Any person who designedly, by color or aid of any false token or writing, or other false pretense, obtains the signature of any person to any written instrument, or obtains from any person any money or property for any alleged charitable or benevolent purpose whatever, shall be guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment in the State Penitentiary not exceeding three (3) years or in a county jail not exceeding one (1) year, or by a fine not exceeding the value of the money or property so obtained, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

R.L. 1910, § 2695; Amended by Laws 1997, HB 1213, c. 133, § 372 (effective date changed to July 1, 1999, by Laws 1998, 1st Extr. Sess., HB 1002, c. 2, § 23-26, emerg. eff. June 19, 1998) (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 1999, 1st Extr. Sess., HB 1009, c. 5, § 264, emerg. eff. July 1, 1999 (superseded document available).