code: public static Properties readPropertiesFromFile(String _fileName, Properties _props) {
          Properties props = _props == null ? new Properties() : _props;
  
          LOGGER.debug("Trying to read properties from file: " + _fileName);
          Properties newProperties = readProperties(new File(_fileName));
          if (newProperties != null) {
              LOGGER.debug("Successfully read properties from file: " + _fileName);
              props.putAll(newProperties);
          }
  
          return props;
      }
docs: Read properties from given filename
  (returns empty {@link Properties} object on failure).
  
  @param _fileName The properties file to read
  @param _props optional properties object, if null a new object created in the method
  @return {@link Properties} object