In March, 1903, Romana Padilla was engaged to marry a New Almaden miner named Jesus Martinez. But his love turned to rage when she told him she was breaking their engagement to marry miner Cruz Pena. Martinez retaliated by attempting to slash Romana's face with a knife as she and her sister walked from the Hacienda village up mine hill to their home in Almaden's Spanishtown. The two women were able to thwart Martinez'attack but Romana was still left with knife wounds on her neck, leaving her scarred for life.
Jesus Martinez was sentenced to San Quentin for his assault on Romana, while she and Cruz married later that year. But there happiness wasn't to last long; Cruz died an early death from tuberculosis in 1906. Six years later Romana married miner Miguel Dominguez. After he mistreated and then abandoned her, she met James P. Hayes, a Depression-era drifter, while waitressing at a Main Street cafe in Los Gatos. Romana and James were married many years and by all accounts were a happy couple.
The photo of Romana posted on this memorial is from her wedding to Cruz; according to her niece, she chose the high-necked dress to cover her scars. She was buried in the same dress.
Jesus Martinez was sentenced to San Quentin for his assault on Romana, while she and Cruz married later that year. But there happiness wasn't to last long; Cruz died an early death from tuberculosis in 1906. Six years later Romana married miner Miguel Dominguez. After he mistreated and then abandoned her, she met James P. Hayes, a Depression-era drifter, while waitressing at a Main Street cafe in Los Gatos. Romana and James were married many years and by all accounts were a happy couple.
The photo of Romana posted on this memorial is from her wedding to Cruz; according to her niece, she chose the high-necked dress to cover her scars. She was buried in the same dress.
In March, 1903, Romana Padilla was engaged to marry a New Almaden miner named Jesus Martinez. But his love turned to rage when she told him she was breaking their engagement to marry miner Cruz Pena. Martinez retaliated by attempting to slash Romana's face with a knife as she and her sister walked from the Hacienda village up mine hill to their home in Almaden's Spanishtown. The two women were able to thwart Martinez'attack but Romana was still left with knife wounds on her neck, leaving her scarred for life.
Jesus Martinez was sentenced to San Quentin for his assault on Romana, while she and Cruz married later that year. But there happiness wasn't to last long; Cruz died an early death from tuberculosis in 1906. Six years later Romana married miner Miguel Dominguez. After he mistreated and then abandoned her, she met James P. Hayes, a Depression-era drifter, while waitressing at a Main Street cafe in Los Gatos. Romana and James were married many years and by all accounts were a happy couple.
The photo of Romana posted on this memorial is from her wedding to Cruz; according to her niece, she chose the high-necked dress to cover her scars. She was buried in the same dress.
Jesus Martinez was sentenced to San Quentin for his assault on Romana, while she and Cruz married later that year. But there happiness wasn't to last long; Cruz died an early death from tuberculosis in 1906. Six years later Romana married miner Miguel Dominguez. After he mistreated and then abandoned her, she met James P. Hayes, a Depression-era drifter, while waitressing at a Main Street cafe in Los Gatos. Romana and James were married many years and by all accounts were a happy couple.
The photo of Romana posted on this memorial is from her wedding to Cruz; according to her niece, she chose the high-necked dress to cover her scars. She was buried in the same dress.
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