Whenever any lienor or pledgee or his assignee shall lawfully deliver the possession of the property which he holds under a lien or pledge to any third person, by reason of any assignment, lawful repledge, or otherwise, such lienor or pledgee shall be liable to the owner of the property for the safekeeping and safe return of such property, and shall in such case be answerable for its loss or for any damage to it while it was out of his possession.
West Virginia Legal Code