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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1009_GESSNER_CHARLES_90_543_02-21-1960_03-02-1960•,, Application for 'robatr of Ifill of.CHARLES GESS.NER.. ........................................................late of J.?.Q.*-9..y.gh..9.f...E.~.§.t...W.~.§.h~ngt.9.tL.,Washington County, Pennsylvania deceased,and ~rattt of 1.4l'ttl'rli IDl'litaml'tttary. REGISTER'S OFFICE, WASHINGTON COUNTY,}SS.: Mollie F.Gessner and Before the Register of Wills of Washington Charles W.Campbell,As sistant Secretary, County,personally appeared M.~.n9.~..N9:.tJ9.P.:~J..J?9:~..~Q~t ..r...n!§.LC..Q.m.I?~Hly..I who being duly sworn says that.q?:~E!.~.~Q.~.~..~.~~.!late resident of ........~.~.~.Lw:~.~.hi.P:g,t.9.~1 ,Washington County,Pennsylvania,a citizen of...Y.:g!.!~.<i ..§.t~J~.§died testate at.w.~.~.:9J.ng.t.9.!b P.~.t on the ?).~.t.day of.f..~.!?.r..1M~:.r..Y.A.D.19 9.9... at.....l.:.O.Q o'clock a m.,age 9..Q leaving an estate of the estimated value of $Undt::t.e.rmined . personalty,and $f?9.A..Q.9..Q.~..9..9 realty,said real estate being located in B.Q.J:.Qugh..Qf . ......~9.-.fi.t W9.-.~.h.i.ngt.Qn ..~nd..S.e.~.o.nd ..W..a.r.d~C.iiy.af Wa.s.bingian,..P..ennsyl:vania .. .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. The decedent's legatees and devisees are as follows: NAME RELATIONSHIP RESIDENCE Mollie F.Ges sner Wife 639 East Beau Street, I I I I ~Washington,Pa.---,1----- ---1----- I Testator has gg.L married and !l:9.children have been born since the execution of the will offered for probate. Petitioner prays that the paper writing filed herewith dated........J.~n1*!il:.r.y.....1Q.......l.9.5..J......a.nd..GQdidl....... dated August 20,1957 may be admitted to probate as the last Will and Testament of said decedent,and to grant Letters Testamen- tary thereon to M.~}J2g N~~~.9.g~J..J?.~g.k ..~.!l:g r..r..]J.§.t.g.9.mp.9.-.ny ~ng,..MQUi~F.t G.e.s.s.ne.r... whose postoffice address is ~.Q §.g.~~.h ..M.~~.P:..$.tE~.~tl Yf..~.§.m...:rr.gtsm.l p.~!\. Sworn to and subscribed before me this....../...................~J t .........~A.D.19~.a.'/1~Uu...d./.'[~1/..~L.(/g .. ~.r.i/..;M (..1..'~.y.::-::··.·_·_7·_it.~~~~~~~.........~~..................... COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA,}.WASHINGTON COUNTY SS.:MoIlle F.Gessner and Charles w. m~Campbell,Assistant Secretary, And now L ,19 ~g ,comes...Mellan..Nati.onal..B.ank..and··-T·l'ust..C ompany who being duly sworn doth depose and say that...th~y.........will well and truly administer the goods and chat· tels,rights and credits of g.h§:.!.J~.~Q.~.§..§.n~.r.deceased, to the best of .th.~.i.r....skill and judgment in strict compliance with the laws of this Commonwealth,mind- ful of the laws relating to inheritance taxes. Sworn and subcribed before me this .!. day of ?21.?:?'?(6..A.D.1~..~.······················rzl&r·ii;~i;i;;. J;L~;Li.~'-! ........~....~.~C .~~~J,M .-\ \~.:f\~ r.'O.j t·l \J +01-'-1 .-'-'<t:: Z d~a~~on~"d ~.,'['1r'"&~.~•••'"n n f:,·l ..oi •_v c:l .~"".,-H:CIl~~~.q CIli ~II N~V 00:~:=~0 ell:'0:..~~~~~~;>.•o·0~...,;~.'\c.J1 ..., 00:v \I , - •:a.oCIl:-;::'.--i:~ U r.i ~,~::E.0 c~00~H:CIl o ~CIli ~ v v 0 ~:;>~~~. ~ll)~~~;:J #.........7•• .." Qtouutt!of lIIu54tngton.55. ~ Register's Office,~.~.!'.~9:!.~.~A.D.19 60 Personally appeared :;?~!P..~~}g.9.1.g..f.?.r.p.one of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing last will and testament of...g~~.~1.~.~g.~..~.~~.~F........................................................................deceased, and on hJ.~solemn 9.~.E.tt:did say that g,~was present,and did see and hear ............g.h.~..r.1.~..~.Q~.~.;'?n..~.;:,deceased,the testa~.9.~therein named,sign,seal,publish and declare the same as and for hJ.~.last will and testament,and that at the doing thereof ...........h~.........was of sound disposing mind,memory and understanding,to be best of the affiants'knowledge and belief. .................................~.Q.:r.P:and subscribed me the day and year aforesaid. ~.Ji.d~··R~~;;;;~~··· .. ,.- ..... (ltnunty nf lWht5qtngtnn.55. REGISTER'S OFFICE.J1.~.~~~..J_~~_._._A.D.19 ~.9 Personally appeared...W.~.~~.~~....M:.~~_~.~.~....~~_~.....~~.S ~.C?n M.Hi11••------••_-_••_-----_••_---------_•••-.---------_••••••-.-------_._._._•••-.__.---.----------------•••_._•••_--.__A who,after being duly quaHfied ac'cording to law,deposes and say that they are well acquainted with the handwriting of _.._._C.h_e._r.l.~..s_G.~.S_S.P~_~___._._.__ _ ,Deceased,Testator to the foregoing Will dated__._;r~~~~!!.y.J9.____._.._ _ __._...______l$J..,and that the signatur~ of said _.._.._ _Qb.:~r.l~JL.9.-.~..~_~P._.~.;r.----.--~~b~1IPx~D~BlX is in his lX.Jtlxr own proper handwriting,as they,the affiants,verily believe. one of is not now Also,thay'the subscribing witnesses ~@t:l~X~within this jurisdiction. Sworn and subscribed-__-__---_---_.-_-_.-_------..----. before me_the day and year aforesaid. ..•.•..,~~~;~;;;;; - --------------------------------, CT,-Ui r L ..z ("!-, 0 --I 0:.,,- -..:~j 0; --..::: 0.•W'• Q!nuuty nf Bus4iugtnu~55. Register's Office J1~.r..~p J~.t._.__.__ _..___._A.D.,19 9.Q.. u:f Personally appeared s.~_m~~J_._G.9.lq.f..~~_1?__.~.nQ._.$~m~~J ...~!"..LJn..q.~.the subscribing witnesses to Codicil No ~.__.__ _under date oL...~~.~g.~.~~?9.~.~~.~.?L _to the fore- going last will and testament oL _.QP.~.!.'J~.~g~.~.~·.n~.:r.deceased, dated .J.~.~~~.!.'y.._.19.:t.p .._19._..5.3.,and on t.h~.~_~._solemn.._9.~.tP.did say that ___~~~.y..._~~.~~_wttS'{present,and did see and hear g.~~.!.'J.~.~._..<!..~.~.~.~~.?:.'.. deceased,the testat.Q.r__therein named,sign,seal,publish and declare the same as and for a Codicil to..__h.tJL__._.last will and testament,and that at the doing thereoL____._~.~.__ _ . was of sound disposing mind,memory and understanding,to the best of the affiant's knowledge and belief. ......_____~~_~.~_..~.~___.__and subscribed before me the day and year aforesaid. ~=«.~..2{/~. t.aII::)"'Tl C-.....--::::J.:... J'fT" f)- ....o SML:NW:hle FIRST CODICIL to LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT 8/13/57 I,CHARLES GESSNER,of the Borough of East Washington, County of Washington,Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,do hereby make this First Codicil to my Last Will and Testament dated January la,1953: FIRST:The Insurance Trust Agreement identified in Article FOUR TH of my Will has been amended to include my wife,MOLLIE F. GESSNER,as co-trustee.For the purpose of determining the amount passing under said Article,all applicable values shall be those finally determined for Federal estate tax purposes in my estate. SECOND:I hereby revoke Article SIXTH of my Will and sub- stitute therefor the following: "SIXTH:All the residue of my estate,real and personal, and wherever situate,I give,devise and bequeath to my wife, MOLLIE F.GESSNER,and MELLON NATIONAL BANK AND TRUST COMPANY,IN TRUST,NEVERTHELESS,for the following uses and purposes: During the lifetime of my wife,MOLLIE F.GESSNER,if she survives me,the Trustees shall pay the net income (herein- after called ltlncomell)from this Trust Estate quarter-annually to her or for her benefit.If suc h Income s ha11 be insufficient in the opinion of the corporate Trustee to provide for the welfare, maintenance,support and education of my wife and children,the corporate Trustee is authorized in its discretion to use so much of the principal as may in its opinion be advisable therefor; PROVIDED,however,that principal shall not be used for the sole benefit of my wife if principal is available from the trust referred to in Article FOUR TH hereof. Upon the death of my wife,or upon my death if she does not survive me,the remaining principal and any accrued or undis- tributed Income shall be transferred and delivered in equal shares to my then surviving children,the then surviving issue of any deceased child to take by representation the share to which the parent if living would have been entitled. If any minor becomes entitled hereunder to a share of prin- cipal,such share shall be retained by the remaining Trustee;and so much of the Income and principal as the Trustee may deem necessary for the minor's welfare,comfort,recreation,support and education shall be paid by the Trustee to the person having custody of such minor,without liability on the part of the Trustee to see to the application thereof,or shall be applied directly for those purposes by the Trustee,and any Income not so expended shall be added to and become a part of the principal,to be invested hereunder.Any unexpended principal and income shall be paid to the minor at majority.If such minor dies during minority, the minor's share of principal and any undistributed Income shall be distributed to those persons entitled to receive his or her personal -2- estate;PROVIDED,however,that if any such person is then an income beneficiary under any trust under this paragraph,his or her share shall be added thereto. The interests of the beneficiaries hereunder shall not be subject to anticipation or to voluntary or involuntary alienation; and the principal and Income s ha11 be paid by the Trustees direct to or for the use of the beneficiary entitled thereto,without regard to any assignment,order,attachment or claim whatever. The Trustees may in their discretion make distribution here- under in cash or in kind or partly in cash and partly in kind. The corporate Trustee shall be entitled to receive annually compensation for its services hereunder in accordance with the schedule of compensation of the corporate Trustee currently in effect when the services are performed.Ir TlliRD:As used in Article SEVENTH,the term "Trustee'shall include both Trustees.Articles EIGHTH,NINTH and TENTH shall refer only to the corporate Trustee.In the event of my wife's death,resignation or incapacity,no successor individual Trustee shall be appointed. FOUR TH:I appoint my wife,MOLLIE F.GESSNER,co-executor with MELLON NATIONAL BANK AND TRUST COMPANY,sharing the same powers. FIFTH:In all other respects I ratify and republish my Will as of this date. IN WITNESS WHEREOF,I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 20th day of August ,1957.--------------------- Signed,sealed, ~~~aL) published and declared bY"CH E;GESSNER, -3- the Testator above named,as and for his First Codicil to his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us,who,at his request,in his presence and in the presence of each other,have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses hereto. Address: Address: Address: -4- LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF CHARLES GESSNER SAMUEL GOLDFARB ATTORNEY AT LAW WASHINGTON TRUST BUILDING WASHINGTON,PA. LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT I,CHARLES GESSNER,of the Borough of East Washington, County of Washington,Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,do hereby make this my Last Will and Testament,hereby revoking any and all Wills at any time heretofore made by me. FIRST:I direct that all of my just debts and funeral ex- penses shall be paid as soon as may be convenient after my death. SECOND:I give and bequeath to my wife,Mollie F.Gessner, all household goods,furniture,furnishings,books,pictures,paintings, silver,chinaware,jewelry and automobiles,if any,which I may own at the time of my death;provided,however,that if my wife shall fail to survive me for a period of sixty days,I give and bequeath said property to my children me surviving,in such shares as they may determine. THIRD:If,at the time of my death,I am the owner or part owner of a business conducted under my name or a trade name,I give, devise and bequeath unto my wife,Mollie F.Gessner,all of the assets of said business located in the store room or rooms in which said business has been conducted,including all merchandise,furniture and fixtures and accounts receivable.Any accounts payable of said business are to be assumed by my wife. FOURTH:If my wife,the said Mollie F.Gessner,shall survive me,I give,devise and bequeath,either in cash or in kind,or partly in cash and partly in kind,unto Mellon National Bank and Trust Company,in trust,however,to be added to and form a part of that certain Insurance Trust Agreement made by me under date of January 10, 1953,as amended from time to time,whether prior or subsequent to the date of the execution of this Agreement,an amount to be computed as follows: An amount equal to fifty per cent of the value of my adjusted gross estate as finally determined for Federal Estate Tax purposes,less the value of all interests in property and proceeds of insurance on my life,if any,which pass or have passed to my wife under the provisions of this Will or otherwise than under this Will,but only to the extent that such values are included in determining the amount of marital deduction allowed for Federal Estate Tax purposes in my estate. In the event that such a Trust should not be in existence at the time of my death,(or the death of the survivor of me and my wife) then I do hereby give,devise and bequeath the amount to be computed as hereinabove set forth to the Mellon National Bank and Trust Company,as Trustee,to be held by it under and subject to the terms and conditions of a Trust which terms and conditions shall be exactly the same as those specified in my aforesaid Insurance Trust Agreement as it existed at the time of the execution of this my Last Will and Testament with like effect as if the terms and conditions of said Insurance Trust Agreement were incorporated herein verbatim. The amount of the devise and bequest made by this Article Fourth shall not in any event be diminished or be affected by any estate, inheritance,succession or transfer taxes,which,by the laws of the United States of America,or of any state or of any sub-division or authority thereof,or of any foreign country,shall be assessed against,imposed upon, payable with respect to,or deductible from said devise and bequest,or any property,real or personal,or estate or interest therein,distributable to or receivable by my Trustee by reason of or in payment or satisfaction of said devise and bequest;any and all such taxes shall be paid out of my residuary estate as hereinafter expressly directed. FIFTH:I direct my Executor to payout of the principal of my residuary estate,pas sing under Article Sixth hereof,all estate,inheri- tance'transfer and succession taxes,imposed upon or payable with respect to any property or interest in property which may be included as part of -2 - my estate for the purpose of said taxes,at such time and in such manner as my Executor in its sole discretion shall determine,and no part thereof shall be collected from or prorated among any person or persons receiv- ing or in possession of,or receiving the benefit of the property or interest in property taxes;it being my particular intention that the bequest to my wife under ArticlesSecond and Third hereof and the bequest and devise for the benefit of my wife under Article Fourth hereof shall be free of all taxes. SIXTH:All the rest,residue and remainder of my property, real and personal,and wherever situate,after the payment of all estate, inheritance,transfer and succession taxes as provided in Article Fifth hereof,I give,devise and bequeath to the said Mellon National Bank and Trust Company,in Trust,nevertheless,for the following uses and pur- poses: The Trustee shall collect the income of the property held hereunder (hereinafter referred to as the "Trust Estate·')and,after paying therefrom the expenses properly chargeable to income in the ad- ministration of the Trust Estate,shall pay the net income (hereinafter called "Incomefl)quarter-annually to or for the benefit of my wife,Mollie F.Gessner,for so long as she shall live. Upon the death of my wife,or upon my death if my wife should not survive me,the Trust shall terminate and the then principal and any accrued incom.e shall be distributed in equal shares to my child- ren then surviving,and the issue of any deceased child,such surviving issue to take by representation,per stirpes,the share to which the parent,if living,would be entitled.All of the foregoing subject,however, to the provisions of the minor beneficiary clause hereinafter contained. In the event that a beneficiary hereunder shall be a m.inor at the time he is entitled to receive a share of the principal or payment of Income,such minor's share shall be held in a separate trust during his - 3 - minority by the Trustee,and so much of the Income and so much of the principal thereof as the Trustee in its discretion may deem advisable for the maintenance,education and support of such minor shall be paid to such person as may have the custody of the person of that minor at the time any such payment is made,but without liability on the part of the Trustee to see to the application of such payment,or may be expended by the Trustee direct for such purposes.Any income not so expended shall be added to principal and invested in accordance with the terms hereof.When such beneficiary attains the age of twenty-one !2l)years, the then principal and any accumulated income shall be transferred and delivered to such beneficiary absolutely. Any provision of this Will to the contrary notwithstanding, no trust hereby created or provided for shall under any circumstances continue for a period longer than the lives of all the beneficiaries herein named or described who are living at the date of my death,and the survivor thereof,and twenty-one (21)years after the death of the survivor of such beneficiaries,at the end of which time every such trust then existing shall terminate and the principal thereof,together with any accumulated or accrued Income thereon,shall be transferred and delivered to the person or persons then receiving the Income therefrom and in the same proportions. In the event that any payment of Income hereinbefore authorized to be made to any beneficiary,after the exhaustion of all funds available from other sources,shall be insufficient in the opinion of the Trustee to provide for the welfare,maintenance,support and education of such bene- ficiary and members of his immediate family,the Trustee is authorized to use from time to time so much of the principal of the trust from which such beneficiary is then entitled to receive the Income as in the opinion of the -Trustee may be advisable therefor. - 4 - In the event of the death of any beneficiary of Income, any undistributed Income in the hands of the Trustee held for such bene- ficiary at the time of his death,together with any Income collected there- after by the Trustee,shall be paid to the person or persons for whose benefit the principal represented by such Income is continued in trust or distributed under the terms of this Will. The Trustee may in its discretion establish,make division or distribution of any trust hereunder in kind or in money,or partly in kind and partly in money,and determine the fair value of the property then being placed in trust,divided or distributed and allot different kinds of,or interests in,property to different shares.The Trustee may take any action that may be necessary or proper in establishing any such trust or making any such division or distribution,and the valuation,designa- tion,division and partition of any or all of said trust property,real or personal,shall be binding and conclusive upon all pe:rsons interested therein. Neither the principal nor the Income of any trust hereunder shall be liable or subject to the contracts,debts,liabilities or torts,now or hereafter made,contracted,incurred or committed,of any beneficiary; nor shall the principal or Income of any trust be liable to attachment by garnishITlent proceedings or other legal process;nor shall any assignment or order,either of principal or Income,given by any beneficiary be valid; but the principal and Income shall be paid by the Trustee direct to or for the use of the beneficiary entitled thereto,without regard to any assignment, order,attachment or claim whatever. The Trustee shall be entitled to receive annually compensation for its services hereunder in accordance with the schedule of compensation of the Trustee currently in effect when the services are performed. SEVENTH:In acting as Trustee hereunder my Trust-ee shall have full power and authority,without the necessity of obtaining the consent of any court,to do all acts,to execute,acknowledge and deliver all instru- ments and to exercise for the sole benefit of the beneficiaries hereunder - 5 - any and all powers and discretions which would be lawful for it were it in its own right the actual owner of the property held in trust;including by way of illustration,but not limitation,any or all of the following: (1)To accept from my Executor in kind any or all of my investments or property,real or personal; (2)To hold in the form of cash,awaiting dis- tribution or desirable investments,such portion of the Trust Estate as at any time and from time to time the Trustee in its discretion shall deem advisable,without liability to account for interest thereon; (3)To retain any or all securites and other property,real or personal,which at any time may be or become a part of the Trust Estate,as well as any property into which the same or any part thereof may be converted by reason of any reorganization,recapitaliza- tion,consolidation,merger,liquidation,exchange or other transaction,for such time as the Trustee shall deem advisable.The provisions of this sub-paragraph shall apply to the capital stock of Mellon National Bank and Trust Company and any corporate successor thereto at any time hel<!here der; (4)0 sell,onvert,assign,convey,exchange, transfer,or otherwise dispose of,or grant options with respect to,a y or all securities or other property,real or personal,at any time constituting part of t e Trust Estate,at public or private sale,for such consideration and upon such terms and conditions as the Trustee.sl:tall deem advisable,and without liability 0 the part of he purchaser to see to the application of the purchase money or to inquire into the validity or propriety of such sale; -6 - and to execute and deliver good and sufficient deeds for any real estate,conveying title free and clear of all trusts; (5)To invest and reinvest the Trust Estate or any part thereof in any kind of property,real or personal, including,without limitation,mortgages or mortgage participations,common trust funds,common stocks, preferred stocks,bonds,notes,and other securities, regardless of whether the same are legal investments for trust funds as now or hereafter defined by law,whether by statutory enactment,judicial decision or otherwise; (6)To manage and operate all real estate at any time held hereunder;to lease all or any part of the same for such terms and rentals and upon such conditions as the Trustee shall deem advisable,notwithstanding the term of such lease may extend beyond the life of any trust hereunder;to release,partition,vacate or abandon the same;to grant and acquire licenses and easements with respect thereto;to make improvements 10 or upon the same;to construct,demolish,alter,repair,maintain and rebuild buildings and other improvements;and to use other assets of the Trust Estate for any of such purposes; (7)To carry the securities and other property held hereunder either in its own name or in the name of its nominee. (8)To vote,in person or by proxy,all securities held hereunder;to jOln in or to dissent from and oppose the reorganization,recapitalization,consolidation,merger, liquidation or sale of corporations or properties;to e:z.change securities for other securities issued in connection with or -7 - resulting from any such transaction;to pay any assessment or expense which it may deem advisable for the protection of its interests as holder of any such securities;to deposit securities in any voting trust or with any protective or like committee or with a trustee or depositary;to exercise any options appur- tenant to any securities for the conversion thereof into other securities;and to exercise or sell any rights issued upon or with respect to the securities of any corporation;all upon such terms as the Trustee shall deem advisable; (9)To prosecute,defend,compromise,arbi- trate or otherwise adjust or settle elaiIns in favor of or against the Trustee or the Trust Estate; The grant to the Trustee of any specific power,authority or discretion,or the failure to grant specifically herein any other power, authority or discretion,shall not be construed to limit or curtail in any way or to any extent said full and complete power,authority and discretion, which it is intended and directed shall be exercisable at all times by the Trustee respecting any and all matters of whatsoever character pertaining to the Trust Estate or any part thereof. EIGHTH:The Trustee Inay resign at any time by petitioning the Orphans 1 Court of Washington County to designate and appoint a successor Trustee.At such time as the successor Trustee shall accept the trust,the Trustee shall deliver to such successor Trustee the securi- ties and other property then comprising the Trust Estate. NINTH:The word "Trustee"as herein used means Mellon National Bank and Trust Company and any successor Trustee hereunder. Every successor Trustee shall have all of the rights,powers,titles,privileges - 8 - and duties,whether discretionary or otherwise,herein given to the original Trustee and shall be subject to the same reservations,limitations, terms and conditions. TENTH:Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged,or with which it may be consolidated,or any corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Trustee may be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the business of the Trustee or to which substantially all the assets of the Trustee may be transferred,shall be the successor Trustee hereunder without the giving of any notice,the execution or filing of any paper,or any further action on the part of the Trustee,with like effect as if such successor Trustee had originally been named Trustee herein. ELEVENTH:I hereby appoint MELLON NATIONAL BANK AND TRUST COMPANY Executor of this my Will,giving and granting to my Executor the same broad powers of retention,sale,conversion,invest- ment and management of my estate,real and personal,as are granted to my Trustee under Article Seventh of this Will,and in addition the right to distribute my securities or other property in kind to my Trustee. In case of the inability or refusal of Mellon National Bank and Trust Company,or any successor bank or trust company,to act or con- tinue as Executor hereunder as to all or any part of my estate,whether this be occasioned by refusal to accept,resignation or otherwise,I direct that a successor bank or trust company shall be selected to act as Administrator hereunder by the Orphans I Court of Washington County as to any real or personal property which is subject to the jurisdiction of said Court,and as to any property not subject to the jurisdiction of said Court then by the court having jurisdiction of the administration of such property. -9 - IN WITNESS WHEREOF,I have hereunto set my hand and seal this .I ~day of kv1 v tt '195 .~---+-/- Signed,sealed,published and declared by CHARLES GESSNER,the Testator above-named,as and for his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us,who,at his request,in his presence and in the presence of each other,have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses hereto. -lO - -----------