1. Every person who shall ask or receive any compensation, gratuity or reward, or any promise thereof:

(a) Upon the representation that the person can, directly or indirectly, or in consideration that the person shall, or shall attempt to, directly or indirectly, influence any public officer, whether executive, administrative, judicial or legislative, to refuse, neglect, or defer the performance of any official duty;

(b) The right to retain or receive which shall be conditioned that such person shall, directly or indirectly, successfully influence by any means whatever any executive, administrative or legislative officer, in respect to any act, decision, vote, opinion or other proceeding, as such officer; or

(c) Upon the representation that the person can, directly or indirectly, or in consideration that the person shall, or shall attempt to, directly or indirectly, influence any public officer, whether executive, administrative, judicial or legislative, in respect to any act, decision, vote, opinion or other proceeding, as such officer, unless it be clearly understood and agreed in good faith between the parties thereto, on both sides, that no means or influence shall be employed except explanation and argument upon the merits,

shall be guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

2. In any prosecution under paragraph (c) of subsection 1, evidence of the means actually employed to influence such officer shall be admitted as proof of the means originally contemplated by the defendant.

[1911 C&P § 65; RL § 6330; NCL § 10014]