The Vermont State Archives and Records Administration is organizing old court records and legal documents into data that can be more easily searched, says the Bennington Banner. Examples of punishments handed out included 100 lashes for burglary, 39 lashes for adultery; two hours “standing in the pillory” for perjury; and thrown into prison for an indefinite term for not paying a debt. The initial process has been funded by a federal grant targeting Caledonia, Orleans, and Lamoille Counties in Northern Vermont from 1794-1945. The long term goal is to catalog records from all 14 of the state’s counties. But, that’s going to be a real challenge will be to make order out of incomplete, often deteriorating, records that were stored in basements or attics. These records are “essential to the history of our state, as well as to the right of our citizens,” says Secretary of State Jim Condos. Condos continued, “This is just the beginning.” Better pay your debts.