are deceitful practices in defrauding, or endeavouring to defraud, another of his known right, by means of some artful device, contrary to the plain rules of common honesty: as by playing with false dice, or by causing an illiterate person to execute a deed to his prejudice, by reading it over to him in words different from those in which it was written, &c.—If any person deceitfully get into his hands or possession any money or other things of any other person's, by colour of any false token, &c. being convicted, he shall have such punishment by imprisonment, setting upon the pillory, or by any corporeal pain except pains of death, as shall be adjudged by the persons before whom he shall be convicted.—As there are frauds which may be relieved civilly, and not punished criminally; so there are other frauds which in a special case may not be helped civilly, and yet shall be punished criminally. Thus, if a minor goes about the town, and, pretending to be of age, defrauds many persons by taking credit for a considerable quantity of goods, and then insisting on his nonage, the persons injured cannot recover the value of their goods, but they may inflict and punish him for a common cheat. Persons convicted of obtaining money or goods by false pretences, or of sending threatening letters in order to extort money or goods, may be punished with fine or imprisonment, or by pillory, whipping, or transportation.