Any officer, agent or clerk of any corporation, or of any persons proposing to organize a corporation or to increase the capital stock of any corporation, who knowingly exhibits any false, forged or altered book, paper, voucher, security or other instrument of evidence to any public officer or board authorized by law to examine the organization of such corporation, or to investigate its affairs, or to allow an increase of its capital with intent to deceive such officer or board in respect thereto, shall be guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment in the State Penitentiary not exceeding ten (10) years, and not less than three (3) years.