In 1904 Lawson, along with Ernest Terah Hooley, was tried in court for fraudulently obtaining money from his shareholders and, after representing himself in court, he was found guilty and sentenced to one year's hard labour.
Lawson, along with Ernest Terah Hooley, faced prosecution in 1904 for deceitfully siphoning funds from his investors. After representing himself during the trial, Lawson was convicted and received a one-year prison sentence.