United States v. Charles William Lawson

The defendant Charles William Lawson appeals from his jury conviction for utter ing and possessing counterfeit money. He contends that the district court committed reversible error in permitting the jury to hear evidence of two previous convictions. Though Lawson did not testify, his counsel cross-examined a government witness who was a secret service agent to bring out the fact that Lawson had consistently denied any involvement, and introduced a written statement in which Lawson denied all complicity in the counterfeit activities.

By putting these hearsay statements before the jury his…