Every person who, with intent to defraud, makes or causes to be made, any pipe or other instrument or contrivance, and connects the same, or causes it to be connected, with any pipe laid for conducting illuminating gas, so as to conduct gas to a point where the same may be consumed without its passing through the meter providing for registering the quantity consumed, or in any other manner so as to evade paying therefor, and every person who with like intent injures or alters any gas meter, or obstructs its action, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

R.L. 1910, § 2665.