Whenever any freight, baggage, or other property transported by a common carrier to, or deposited with a common carrier at, any point in the District of Columbia, shall remain unclaimed by the owner or consignee, or the charges thereon shall remain unpaid for the space of 6 months after arrival at the point to which the same shall have been directed or transported, or after deposit as aforesaid, and the owner or person to whom the same is consigned, or by whom the same shall have been deposited, shall, after notice of such arrival, or after notice to take away such property so deposited, neglect or refuse to receive the same and pay the charges thereon within such period of 6 months, then it shall be lawful for such carrier to sell such freight, baggage, or other property at public auction, after giving 3 weeks notice of the time and place of sale, once a week for 3 successive weeks, in a newspaper published in the District of Columbia.

Upon the application of such carrier, verified by affidavit, to the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, setting forth that the place of residence of the owner or consignee of any such freight, baggage, or other property is unknown, or that such freight, baggage, or other property is of such perishable nature, or so damaged, or showing any other cause that shall render it impracticable to give the notice or delay the sale for the period provided in § 35-101, then it shall be lawful for such Court to make an order authorizing the sale of such freight, baggage, or other property upon such terms as to notice as the nature of the case may admit of and to such Court shall seem meet.

The residue of moneys arising from any such sale, under either § 35-101 or § 35-102, after deducting the amount of charges, including charges for transportation, the cost of handling and storage, demurrage, and the costs and expenses of proceedings to authorize the sale, and of advertising and sale, shall be paid to the owner of such freight, baggage, or other property on demand.