West Virginia Code
Article 1. Estrays and Drift Property
§34-1-1. Taking Up Estray or Boat

Any person may take up an estray found on his land, or a boat or vessel adrift. He shall immediately post notices at three public places in the district wherein the property is so found, giving a description of the property and stating when the same was so taken up; and if the owner of such property shall not appear and claim the same within two weeks from the posting of such notice, then the person so taking such property up shall cause a like notice to be published as a Class II legal advertisement in compliance with the provisions of article three, chapter fifty-nine of this code, and the publication area for such publication shall be the county where the property was taken up. In either case the owner may have possession of such property upon paying the costs of such posting and publishing of such notice and of keeping the property; and if the owner shall not appear and claim such property within three weeks from the date of the first publication of such notice in a newspaper, the person taking the same up shall immediately inform a justice of the district thereof, who shall issue his warrant to three freeholders, requiring them under oath to view and appraise such estray, or boat or vessel, and certify the result, with a description of the kind, marks, brand, stature, color and age of the animal, or kind, burden and build of the boat or vessel.

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