance in the case supports the plain .import of the language-of the deed. Thus, at ;tke, time’the warranty deed was executed-to-•Higgins Oil & Fuel Company, if L. Q. Van Deventer was not. a party to the lease executed by h'is mother and -sister, his undivided one-sixth interest- was .much more valuable than his sister’s interest. All she -could convey •was her royalty, interest in the oil,, while L. Q. .Van; Deventer, could- convey his. oil interest .wi^th an unclouded’title.' Vet, in dividing the proceeds-of-this sale, he got one-half and his s'iste^.one.-half, with no explanation as,to the .division. The only conclusion to be drawn is that he. and his another and sister thought his interest .was equal with that of his sister. On.the theory of ratification it was equal; but ¾⅛ the'ratification it was not equal. Again, it ’was expressly: provided in the-option co-n-'tráct “the-rental shall be collected by.the un-'dér'sign'ed:” ’ E. Q. Van Deventer-was one of “the undersigned.”' " ■ • ;
. As a joint tenant with.his mother and •sister he had the right to share .in the -proceeds-of-the lease, as the lease .was .written; ■that is to .say;: since his mo.ther.'.and sister ■purported-'to lease alt the, land; .he had the right to ratify the leáse and. then share in, the •consideration paid therefor. This he did:,by the piain-.language-of-.the option ¡contract just quoted. The principles announced in Texas & P. Coal & Oil Co. v. Kirtley (Tex. Civ. App.)
“But if we have not misunderstood the law relating to tenancy in common, it is the. rule that where one tenant in common conveys the whole of the property that other tenants in common who ratify or acquiesce are es-topped to deny the validity of the conveyance so ratified. ' In 38 Cyc. title Tenancy in Common, p. 106, the rule is stated:
“ ‘Tenants in Common, being owners of several interests, may ratify the acts of each other and acquiesce therein; and generally such ratification or acquiescence with full knowledge of material facts is effective; and after such ratification or estoppel, or after .such ratification or acquiescence the ratifying-parties and their grantees are estopped from denying the effect thereof.’
. “As supporting this-text a large number of eases from different jurisdictions are cited.' Most of them relate .to the ratification by one tenant in common of the. deed of his coten-ant eonveying-a specific parcel of the common property and holding that where such a deed is ratified by a tenant in common he is bound thereby. On page 111 of the same volume of Oye. as cited last above, there is a further statement: - . ..
“ ‘An unauthorized sale or conveyance of the whole property by one tenant in common may be ratified by the others. The noncon-senting.tenant may be estopped fr-om denying ¡the passage of title to the vendee if he does any act to ratify .or confirm.,the sale,’
“In Tiffany, ón Real Property, vol. l,-p. -682, it is said:
‘A conveyance by á cptenant of a specific portion of the land may, it has been frequently stated; be validated by a ratification thereof by the other cotenanfe. Id so far as this 'means that in States in which -a- conveyance by a cotenant of' his' undivided interest ‘in á specific tract of-land is órdifiarily -invalid as against the other cotenants, it is valid even as against them in ease they acquiesce therein, it appears to be a reasonable qualification 'of the doctrine.’ : - ■-
“To the same effect is the rule as stated' in '7 R. O. L. §£ 72, 75 and 77, pp. 877, 879, and 882..
’“In section 75, it is there said:
, “.‘A joint tenant or tenants in.common cannot sell, the whole common property without *1039 the authority of his cotenants; for he has no implied authority to dispose of his cotenant’s interest in the common property and any attempt on his part to do so is ineffectual. In case of such a sale a nonassenting tenant has two courses open to him. He may treat the attempted sale of his interest as annulled, and if the grantee refuses to admit him to possession of the premises may bring ejectment and recover such possession, or he may at his election affirm.what has been done; and treat the money received for his interest as money received to his use.’ * * *
“If one tenant in common assumes to deal with the whole property and to convey the whole of the common property, then his co-tenant should certainly have the right to ratify the sale of the property and claim his share of the profits arising from the sale. Further complaint is made of the holding because the opinion acquiesces in the trial court’s conclusion of fact that there was no prejudice to appellant and that we have in effect applied the doctrine of estoppel while agreeing with the trial court that one of the main elements was lacking. Ratification is a species of estoppel, and where an act of another has been ratified by the complaining party, the ratifying party is estopped to deny the effect of the act which he has ratified, but change of position is not an essential element of ratification as is required in the application of the rule. of estoppel in pais. What we mean to say is that, the uncontra-dicted facts showing ratification, appellees are thereby estopped to deny the effect of the last lease executed by the Hills and that as relates to this matter prejudice or change of position is not required.”
We think the language of the option con-, tract, “the rental shall • be collected by the undersigned,-” brings this case clearly within, the construction given the division orders in .the case just quoted.
■ For the reasons stated the judgment of the lower, court is reformed-and affirmed as it relates to Mrs. Martha Van Deventer and Mrs. Mahayier, and reversed and. rendered as it relates to L. Q. Van Deventer on the issues of damages because of the trespass, but affirmed on the issue of titl§.
Affirmed in part; reformed and affirmed in part; reversed and rendered in part; '. .
Addendum
I agree with the conclusion reached by Judge WALKER, that appellants' motion for rehearing should be overruled. I have no doubt of the correctness of our holding on any point save the contention made by appellant L. Q. Van Deventer that we were in error in holding that his record shows, as a matter of law, that he ratified the mineral lease executed by his mother and sister to the Gulf Production Company, dated January 19, 1920. As to this contention, the exhaustive and strong written argument presented by counsel for the motion has caused some doubt. In the light of this argument, I have again reviewed the record, and still conclude that our original opinion on this point was correct.