77-14-21. [Owners of animals unknown; appraisers; report.]
If the owner of said animals is unknown and cannot be ascertained by reasonable invetsigation [investigation], and a claim for damages is made, the justice of the peace [magistrate] shall appoint three disinterested appraisers to appraise the amount of damages, who shall take the oath of office and perform the duties and proceed as prescribed for arbitrators in this act [77-14-8 to 77-14-24 NMSA 1978], and when said appraisers have assessed the amount of damages the claimant for damages shall be bound thereby.