I still think the gun, if it IS the original Bo-Whoop, belongs to he Buckingham family, no matter who has possession of it and how long they've had it. This is not like a legal trophy of war like the WW-2 bringbacks by GIs. This gun was misplaced by the rightful owner, heavily advertized as lost, and even has the owner's name on it.
The fellow who found it did not steal it when he picked it up, he stole it when he failed to return it to its rightful owner and 'converted' it to his own use. The second theft occurred when a buyer took possession of it later, knowing it was stolen property.
Statutes of limitation are not so simple as they seem. The time is for example usually tolled or extended while the crime is unknown or during the period of any incapacity on the part of someone entitled to recovery. In addition, the crime of possessing stolen property may be a continuing crime as long as the possession goes on, or a new crime may be commited by someone else recieving the stolen property.
My best guess is that Julia will not auction this item unless and until the provenance and the ownership matters are settled between the interested paries...Geo
Last edited by Geo. Newbern; 12/30/09 12:09 PM.
