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Hotelkeepers shall have a lien upon the baggage and other valuables of their guests brought into such hotel by such guests or tenants or under their control.
Every hotelkeeper who has a lien on property, consistent with the provisions of this section and every hotelkeeper who has in his custody any baggage, personal effects, or any other mobile property unclaimed, can, after six months from the date on which said property was occupied in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph or had been placed in his custody, according to the circumstances, sell the goods at public auction to the highest bidder and for money in cash in the manner provided in this section. At least 15 days prior to the date designated for the auction, a notice shall be published indicating the hour and place where the auction will be conducted and a description of the goods to be sold, in one or more newspapers of general circulation in the Virgin Islands, and if the name and address of the owner of the goods appear in the records of the hotelkeeper, said notice shall be sent by registered mail with acknowledgment of receipt to said owner within the same period and to said address.
The hotelkeeper shall withhold from the proceeds of the public sale carried out in accordance with the provisions of this section, the amount required to cover first all costs and expenses of the sale including cost of advertising and of any auctioneer, notary, or any other person employed to carry out the auction; and shall apply the balance of said sum to the account of the debt guaranteed by said lien. If there is an excess of money, the hotelkeeper shall, on request made within 20 days following the sale, deliver the balance to the owner of the property or to his duly authorized agent. In the event the excess of money is not claimed and delivered as previously indicated, within the period mentioned—20 days—the hotelkeeper shall deliver it to the Department of Finance of the Government of the Virgin Islands and at the same time deposit with said office a writ containing the name and place of residence, if known, of the owner of the property offered for sale and a description of the articles sold, the price obtained in the sale, the name and address of the auctioneer or other person conducting the sale at public auction, and a copy of the notice published in accordance with the provisions of this section. Said office shall hold the money for a period of one year and if it should receive a claim duly authenticated by the owner of the property sold at public auction, said office must deliver the amount withheld to the owner of the same or to his heirs or assigns. If claim is not made within a period of one year from the date on which the money was delivered to it, the Department of Finance of the Government of the Virgin Islands shall transfer the money to its general funds.