### J - S67029 - 17

____________________________________ * Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court. NON - PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

v.
WILLIAM LEWIS , Appellant : : : : : : : : : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF

PENNSYLVANIA

No. 3825 EDA 2016 Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence November 10, 2016 i n the Court of Common Pleas of Chester County Criminal Division at No(s): CP - 15 - CR - 0001072 - 2000 BEFORE: GANTMAN, P.J., MUSMANNO, J., and STEVENS*, P.J.E. MEMORANDUM BY MUSMANNO, J.: FILED DECEMBER 1 9, 2017 William Lewis (“Lewis”) appeals from the judgment of sentence imposed following his conviction o f twelve counts each of robbery (inflict or intentionally put in fear of bodily injury), robbery (threaten or intentionally put in fear of serio us bodily injury), simple assault (physical mena ce) , terroristic threats, unlawful restraint (risk of injury) , unlawful restraint (involuntary servitude); two counts of simple assault (causing or attempting to cause bodily injury); and one count each of co nspiracy to commit robbery (threaten or intentionally put in fear of serious bodily injury), conspiracy to

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commit robbery (inflict or intentionally put in fear of bodily injury), theft by unlawful taking, and receiving stolen property. 1 

### We affirm. In i ts Opinion, the trial court set forth the relevant factual and procedural history, which we adopt for the purpose of this appeal. See Trial Court Opinion, 3/29/17, at 1 - 2. On appeal, Lewis raises the following issues for our review: 1. Did the [trial c]ou rt error [ sic ] by permitting D etective William Cahill [(“Detective Cahill”)] to offe r an expert opinion on the meaning of “Code of the Street s ” as it related to the trial testimony of James Sadler [(“Sadler”)] and Edward Davis [(“Davis”) , ] without first qualifying [Detective Cahill] as an expert [,] or requiring the Commonwealth to provide a report in advance of trial outlining his qualifications and his opinion on that particular subject matter [,] and the basis of t hat opinion [,] which was heavily relied upon by the Commonwealth in their closing argument at trial? 2. Did the [trial c]ourt err by failing to instruct the jury prior to deliberations on how they should consider the fact that both [] Sadler and [] Davis ha d crimen falsi conviction s? Brief for Appellant at 5. In his first issue, Lewis contends that “[c]ourts have held that ‘code language’ is a highly specialized area, requiring knowledge of particular meanings of words in various neighborhoods.” Id . at 28 - 29. Lewis asserts tha t th e average person would not be familiar with the term “Code of the Streets.” Id . at 28. Lewis claims that when Detective Cahill testified about

_________________ ____________________ _______ 1 

### See 18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 3701(a)(1)(i), (ii); 2701(a)(3); 2706; 2902(1), (2); 2701(a)(1); 903; 3921(a); 3925(a) .

### J - S67029 - 17

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the term “Code of the Streets,” he was deciphering code language that required specialized knowledge of par ticular meanings. Id . at 29. Lewis argues that, because the Commonwealth never asked the trial court to accept Detective Cahill as an expert, the court should have sustained defense counsel’s objection to Detective Cahill’s testimony. Id . Lewis contend s that Detective Cahill’s testimony as to having worked in Philadelphia, Lancaster, Reading, Allentown and New York “is proof that [he] is an expert in street jargon [,] and that his specialized expert knowledge of code language was only gained by his expos ure to coded language of these different neighborhoods.” Id . at 30. Lewi s asserts that Detective Cahill’ s testimony should have been precluded because there was no basis for his opinion under Pa.R.E. 701 and 702. Brief for Appellant at 31 . Lewis claims that the admission of Detective Cahill’s testimony was not harmless error and constitutes reversible error. Id . at 31 - 32. According to Lewis, “the Commonwealth was permitted to question Detective Cahill as a lay witness, when he was using hi s expertise and specialized knowledge to decipher highly specialized coded language.” Id . Lewis argues that “[t]he explanation of the ‘Code of the Streets’ by Detective Cahill was used to suggest why Sadler and Davis may recant their previous testimony.” Id . at 33. Lewis contends that “[w]ithout the prejudicial testimony of [Detective] Cahill ... the jury may have accepted the testimony of Sadler and Davis as true and correct[,] and acquitted Lewis.” Id .

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Our standard of review for considering whether a ruling on the admissibility of evidence was proper is well settled: Admission of evidence is a matter within the sound discretion of the trial court, and will not be reversed absent a showing that the trial court clearly abused its discretion. Commonwealth v. Chmiel , 558 Pa. 478 , 738 A.2d 406, 414 (Pa. 1999). Not merely an error in judgment, an a buse of discretion occurs when “ the law is overridden or misapplied, or the judgment exercised is manifestly unreasonable, or the result of partiality, prejudice, bias, or ill - will, as s hown by the evidence on record.” Commonwealth v. McAleer , 561 Pa. 129, 748 A.2d 670 (Pa. 2000). Commonwealth v. Montalvo , 986 A.2d 84, 94 (Pa. 2009) (quoting Commonwealth v. Cooper , 941 A.2d 655, 668 (Pa. 2007) ). In its Opinion, the trial court addressed Lewis’s first issue, set forth the relevant law, and determined that the issue lacks merit. See Trial Court Opinion, 3/29/17, at 3 - 4 (wherein the trial court determined that Detective Cahill did not need to be qua lified as an expert because he “merely testified to a matter of general fact acquired through his employment as a police officer for 29 years and [,] therefore[,] well[
- ]within his knowledge as the affiant in the case.”); see also id . at 4 - 5 (wherein the tr ial court determined that, even if the admission of Detective Cahill’s testimony was in error, such error was harmless, as the evidence of Lewis’s guilt was overwhelming)
. 2

_________________ ____________________ _______ 2 

### Notably, even if the testimony provided by Detective Cahill could be characterized as an expert opinion, Lewis concedes that Detective Cahill was an expert in street jargon. See Brief fo r Appellant at 30.

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We agree with the reasoning of the trial court, a nd affirm on this basis as to Lew is’s first issue. See id . at 3 - 5. In his second issue, Lewis contends that the trial court erred by failing to instruct the jury , prior to deliberations , on how they should consider the testimony of Sadler and Davis due to their past crimen falsi convictions. Brief for Appellant at 34
- 37. In its Opinion, the trial court addressed Lewis’s second issue, set forth the relevant law, and determined that the issue was waived. See Trial Court Opinion, 3/29/17, at 5 (wherein the trial court determined that the issue was waived because it was not raised before the trial court); see also id . (wherein the trial court further determined that the issue was also waived because Lewis’s description of the issue in his Concise Statement was too vague for the tri al court to identify and address the issue). We agree with the reasoning of the trial court, and affirm on this basis as to Lewis’s second issue. See id . 3 

### Judgment of sentence affirmed.

_________________ ____________________ _______ 3 

### Even if Lewis had properly preserved this issue, we would have concluded that it lacks merit for the reasons stated by the trial court in its Opinion. See Trial Court Opinion, 3/29/17, at 5 - 6.

### J - S67029 - 17

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Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary

Date: 12/19/2017Circulated 12/05/2017 11:04 AM



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### s k ill , e xp e r i e n c e , tra i ni n g , o r e d u c a t i o n m ay t e s t i fy i n th e f o rm o f an o p i n i o n o r o th e rwi s e i f : ( a ) th e e xp e rt ' s s c i e n t i fi c , t e c hni c a l , o r o th e r s p e ci al i z e d kn o w l e d g e i s b e y o n d th at p o s s e s s e d 

### b y th e av e r ag e l ayp e r s o n ;



### 3
C O C 0 9 / 3 % / � 1 7 1 H : Z �( b ) th e e xp e rt ' s s c i e n t i fi c , t e c hn i c a l , o r o th e r s p ec i a l i z e d k n o w l e d g e w i ll h e l p th e tr i e r o f fa c t t o un d e r s t an d th e e v i d e n c e o r l o d e t e rm i n e a fa c t i n i s s u e ; an d ( c ) th e e xp e rt ' s m e th o d o l o g y i s 

### g e n e ra ll y a c c e p t e d i n th e r e l e v an t 

### fi e l d
. P a . R. E
. 7 0 2
. H e r c , D e t e c ti v e L i e u t e n an t 

### C ah i l l ' s tr i a l t e s t i m o ny w as n o t 

### imp r o p e r " e xp e rt " t e s t i m o ny as c l ai m e d 

### b y D e f

e n d an t
. E v e n a s s um in g i t w as o p i n i o n t e s t i m o ny , P a . R
. E
. 7 0 1 a ll o w s fo r o p i n i o n t e s t i m o ny b y l ay w i tn e s s es . D e t e c t i v e C ahi ll t e s t i fi e d a t tr i a l th at h e i s 

### v e ry fam ili ar wi th th e m e an i n g o f th e " C o d e o f th e S tr e e t " fr o m c o n d

u c tin g num e r o us p o l i c e i n v e st i g at i o n s an d e x t e n s i v e c ar e e r i n la w e n fo r c e m e n t. N
. T
. , 1 0 / 2 / 1 5 , a t 2 3-
- 2 4
. 

### It i s un d i s p u t e d th at D e t e c t i v e L i e ut e n an t C ahi l l h a s b e e n e mp l o y e d b y th e W e s tt o wn E a s t G o s h en R e g i o n a l P o l i c e D e p artm e n t as a d e t e c ti v e an d p atr o l m e n fo r 

### a p p r o x i m at e l y 2 9 

### y e ar s . T h e r e fo r e , h e i s r e s p o n s i b 1 e fo r i n v e s t i g a t i n g a ll typ e s o fc r i m e s an d i n t e rv i e w i n g wi tn e s s e s i n mu l ti p le j ur i s d i c t i o n s . N
. ' L , 

### t 0 / 1/ 1 5 , a t 2 0 0
- 2 0 1
. A c c o r d i n g l y , e v e n 

### if th e d e t e c t i v e ' s t e s ti m o ny c o n s t it ut e d o p i n i o n e v i d e n c e , 

### i t s til l c o mp o rt e d w i th t b e ru l e s o fe v i d e n c e . 

### B a s e d o n 

### h i s e d

u c a t i o n , 

### tra i ni n g , an d e xp e r i e n c e D e t e c t i v e C ah ill w a s p e rm i tt e d t o t e st i f y th at i n h i s e xp e r i e n c e th e p hr a s e " C o d e o f th e S tr e e t " m e an s th a t " i t ' s a n o - n o t o t a l k t o th e 

### p o l i c e an d g i v e u

p i n f o rm a t i o n ab o u t 

### y o ur fr i e n d s an d p e o p l e i n y o ur n e i g hb o rh o o d
. 

### It ' s nu t a c c e p te d o n th e s tr e e t
. " ! 

### Id

. a t 2 4
- 2 5
. T h e tr i a l r e c o r d e v i d e n c e s th a t th e p ro s e c u to r p r e s e n t e d th e d e t e c t i v e a s a fa c t o r l ay w i tn e s s . D e t e c t i v e L ie u t e n an t C ah i ll m e r e l y t e s t i fi e dt o a m att e r o f g e n e r al fa c t a c qu i r e d thr o u g h h i s e mp l o y m e n t as a p o li c e o f fi c e r fo r 2 9 y e ar s an d th e r e fo r e w e l l w i th i n hi s .kn o w l e d g e a s th e a ffi an t i n th e c a s e . A s s u c h , h e d i d n o t n e e d t o b e qu a li fi e d a s an e xp e rt o r ' auth o r a r e p o rt p r i o r t o t e s t i fy i n g at tr i a l
. F urth e rm o r e , th e 

### t e s ti m o ny a t i s s u e w a s r at i o n al l y b a s e d o n 

### D e t e c t i v e L i e u t e nan t C ah i ll ' s p e r s o n a l o b se rv at i o n o f tw o c o - c o ns p i r a t o r s at tri a l an d th e rat i o n a l p e r c e p t i o n o f th e i r tr i al t e s t im o ny . T h e d e t e c t i v e o f fe r e d a r e a s o n ab l e e xp l an ati o n t o th e 

### j ur y a s t o 

### w hy c o - c o ns p ir at o r s J am e s S a d l e r an d E dw ar d D av i s ' tr i al t e s ti m o ny d i ff e r e d fr o m th e i r p r i o r t e s t i m o ny . A s th e a ffi an t i n th e 

### c a s e , D e t e c t i v e L i e u t e n an t C ah i ll ' s t e s t i m o ny h e l p e d th e 

### jury un d e r s t an d an d r e c o n c il e r e c an t at i o n t e st i m o ny w i th p r i o r t es t i m o ny . 

### I d. H o w e v e r , th e r ea s o n th e c o c o n s p i r a t o r s t e s t i fi e d 

### c o n tr ar y t o th e ir p r io r s w o rn 

### t e s ti m o ny i s o f l e s s i mp o rtan c e th e n th e fa c t tha t th e y c h an g e d th e i r t e st i m o ny . Th e c r e d i b ili ty o f a ll wi tn e s s e s an d th e w e i g h t t o b e a c c o r d e d th e e v i d e n c e p r o d

u c e d ar c m a tt e r s 

### w i th i n th e p r o v i n c e o f 

### th e tri e r o f fa c t
. II e r e , 

### th e 

### j ur y w a s fr e e t o b e li e v e a ll , s o m e o r n o n e o f th e e v i d e n c e i n tr o d u c e d a t tr i a l. 

### Co m m o n w e a l t h v . S m i t h , 4 6 7 A. 2 d 1 1 2 0 ( P a . 1 9 8 3 ) ; 

### C o m m o n w e a l th v . N

e ls o n , 4 6 7 A. 2 d 6 3 8 ( P a. S u p e r . l 9 & 3 )
. A c c o r d i n g l y , th e te s t i m o ny w a s b a s e d u p o n D e t e c t i v e C ah i l l ' s p er c e p t i o n an d e xp e r i e n c e an d 

### i t w a s h el p fu l t o a d e t e rm i n at i o n o f f

a c t s i n i s s u e , th e p art ic i p a t i o n i n th e r o b b e ry b y D e fe n d an t. M o r e o v e r ; w e c o n cl u d e th a t th e a dm i s s i o n o f D e t e c t i v e Li e ut e n an t C ah i l l ' s te s t i m o ny a s t o th e m e an i n g o f th e " C o d e o f th e S tre e t " , e v e n 

### if e r r o n e o u s , a s D e fe n d an t ar g u e s , c o n s t i t ut e s d e 

### m i n i m s 

### e rr o r i n s p i t e o f

th e o v e rw h e l m i n g 

### e v i d e n c e o fD e f e n d an t ' s g u i l t. I t i s w e ll

- e s ta b l i s h e d

. th at n o t a ll e rr o r s a t tr i a l e n t it le a d e fe n d an t 1 0 a n e w tr i a l. 

### C o m m o n w e a l t

h v . 

### W a t s o n , 9 4 5 A
. 2 d

3 T h e C o urt p e r

m i tt e d th i s t e s t i m o ny o v e r th e o b j e c t io n o f d e f e n s e c o un s e l
. 

### 4
.: o c 0 3 / 3 .:!. / J. '7 l. 2 � 2 '51 7 4 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 8 ) ; C

o m m o n w e a l t

h v . W e s t , 8 3 4 A. 2 d 6 2 5 ( P a . S u

p e r . 2 0 0 3 ) , a

p p e a l d e n i e d, 8 8 9 A. 2 d 1 2 

### t 6 ( P a . 2 0 0 3 )
. T h e 

### d o c tr i n e o f " h arm le s s e rr o r " i s a t e c h n i qu e o fa p p e ll a t e r e v i e w d e s i g n e d t o a dv an c e j u d i ci a l 

### e c o n o my 

### b y o b v i at i n g th e n e c e s s i ty fo r a r e tr i a l w h e r e th e a p p e ll a t e: c o urt i s c o n v i n c e d th a t a tri a l e r

ro r w a s h ar

m l e s s b e y o n d a r e a s o n ab l e d o ub t
. C o m m o n w e a l t

h v . A lls h o u se, 9 8 5 A
. 2 d 8 4 7 ( P a . 2 0 0 9 ) , P e t i t i o n

f o r C e r t io ra r i fi le d , 7 8 U
. S
. L. W
. 

### 3 6 8 9 ( M ay 13 , 

### 2 0 IO ) ( N o . 0 9
- 13 96 )
. I t i s p r e m i s e d o n th e w e l l

- s e ttl e d p r o p o s i ti o n th at a d e f e n d an t i s e n t i tl e d t o a f

a i r tr i a l , b ut n o t a p e r fe c t o n e . 

### C

o m m o n w e a l t

h v . D r u m m o n d

, 77 5 A
. 2 d 8 4 9 , S 5 3 ( P a . S u p e r , 2 0 0 1 ) , 

### a

p p e a l d e n i e d , 7 9 0 A
. 2 d 1 0 1 3 ( P a . 2 0 0 l )
. H arm l e s s e rro r e x i s ts 

### i f ( l ) th e e rr o r d i d n o t p r e j u d i c e th e d e f

e n d an t o r 

### t h e p r e j u d i c e w a s d

e m i n i m u s : ( 2 ) th e e rr o n e o u s l y a dm i tt e d e v i d e n c e w a s 

### m e r e l y c umu l a t i v e o f o th e r un t a i n t e d .s u

b s tan t i a ll y s i m i l ar) an d p r o p e r l y a dm i tt e d e v i d e n c e ; o r ( 3 ) th e p r o p e r l y 

### a dm i tt e d an d un c o n tr a d i e t e d e v i d e n c e a dm i tt e d a t tr ia l w a s s o o v e r w h e l m i n g an d th e p r e j u d i c i a l ef

f e c t o f th e 

### e rr o r w a s s o I n s i g n i fi c an t b y 

### c o mp ar i s o n th a t th e 

### e rr o r c o u l d n o t h av e 

### c o n tr i l , u t c d 

### t o " d 1 e v e r d i c t. 

# C

o m m o n w e a l ih V

. 

### S i m n 1 ( ) }1 S, 6 6 2 A. 2 d 6 2 1 

### P a . (1 9 9 5 ) · - - - - - - · · · . .. . ( e mp h a s i s a d d e d )
. A c c o r d i n g l y , 

### we c o n c l u d e th a t D e fe n d an t' s fi r s t i s s u e r a i s e d o n a p p e a l l a c k s ar g u ab l e m e r i t. I n s o f ar a s D e fe n d an t' s fi n a l c o n t e n t i o n i s c o n c e r n e d th at th e C o urt e r

r e d 

### b y fo i l i n g 1 0 i n s tru c t th e j ur

y p r i o r t o d el i b e r a t i o n o n h o w th e y s h o u l d c o n s i d e r th e fa c t th at b o th M r . S a d l e r an d 

### Mr
. D av i s 

### h ad c r i m e n fa l si c o n v i c t i o n s ; w e d e e m th i s i s s u e w a i v e d
. T h e fat a l fl aw w i th D e fe n d an t ' s ar g um e n t i s th a t th e i s s u e w a s n e i th e r r a i s e d i n th e tr i a l C o urt n o r p ro p e r l y p r e s e rv e d fo r a p p e ll at e r e v i e w . S e c P a R
. A. P
. 3 0 2 ( 0 )
. tty re qu i r i n g th at an i s s u e b e c o n s i d e r e d w a i v e d 

### if ra i s e d fo r th e fi r s t t i m e o n a p p ea l , a p p e l l at e c o u rt s e n s ur e th at th e tr i a l c o urt th a t i n i t i a ll y h e ar s a d i s p ut e h a s h a d an o p p o rt un i ty t o co ns i d e r th e i s s u e . ' L i n c o l n P h i l a d e l p h i a R e a l ty A s s o c . v . B d
. or R e v i s i .9. J) o f .T � � � s o f P h i l a d e l p h i a, 7 5 8 A. 2 d 1 1 7 8 , 1 1 8 6 ( P a . 20 0 0 )
. T h i s 

### j uri s p r u d e n t i a l m an d at e i s a l s o gr o un d e d u p o n th e p ri n c i p le th a t a tri a l c o urt , li k e an a dm i n i s tr a t i v e a g e n c y , mu s t b e g i v e n th e o p p o rt un i ty t o c o rr e c t i t s e rr o r s as e ar l y a s 

### p o s s i b l e . W i n g v . C o m . U n e rnp lo y m � n l
. C qmp . B d
. o f 

### R e v i e w . 4 3 6 A. 2 d 1 7 9 , l 8 1 ( P a . 1 9 8 l )
. N o tw i th s t an d i n g th a t th i s 

### i s s u e i s p r o c e d ura l l y d e fau lt e d , w e w ill att e mp t t o s ub s tan t i v e l y 

# " <
.. l dr e s s i t t u th e e x t e n t th at w e ar e a b l e t o i d e n t if

y th e cl a i m e d e rr o r . D e fe n d an t ' s A m e n d e d C o n c i s e S ta t e m e n t d o e s li tt l e t o a i d o ur r e v i e w o f th i s i s s u e . S p e c i fi c a ll y , th e A m e n d e d C o n c i s e S t a t e m e n t fa i l s t o in d i c a t e w h e r e i n th e r e c o r d a c r i m e n fa l s i i n s tru c t i o n 

### w as r e que s t e d
. · Th e r e fo r e , th e i s s u e r a i s e d o n a p p e a l i s a l s o w a i v e d b e c au s e D e f e n d an t' s A m e n d e d 

### C o n c i s e S t a t e m e n t i s t o o v a g u e fo r th e tr i al c o urt t o i d e n ti f y an d a d dr e s s th e i s s u e t o b e r a i s e d o n a p p e a l. 1 n o th e r w o r d s , a C o n c i s e S t at e m e n t w h i c h i s t o o v a gu e t o a ll o w th e c o urt t o i d e n t i fy th e i s s u e s r a i s e d o n a

p p e a l i s th e fun c t i o n a l e qu i v a l e n t o f n o C o n c i s e S t at e m e n t at a l l. 

### S e e C o m m o n w e a lt

h v . D o w l i ng

, 7 78 A
. 2 d 6 8 3 , 6 8 7 ( P a . S u p e r . 20 0 1 ) ; 

### C

o m m o n w e a l t

h v . B u tle r , 7 5 6 A. 2 d 5 5 , 5 7 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 0 )
. D es p i te th i s fa t a l o m i s s i o n , o u t s c o ur i n g o f th e tr i a l r e c o r d r e v e a l s th at tri a l c o uns e l d i d no t r equ e s t a c r i m e n

fa l s i i n s tr uc t i o n o r o b

j e c t e d t o th e C o urt ' s j ury c h ar g e . R a th e r , d ur i n g a c h ar g i n g c o n fe r en c e w i th th e C o urt , tr i a l c o un s e l s t at e d th at h e w a s n o t r e qu e s t i n g a 

### c r i m e nfa l s i i n s tru c t i o n w i th r e s pe c t t o M r . S a d l e r . 

### In fa c t , tri a l c o un s e l r e c e i v e d h i s r e qu e s t e d i n s tr u c t i o n that b e c au s e M r . S a d l e r 

### w ill h av e a fu t ur e p ar o l e h e arin g h e m ay h av e 

# a b i a s o r i n t e r e s t i n th e 

### 5o u t c o m e o f th i s c a s e . N
. T
. , 1 0 / 2 /1 5 , a l 9 3
- 9 4 ; 

### N
. T
. � I 

### 0 / 5 / 1 5 , at 8 7
- 8 9
. A c c o r d i n g l y , 

### th e Co urt



### d i d n o t e r

r 

### b y fa i l i n g t o i n s tr

u c t th e 

### j ur y b e fo r e 

### d e l i b e rat i o n r e g ar d i n g a c h ar g e th at w a s n e v e r 

### r e qu e s t e d b y th e p arti e s . I n l i g h t o f

th e 

### f o r e g o in g , w e r e s p e c t fu ll y r e qu e s t th a t 

### t h e S u p e r i o r C o urt a ffi rm th e

. v e r d i c t o f th e 

### j ur

y an d D e f

e n d an t ' s j u d g m e n t o f s e n t e n c e .

B Y T H E C O U R T :

· · · · · - · 

### W i lli am P
. M ah o n , J
.

6 ·