Encouraging litigation; champerty - Receiving compensation from attorney.

Any person who shall, before or after an action is brought, receive or agree to receive from any attorney-at-law, firm or partnership of attorneys compensation for services in seeking out, procuring or placing in the hands of an attorney, firm or partnership of attorneys a demand of any kind for an action or compromise shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined in a sum not exceeding $1,000 and, in addition, may be punished by imprisonment in the county jail or by hard labor for the county for a term not exceeding six months, at the discretion of the court trying the case.

(Code 1907, §6313; Code 1923, §3309; Code 1940, T. 46, §54.)