§ 59. Penalty for excessive fare. Any railroad corporation, which
shall ask or receive more than the lawful rate of fare, unless such
overcharge was made through inadvertence or mistake, not amounting to
gross negligence, shall forfeit fifty dollars, to be recovered with the
excess so received by the party paying the same; but no action can be
maintained therefor, unless commenced within one year after the cause of
action accrued.