The statement of claim shall be subscribed and verified at the foot by the plaintiff or his agent in the manner following or to the like effect:
    I, A. B, do declare that the above statement is true to the best of my knowledge and belief.
    Punishment for false verification.—If the statement shall contain any averment which the person making the verification shall know or believe to be false, or shall not know or believe to be true, such person shall be subject to punishment according to the law for the time being in force for the punishment of giving or fabricating false evidence.