forfeiture.] If anyone, who has in his custody, or under his control, a person entitled to a writ of habeas corpus, whether a writ has been issued or not, transfers such prisoner to the custody, or places him under the power or control of another person, or conceals him, or changes the place of his confinement, with intent to elude the service of such writ, or to avoid the effect thereof, the person so offending shall forfeit to the party aggrieved thereby the sum of four hundred dollars [($400)], to be recovered in a civil action.