Every person who maliciously practices any deceit or fraud, or uses any threat, menace or violence, with intent to prevent any party to an action or proceeding from obtaining or producing therein any book, paper, or other matter or thing which might be evidence, or from procuring the attendance or testimony of any witness therein, or with intent to prevent any person having in his possession any book, paper or other matter or thing which might be evidence in such suit or proceeding, or prevent any person being cognizant of any fact material thereto from producing or disclosing the same, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
R.L.1910, § 2259.