6 Pa. Stat. § 16
Upon the application of any of the persons or corporations having a lien upon goods, wares, merchandise, or other property, as mentioned in the first section of this act, verified by affidavit, to any of the judges of the courts of common pleas of this commonwealth, setting forth that the places of residence of the owner and consignee of any such goods, wares, merchandise, or other property, are unknown, or that such goods, wares, merchandise, or other property are of such perishable nature, or so damaged, or showing any other cause that shall render it impracticable to give the notice as provided for in the first section of this act, then and in such case, it shall and may be lawful for a judge of the city or county in which the goods may be, to make an order, to be by him signed, authorizing the sale of such goods, wares, merchandise or other property, upon such terms, as to notice, as the nature of the case may admit of, and to such judge shall seem meet: Provided, That in cases of perishable property, the affidavit and proceedings, required by this section, may be had before a justice of the peace.
6 P.S. § 16