Patterson v. State

The defendant sought to bring out on cross-examination of Robert Brown, the injured party, details of former difficulties between Brown and his wife, Brown and defendant, and threats made by Brown against the defendant. The details of prior difficulties are never admissible, unless a part of the details have been admitted, in which event the adverse party is entitled to the whole transaction in explanation of his acts. Smith v. State, 197 Ala. 193, 72 So. 316. And threats are not admissible until there has been evidence of an overt act on the part of the party making the threat, indicating a…