Mo. Rev. Stat. § 392.160: Penalty for transmitting false communications.

If any officer, manager, agent or operator of any telephone or telegraph line operating in this state, or any other person, shall knowingly transmit by such telephone or telegraph line any false communication or intelligence with intent to injure anyone, or to speculate in any article of merchandise, commerce or trade, or with intent that another may do so, or shall knowingly send or deliver any dispatch that is forged or not authorized by the person whose name purports to be signed thereto, shall, on conviction thereof in the court having criminal jurisdiction in the proper county, be liable to the same penalty as is provided in section 392.130.