code: public static int index(String string) {
          int length = string.length();
          for (int i = 0; i < length; i++) {
              if (getCorrespondingSymbol(string.charAt(i)) != ' ') {
                  return i;
              }
          }
          return -1;
      }
docs: Returns the first occurrence of a special symbol in a <CODE>String</CODE>.
  
  @param	string		a <CODE>String</CODE>
  @return	an index of -1 if no special symbol was found