Pharr v. South Arkansas Oil & Gas Co.

McCulloch, C. J. This is an action instituted by appellants in the chancery court of Columbia County to cancel a gas and oil lease executed by them covering 236 acres of land in that county. Appellants owned the described tracts of land, and on April 10, 1919, executed to the Columbia County Development Company (a co-partnership) a lease of the oil and gas rights on that land. The lease recited a cash consideration of one dollar paid, and stipulated that, if drilling operations should not be commenced within one year from date of lease, lessees would pay a quarterly rental of twenty-five cents per acre for three years, otherwise there should be a forfeiture of the lease. A corporation was formed, entitled South Arkansas Oil & Gas Company, s.aid corporation being one of the defendants and appellees in this case, and this lease, with leases obtained from other -landowners in the vicinity, was assigned to that corporation. Stock in the corporation of the par value of $236 was issued and delivered to appellants. This stock was issued to appellants in satisfaction and in lieu of the rentals specified in the lease. Stock was similarly issued and delivered to other lessors in amounts equal to one dollar per acre for the respective quantities of land leased. Receipts were taken from each of the lessors to whom the stock was delivered, reciting the consideration for which the stock was delivered. The name of O. D. Pharr, one of the -appellants, was signed to a receipt by his son, but in this action he repudiates the authority of his son to sign his name. The leases were obtained by W. D. Wingfield, who was made president of the corporation, when organized. Appellants allege, as grounds for cancellation, that Wingfield, as an inducement to them to give the lease, falsely and fraudulently represented to them that the plan was to obtain the leases in the names of Wingfield, Moody and Cline; that leases were to be obtained on 40,000 acres of land in a block, and assigned, one-half of same to said corporation (to be organized), and the other one-half to certain oil men from Tulsa, Oklahoma, to induce them to put down test wells on the lands, and that stock in the corporation should be issued to the' respective lessors equal in par value to one dollar for each acre of the leased lands in payment for the lease. It is also alleged in an amendment to the complaint that Wingfield and his associates obtained leases on other lands in excess of the amount of acreage mentioned above and assigned same to the corporation, receiving stock equal in value to one dollar per aere, and that Wingfield fraudulently concealed from appellants his purpose to do that. There is also an allegation in the complaint to the effect that Wingfield took the lease in the name of the Columbia County Development Company instead of in the name of himself, Cline .and Moody, without the knowledge or consent of appellants, but this fact does not seem important, since the lease was assigned to the corporation as agreed, and that issue seems to have been abandoned. The answer contains denials of the allegations of fraudulent representations and concealments. The case was heard oh oral and documentary testimony, and there was a decree dismissing the compaint for want of equity. The alleged fraud concerning the representations or promises as to the plan to obtain leases to the amount of acreage represented and assign them to the corporation and to the Tulsa people is not supported by the evidence, for the leases were obtained and assigned in accordance with the representations, and the Tulsa people put down the test wells. The fact that Wingfield obtained other leases and turned them over to the corporation, receiving in return shares of stock on the basis the same as other lessors, did not constitute fraud on the rights of appellants. There was no agreement, either express or implied, so far as the evidence discloses, that other leases should not be taken by the corporation in excess of the quantity named. There was no restriction as to the quantity of leases to be obtained. Appellants merely say that Wingfield proposed to obtain leases on 40,000 acres. It is not shown that the acceptance of leases by the corporation in excess of the above specified quantity was an unprofitable or undesirable venture, nor is it shown that the acceptance of such additional leases would not inure to the benefit of all stockholders if the venture proved to be a success. We find nothing in this feature of the case which constitutes fraud. According to the testimony adduced by appellants, the signature of O. D. Pharr to the receipt by his son was not authorized, but he accepted the stock on the terms named and kept it without objection for nearly two years, when he knew, or could have known, that it was issued in satisfaction of rentals under the lease, the same as stock delivered to the other shareholders. The evidence on this issue is sufficient to support the decree. Affirmed.