private boolean toBoolean(int index) {
        char ch = (char) (_bytes[index] & 0xFF);
        if (ch == TRUE_CHAR)
            return true;
        if (ch == FALSE_CHAR)
            return false;
        throw new ConversionException("Expected a Boolean " + " but value " + ch + " is neither 'T' nor 'F' at index="
                + index);
    }