Sale of unclaimed articles by express companies; notice thereof; disposition of proceeds of sale

§ 285. Sale of unclaimed articles by express companies; notice thereof; disposition of proceeds of sale. Every express company, or person engaged in the express business, who shall have had any unclaimed article, goods or things, not perishable, in its or his possession, for a period of one year at least, may proceed to sell the same at public auction, and out of the proceeds may retain the charges of transportation and storage of such article, goods or thing, and the expenses of advertising and sale thereof; but no such sale shall be made, until the expiration of four weeks from the first publication of notice of such sale, in a newspaper published at or nearest the place at which such article, goods or thing was directed to be left, and also at the place where such sale is to take place; and said notice shall contain a description of such article, goods or thing, the place at which the same was to be left, as near as may be, together with the name of the person to whom directed, if known, and the expenses incurred for advertising shall be a lien upon such article, goods or thing, in a ratable proportion, according to the value of each article, package or parcel, if more than one. In case such unclaimed article, goods or thing shall in its nature be perishable, the same may be sold as soon as it can be, on giving the notice required in this section, after its receipt at the city, town or village to which it was directed.