State v. Travis

“This presents the'ordinary case of evidence admissible for one purpose, but not for another.” Cobb v. Follansbee, 79 N. H. 205, 210.

The law is fundamental that the state cannot offer evidence of the bad character of a defendant except to rebut his evidence of good character (State v. Lapage, 57 N. H. 245, 289, 290), and even then bad character cannot be shown by particular acts. State v. Palmer, 65 N. H. 216, 218. It is also true that proof that a defendant has previously committed an offense similar to that for which he is on trial is not evidence that he is guilty of the offense charged.…